Uri Poliavich is a philanthropist and tech entrepreneur whose philanthropic work focuses primarily on education and long-term support for younger generations. He has developed a systematic approach to philanthropy, viewing education as an investment in future opportunities and community development. Uri Poliavich supports access to high-quality, identity-centered education in communities across different parts of the world.
To make his philanthropic efforts systemic and ensure exponential changes, Uri Poliavich co-established in 2020 a separate charitable organization, the Yael Foundation. It has now grown into a large, international charity spanning operations across 48 countries and supporting 145 educational programs of different types. The foundation has provided access to high-quality, identity-centered education to approximately 29,000 children across the globe, including those from families who can’t afford it.
Not Business Drives Charity, but Charity Drives Business
Uri Poliavich’s approach in this context is unconventional. While he has been working in the tech sector for decades, Uri wanted to start a charitable initiative from day one after starting his business. To this end, he noted: “Most people think that business drives charity initiatives, but for me, charity drives business, pushing it forward.” Uri Poliavich always wanted to launch a charitable project that could help Jewish children reinforce their sense of personal identity and feeling of being a part of a larger community. Once the idea was practically embodied in the Yael Foundation in 2020, he set the goal to make this organization international, making sure “No Jewish Child Left Behind.”
Systemic Approach to Philanthropy
While occasional donations and financial assistance help to solve real-life, current challenges, they can’t cope with tackling the root causes or ensuring long-term implications. Uri Poliavich decided to make his philanthropic efforts systemic, involving professional educators and addressing local contexts.
Uri Poliavich has decided to build an international community of partner organizations that can maximally expand the coverage of educational opportunities provided by the Yael Foundation. Uri Poliavich has also involved professional educators who can develop high-quality, identity-centered curricula that adapt children to modern realities and encourage their growth as leaders. Uri Poliavich also encourages the involvement of local leaders in the respective community who are respected and demonstrate the example of Jewish identity. The philanthropic initiatives supported by Uri Poliavich also imply knowledge and expertise sharing while maintaining long-term contacts. While curricula developed by the foundation always include sections dedicated to Jewish culture and heritage, the worldwide community supported by the foundation also preserves and multiplies this heritage for future generations.
Goal Setting and Achieving
The distinct feature of Uri Poliavich’s approach to philanthropy is based on clear goal setting. He makes sure the foundation has clear short-term goals within the long-term strategy. It also provides staged funding and intermediate results tracking. Uri Poliavich sets the direction while the foundation’s managers run the operation. Uri’s goal is to make sure that the foundation’s initiatives have real-life effects on people and communities. He strives to reinforce the sense of personal identity in each child and belonging to a greater community throughout educational initiatives supported by the foundation. Uri Poliavich’s long-term goal is also to strengthen educational institutions. He applies a business-like approach. Uri Poliavich encourages managers to plan ahead, retain qualified teachers, and expand educational opportunities. His long-term commitment is to create an environment where children and the entire communities can develop with confidence.
Exchange of Experiences and Scaling Successful Practices
The charitable initiative supported by the Yael Foundation greatly relies on feedback. Uri Poliavich emphasizes the details of how educational programs impact the lives of both children and educators. Experience sharing also significantly boosts the effectiveness of the foundation’s operation. For this purpose, Uri Poliavich also arranges international events where educators and community leaders can exchange their thoughts and ideas about the provided educational opportunities as well as emerging trends. Uri Poliavich also encourages wider implementation of successful educational practices that help ensure higher results in other communities as well. The educational initiatives supported by Uri Poliavich are not static, but are dynamically adjusted based on real-life information from professional educators and community members.
Uri Poliavich has shifted from occasional to systemic leadership that provides higher results. The impact ensured by the Yael Foundation, co-founded by Uri Poliavich, is large-scale and worldwide. It has been achieved thanks to thorough planning, goal setting, and execution. Systemic philanthropy that’s based on values ensures long-term results.
