The Rambam taught that the highest level of tzedakah is giving to a person so that they are able to provide for themselves in the future. Mamie Kanfer Stewart demonstrates how we can apply this principle in the context of grant giving for Jewish organizatons. From the Rambam’s teaching in the Mishneh Torah, Stewart draws out three main values that must be present in the relationships between not only individual donors and recipients, but also between large funders and nonprofits.
Mamie Kanfer Stewart is the Founder and CEO of Meeteor, a company that empowers organizations to leverage their meetings to drive productivity, build a healthy company culture, and achieve greater results. Meeteor includes web and mobile apps, coaching and skill-building services. In her role at Meeteor, Mamie writes and speaks about meeting best practices and team collaboration. She is passionate about helping others achieve their mission through smart process and great technology. She is Vice-chair of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice and serves on the boards of Luria Academy of Brooklyn, InterfaithFamily, Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation and Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah. Prior to founding Meeteor, Mamie consulted with non-profit organizations on staffing and strategic planning. She received an MBA from Stern Graduate School of Business at New York University and a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two young daughters. When not working to improve the world and eliminate unproductive meetings, you might find Mamie flying through the air on a trapeze.
