Fulfilling the philanthropic legacy of David J. Azrieli z”l, the Azrieli Foundation has been funding institutions as well as operating programs in Israel and Canada since 1989. Driven by a strong belief in the powerful role and responsibility of philanthropy, the foundation empowers and assists tens of thousands of people by supporting a broad range of organizations, facilitating innovative outcomes and increasing knowledge and understanding in the search for practical and novel solutions.
At the Azrieli Foundation they are passionate about the promise and importance of a rigorous but creative approach to philanthropy, strategic collaborations and leadership and bold forward thinking. They believe these are the keys to the generation of new knowledge that will create positive outcomes for future generations. They aim to achieve measurable impact in their priority areas and to improve the lives of others.
Their Mission
Inspired by Jewish values and the vision and resilience of their founder, David J. Azrieli z”l, the mission of Azrieli philanthropy is to improve the lives of present and future generations through Education, Research, Healthcare and the Arts mainly in Canada and Israel.
The foundation has eight priority funding areas: Education, Fellowships, Community, Holocaust Commemoration & Legacy, Science, Research & Healthcare, Neurodevelopment, Architecture, Design & Engineering, and Music & Arts. Our activities reach a diversity of people, places and needs.
In addition to strategic philanthropic investments in organizations large and small, the foundation operates a number of programs including the Azrieli Prize in Architecture, the Azrieli Fellows Program, the Azrieli Neurodevelopmental Research Program, the Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program and the Azrieli Music Prize.
Rigorous And Creative
Aiming to make a meaningful impact in their priority areas, they employ not only significant financial resources, but also a rigorous approach to due diligence, short-, medium- and long-term evaluation and reporting. At the same time, they remain open to tackling issues in new and creative ways, and flexible in making adjustments along the way.
Beginning with a careful review of a potential grantees’ or partner’s track record, strategies, leadership and financial stability, as well as the sustainability of any proposed initiative, their funding aims to make a measurable difference by strengthening institutions, empowering individuals and catalyzing out of-the-box thinking and innovative approaches to pressing problems.
Their grant-making ranges from large and long-term initiatives and programs to smaller, strategic short-term investments. In each case, they endeavour to right-size their investments for maximum and measurable impact.
Their funding spans their eight broad areas of interest and there are often important connections and synergies between priorities. As they continue to apply best practices in philanthropy and learn from their peers and partners, their strategies within their priority areas may evolve.
Their Priorities
- Holocaust Commemoration & Legacy
- Architecture, Design & Engineering
- Science, Research & Healthcare
- Community
- Fellowships
- Education
- Music & Arts
- Neurodevelopment
