The Shahaf Foundation

The SHAHAF Foundation is a philanthropic partnership established in 2010 with the goal of developing and supporting the intentional communities’ movement as a mean to strengthen the geo-social periphery in Israel. Intentional communities consist of motivated young people who have chosen to live a life of social activism in underprivileged towns and neighborhoods throughout Israel in order to address the deep challenges in the Israeli society. Today, 265 communities are spread across 90 cities and represent the broad spectrum of Israeli society: graduates of youth movements, members of religious Zionism, immigrants from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union, Arabs, Druze and Bedouins. 14,000 members of the movement combine community life with social activism and work together, alongside local residents and local organizations to raise the level of education, enrich the cultural environment, provide better social services and over all improve the quality of life of 800,000 residents. SHAHAF's philanthropic partnership which comprises of 20 foundations, organizations and private donors from Israel and abroad, is leading a long-term strategy to support the development of the movement by grant giving, professional training, cultivating innovation and harnessing partners from local municipalities and governmental bodies to enables their unique activity and contribution a strong and resilient civil society.