Ben-Gurion University of the Negev announces the gift of $13,106,700 from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. The gift is comprised of a capital grant of $10 million to construct a new building - the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Institute for Social Leadership. An additional $3,106,700 will establish the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors Program in Social Leadership, which will be housed in the new building. The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors Program in Social Leadership will incorporate the current academic MBA program in social leadership, the Israel Center for Third-Sector Research and the eventual executive programs that will all be under the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Institute for Social Leadership.
Morton L. Mandel, Foundation Chairman and CEO, remarks, “As part of our long-term relationship with Ben-Gurion University, the Mandel Foundation welcomes the opportunity to assist the University in further developing the area of social leadership. This gift represents our desire to support Ben-Gurion University, the city of Beer-Sheva, and the advancement of social leadership in Israel.”
This new building will be located on BGU’s Marcus Family Campus in Beer-Sheva, Israel adjacent to the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management. The 40,000 square foot building, designed by Plesner Architects of Tel Aviv, will house classrooms, studios, offices, auditoriums and research facilities, addressing BGU’s academic needs to further develop the area of social leadership.
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors Program in Social Leadership will incorporate both the current academic MBA program in social leadership and the Israel Center for Third-Sector Research. The additional funds will allow for expansion of the program. The purpose of the Mandel Honors Program in Social Leadership is to teach students within the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management, including students enrolled in other business programs, relevant business administration, social responsibility, and social leadership skills.
"This magnanimous gift incorporates the founding vision of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev to be involved with and make a difference in the community,” says University President Prof. Rivka Carmi. “We are inspired by Mort Mandel's vision and his personal hands-on involvement that embodies all the characteristics of social leadership that we hope to instill in the next generation, and I thank him with
all my heart for helping us realize this dream."
Prof. Amos Drory, Vice President for External Affairs and one of the founders and former deans of the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management, adds, “This donation has made it possible to create the highest quality educational program to train the next generation of nonprofit managers while broadening the scope of research in the field and make a real impact on the quality of NGO [non-governmental organization] management in Israel. This is the Mandel Foundation’s unique vision and this is likewise part of our DNA. A perfect match!”
About the programs
Social leadership requires the integration of advanced management knowledge, leadership skills and a deep commitment to social improvement. The objective of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel MBA Program in Social Leadership is to train and develop top leaders for the nonprofit and public sectors in Israel. The MBA Program in Social Leadership is unique – it is the only master’s degree program of its kind in any Israeli university. The curriculum includes standard MBA courses in management and courses that focus on the special challenges of leadership in the nonprofit and public sectors.
Established in 1997, the Israel Center for Third-Sector Research (ICTR) conducts policy-relevant research on Israel’s nonprofit sector. Composed of an interdisciplinary team, ICTR works in close cooperation with research centers and associations around the world.
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation
The Mandel Foundation was established by Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1953. Its primary mission is to invest in people with the values, ability and passion to change the world. The Foundation supports leadership education programs in its own institutions and at selected universities and organizations. The Foundation believes that exceptional leaders are the critical factor that enables organizations to contribute most significantly to society. The priority areas of activity include leadership of nonprofit organizations; higher education; Jewish education and continuity; urban neighborhood renewal; and strengthening the State of Israel.
