Sheatufim, The Israel Center for Civil Society, works to strengthen the social vitality of the State of Israel by developing and advancing a civil society that is pluralistic, proactive, influential, professional and collaborative. Sheatufim was founded in 2006 by Zionism 2000, Rashi Foundation, the Jewish Federations of North America (formerly UJC), and Gandyr Foundation, to support third sector organizations in their efforts to improve professional management, access relevant information and knowledge, influence public policy, and foster inter-sector dialogue and collaboration, as well as to promote an active Israeli philanthropic community.
Sheatufim's mission is to:
- Help organizations fulfill their social goals by developing widely accessible tools and knowledge.
- Develop Israeli philanthropy to be proactive, professional, involved and influential, with active collaboration between Israeli and overseas philanthropists.
- Create a tri-sector space and develop a culture of partnerships, dialogue and inter-sector learning.
- Advance the interests of civil society by affecting public policy, legislation, and public opinion, and by promoting acknowledgement and recognition of the third sector.
Accordingly, Sheatufim created three centers:
The Center for Professional Management - the aim of the Center is to improve managerial professionalism, effectiveness and efficiency of civil society organizations. Programs include managerial forums, professional courses, organizational training, measurement and evaluation, business mentoring, and more.
The Center for Philanthropy - a center engaged in promoting a large, influential and responsible philanthropic community in Israel. The Center expands information and knowledge in the field, works with philanthropy professionals, offers personal consultations, and creates platforms for collaboration between Israeli philanthropists themselves and with their counterparts overseas. Programs include the Philanthropists Forum, the cross-border philanthropy circle and the second-generation forum.
Inter-Sector Dialogue - a center aimed at assimilating processes and models of inter-sector partnerships in Israeli society, and leading a national roundtable process established at the initiative of the government of Israel. Roundtables bring together representatives of government, business, philanthropy and civil society organizations to discuss issues of social policy.
Sheatufim makes information and knowledge widely accessible to the public via its web site, which serves as a gateway to information databases, managers' toolboxes, professional articles, and more.