Message PATHWAYSSTRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2027TOPOSSIBILITY
Rabbi Adina Allen Co-Founder & Creative DirectorJe Kasowitz, MBA, MPH Co-Founder & Executive DirectorImagine a world in which creativity is not a luxury — it is a vital tool for navigating change. A world where the wisdom of Jewish tradition is not only preserved but activated, guiding us through crisis and transformation. A world where creative capacity — the ability to generate new ideas and bring forth fresh perspectives — is recognized as essential to innovation, resilience, and renewal.Jewish Studio Project brings this world to life. We are equipping individuals and organizations with bold new tools to expand their thinking, activate Jewish wisdom, and embrace uncertainty. In a time of profound change, nurturing the creative capacity of the Jewish community isn’t just about resilience — it is about shaping the future of Jewish life.Over the next three years, Jewish Studio Project will scale our impact with bold, strategic action. We are expanding access to our transformative content and bringing our evidence-based creative process to thousands of leaders. Through new regional studios, we are establishing vibrant hubs of creative engagement, equipping individuals, organizations, and communities with the tools to navigate change, inspire innovation, and reimagine what’s possible.This is more than a plan — it is an invitation. Pathways to Possibility is a call to build something lasting, to turn imagination into action, and to shape a Jewish future that is spiritually vibrant and deeply relevant. Join us in bringing this vision to life — as partners in possibility.With gratitude,Gabe Crane, MA, MS Board ChairImani Chapman, DMin Vice ChairWELCOME2
3EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IDEAS & PRACTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IMPACT PATHWAYS & BUILDING BLOCKS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FINANCIALS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AN INVITATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRATITUDE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46111423242526TABLE OF CONTENTS
4EXECUTIVE SUMMARYWe are living in a time of deep challenge and uncertainty — a time of rapid technological change, increasing social fragmentation, spiritual disconnection and a mental health crisis. Research shows that creativity is key to addressing these challenges. The World Economic Forum and leading workforce studies indicate that creativity is one of the most in-demand skills of the 21st century. Creativity is not just for artists or innovators, it is a fundamental capacity for everyone and essential for problem-solving, adaptability, and well-being. At the same time, research reveals a growing creativity gap. Increasingly, people feel disconnected from their creative potential, uncertain how to access it, and lacking the support to cultivate it. Closing this gap is a necessity for a thriving, resilient future.Jewish Studio Project is a proactive response to this need. We are building on the success of our last strategic plan, Emerging Anew: 2022-2024, having expanded our network, forged strategic partnerships, and brought dynamic creative experiences to tens of thousands of people. Our unique methodology strengthens creative capacity — equipping individuals and organizations with the tools to navigate change, build resilience, and reimagine Jewish life in a rapidly shifting world.Over the next three years, we will:1. Scale acess to Jewish Studio Project content by developing a centralized platform and key partnerships for distributing digital resources, curricula, and thought leadership to reach 250,000 individuals.2. Energize the creativity of Jewish leadership, equipping 5,000 leaders with practices to enhance their organizations’ capacity to adapt in times of challenge.3. Establish a network of new creativity hubs with 5 regional studios for training, partnership, and community building in key Jewish regions.The world is changing faster than we can grasp. Creativity is the key to navigating the present and generating the future. This strategic plan charts how Jewish Studio Project is meeting the moment with bold, focused action.
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ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEWMISSION:VISION:BACKGROUND:Jewish Studio Project builds creative capacity across the Jewish community.We envision a future in which every person engages their inherent creativity to cultivate resilience, well-being, and spiritual vitality.Jewish Studio Project was founded in 2015 by Rabbi Adina Allen and Je Kasowitz, MBA, MPH, as a Bay Area start-up bringing creativity and Jewish learning together in new ways. What began as a two-person workshop provider has grown into a leading national organization, operating with a multi-million dollar budget, a team of 13 full-time sta, an extensive network of trained leaders, and a reach that impacts hundreds of organizations and over 60,000 individuals annually.MISSION & VISION:6
100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000Over the past three years, Jewish Studio Project successfully implemented Emerging Anew, our 2022-2024 strategic plan, focusing on thought leadership, capacity building, and network expansion. During that time we:1. Expanded Signicantly: Doubled our budget, tripled our sta, and quadrupled engagement across all programs.2. Equipped Hundreds of Leaders: Trained ve cohorts of facilitators and four cohorts of professionals, integrating our methodology into their leadership.3. Diversied Institutional Partnerships: Worked with over 300 Jewish organizations and networks, embedding creative practice across the Jewish ecosystem.4. Advanced Bold New Thought Leadership: Released Rabbi Adina’s book, The Place of All Possibility, expanding the reach of our transformative ideas and practices through book talks, podcasts, conference keynotes, social media content, and new digital resources.5. Deepened Regional Impact: Launched studios in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Boston, activating the creativity of local Jewish networks.These accomplishments greatly increased Jewish Studio Project’s reach and inuence, strengthening our ability to support leaders, foster resilience, and reimagine Jewish learning and communal life for the long term.ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 7REACH OPERATING BUDGET FULL TIME STAFF
v“8The Jewish future belongs to those who can imagine it. Amid the growing complexity, uncertainty, and rapid transformation of Jewish communal life, Jewish Studio Project is doing something few organizations are: cultivating the conditions for long-term Jewish ourishing.Jewish Studio Project builds the creative capacity of Jewish institutions, leaders, and communities by equipping them with tools to navigate uncertainty and complexity. IMPACTSTRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP & CREATING SYSTEMIC CHANGEsay Jewish Studio Project has fundamentally changed the way they design and facilitate Jewish experiences. report that our approach strengthens their ability to engage learners with complexity, curiosity, and creativity. of trained leaders and educators feel inspired to integrate our methodology into their work.88% 87%92%Jewish Studio Project has changed the way I lead. I no longer ‘deliver’ Jewish content — I create a space where people bring their own wisdom to the table.”
REIMAGINING JEWISH LEARNING & COMMUNAL ENGAGEMENTJewish Studio Project is building a national movement to expand creative capacity in Jewish life — not just in institutions, but in how people engage with text, tradition, and one another. 83% 76%say they now engage in creative process to explore Jewish and other texts since participating in Jewish Studio Project programs.say engaging in the Jewish Studio Process has transformed how they relate to spiritual practice.of trained leaders and educators report that our work has helped them develop a more expansive and personal connection to Jewish learning.89%9In an era of burnout, anxiety, and cultural fragmentation, Jewish Studio Project oers leaders a structured, practical framework to build emotional resilience and support personal growth.BUILDING RESILIENCE & EMOTIONAL ADAPTABILITYof trained leaders and educators say engaging in our process has improved their ability to navigate uncertainty.report that our methodology helps them process grief, anxiety, and dicult emotions.say Jewish Studio Project has deepened their sense of curiosity and openness to new perspectives.84% 79%91%This work doesn’t just help me cope — it helps me reimagine what’s possible.“ ”Jewish texts aren’t just something I study anymore — they’re something I shape, interpret, and engage with creatively.”“
10We talk about building Jewish life for the future — but without the ability to think, make, and act creatively, we’re just repeating the past. “”
911IDEAS & PRACTICESOver the past decade, Jewish Studio Project has cultivated a framework of praxis which honors creativity as a sacred act, embraces uncertainty as a generative force, and views Jewish tradition as a living, evolving conversation. What follows is an articulation of the foundational principles (Torah of Creativity) that guide our work and the methodology (Jewish Studio Process) that brings them to life.
12At the heart of Jewish Studio Project is a simple yet radical truth: creativity is not a special gift — it is our birthright. To be human is to create, to adapt, and to make meaning. Creativity is how we navigate change and bring new possibilities into being.From chaos and void, the world was formed. In the messiness of challenge and uncertainty, creativity is the force that makes transformation possible. When we engage our creative capacity, we unlock new ways of being.Nothing is xed. When we embrace life as an unfolding process, we nd possibility and growth in the most unexpected places. Creativity is the practice of moving toward the unknown with courage and openness.Creativity teaches us to look again — to turn an idea, challenge, or moment over and see it anew. When we engage multiple perspectives with curiosity, we expand our understanding, deepen our empathy, and reveal hidden possibilities.To create is to journey beyond certainty, moving into the mystery of what is yet to be known. In this act of exploration, we transform ourselves, reshape our communities, and bring blessing into the world.Human Beings are Created Creative B’TZELEM ELOHIMםיהלא םלצבCreation Comes from Chaos and Void TOHU VA’VOHUוהבו והתGod is Process EHYEH ASHER EHYEHהיהא רשא היהאNothing is Ever Just One Thing HAFOCH BAHהב ךופהWe Are Called to Journey Into the Unknown LECH L’CHAךל-ךלOUR FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES: Torah of Creativity
INQUIRYINTENTIONCREATIVE EXPLORATION REFLECTION13Developed by Rabbi Adina Allen and inspired by the work of her mother, renowned art therapist Pat B. Allen, PhD, ATR, the Jewish Studio Process integrates Jewish text study and techniques from the eld of art therapy.The Process consists of four steps: intellectual inquiry, intention setting, creative exploration, and reection. This structured yet exible methodology invites deep engagement with Jewish tradition and creativity. The Process creates a facilitated container for the intellect and imagination to meet in a nonjudgemental space.In a rapidly changing world, this methodology strengthens individuals’ capacity to meet challenges with creativity, curiosity, and courage, shaping the Jewish landscape and beyond in profound and lasting ways.OUR METHODOLOGY: The Jewish Studio Process
vvv14IMPACT PATHWAYS & BUILDING BLOCKS
vvv15Together, these impact pathways and building blocks form a dynamic, scalable framework that ensures Jewish Studio Project’s transformative ideas and practices are widely accessible and deeply embedded in Jewish life for generations to come.STRATEGIC PLAN OVERVIEWOverarching Goal: Jewish Studio Project’s ideas and practices are well-known, trusted and turned-to by organizations, regional networks and individuals across the Jewish community.This strategic plan centers three Impact Pathways:CONTENTExpanding access to Jewish Studio Project’s ideas and practices.LEADERSEquipping Jewish leaders with transformative tools to strengthen the creative capacity of their organizations.STUDIOSEstablishing regional hubs as centers for creativity and connection.Each of these pathways is supported by three Building Blocks:BRAND PRESENCEOPERATIONAL CAPACITYFINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITYStrengthening Jewish Studio Project’s visibility and inuence, ensuring that creativity is recognized as a core pillar of Jewish life.Ensuring that Jewish Studio Project’s infrastructure, leadership, and program models can scale while maintaining depth and quality.Securing the resources needed to support Jewish Studio Project’s expansion and long-term impact.
19v16IMPACT PATHWAYS: Core Strategies for ScalePathways to Possibility is a guide for Jewish Studio Project’s work for 2025-2027, centering three core strategies — Content, Leaders, and Studios. We call these strategies Impact Pathways.For the next three years, Jewish Studio Project will focus organizational eort and investment on these three pathways in order to build the creative capacity of organizations, regional networks, and individuals across the Jewish community. The following pages detail each pathway.CONTENTLEADERSSTUDIOS
vIndividuals across the Jewish community are resourced with the ideas and practices to live creative lives, thrive both personally and professionally, and work through challenges in generative ways. New digital content available through upgraded resource platforms allows for simple, dynamic access to creative engagement at scale. New peer-led creative process groups (supported by toolkits and resources) serve as a grassroots model for widespread creative engagement. Books, podcasts, and social media content spread our thought leadership to new audiences, shifting perspectives on how engaging Jewish wisdom through the lens of creativity can benet well-being. IMPACT PATHWAY 1: CONTENTScale Access to Resources and Thought LeadershipVISION:Multiply the reach of Jewish Studio Project content by 5x, to 250,000 individuals through digital content and thought leadership.GOAL:• Expand digital resources (e.g. prompts, workbooks, guides) across digital platforms.• Create dynamic resource library for core content.• Disseminate cutting edge thought leadership through distribution partnerships.• Prototype initial set of peer-led creative process groups.ACTION PLAN:• Develop core set of digital oerings in Year 1.• Launch dynamic digital content library in Year 2.• Roll out one major thought leadership publication annually.• Launch 5 peer-led creative process groups in Year 2.KEY BENCHMARKS:17
Jewish leaders are equipped to navigate change and uncertainty with skill, courage, and condence. They leverage Jewish Studio Project’s ideas and practices to resource themselves and their communities in times of challenge. Our unique participant-facilitator pedagogy supports them in leading with authenticity, vulnerability, and presence, opening channels to communal discovery and growth. Jewish Studio Project implements a portfolio of workshops, leader development intensives and streamlined facilitator trainings in partnership with a broad range of Jewish organizations (from small, grassroots groups to the largest institutions), embedding our content and methods in networks and communal systems across the Jewish landscape. Thoughtful strategic partnerships allow for deep learning and collaboration. An annual leadership summit drives eld building and integration of creativity across networks and institutional settings.IMPACT PATHWAY 2: LEADERSEnergize the Creativity of Jewish LeadershipVISION:Equip 5,000 leaders with our tools and practices to enhance their capacity to transform Jewish organizations amidst the challenges of our time. GOAL:• Launch new leader development portfolio leveraging 7 years of experience implementing intensive facilitator and educator cohort programs.• Develop strategic partnerships with key Jewish networks to drive impact.• Weave leadership networks together to advance the eld of Jewish creativity.ACTION PLAN:• Prototype 5 new leader intensive models in Year 1.• Launch 3 major strategic partnerships per year.• Host annual creativity summit for emerging leadership network.KEY BENCHMARKS:18
New regional studios serve as hubs for training, partnership and community building, infusing local networks with creative capacity to better solve problems, navigate change, and increase well-being. New studios build on our successful regional launches in the Bay Area, Boston, and Los Angeles. Each studio is rooted in a sense of place and oers regional communities new accessible and relevant ways to engage with Jewish wisdom. Our ideas and practices are integrated into investment regions through organizational partnerships, community programs, and immersive experiences. Studios serve as demonstration sites for the powerful impact of the Jewish Studio Process. Regional studios provide communities with local facilitators and are supported by national systems and infrastructure.IMPACT PATHWAY 3: STUDIOSEstablish Network of New Regional Creativity HubsVISION:Expand to ve fully-equipped regional hubs, embedding our studio model in major cities. GOAL:• Formalize guidelines for new site exploration, advancement, and launch.• Develop anchor partnerships, studio spaces, and local operational capacity in each region.• Build national infrastructure to support an emerging network of regional hubs. ACTION PLAN:• Secure regional funding and launch 1 new hub per year.• Identify studio space and hire regional directors in each city prior to launch.• Hire national studio director in Year 3.KEY BENCHMARKS:19
20BUILDING BLOCKS: Leveraging Opportunities and Mitigating RiskTo successfully implement the three impact pathways of our strategic plan — Content, Leaders, and Studios — we must also invest in a set of core building blocks: BRAND PRESENCEOPERATIONAL CAPACITYFINANCIAL RESOURCESThese elements provide the essential internal and external positioning to ensure that Jewish Studio Project’s work is recognized, valued, implemented with excellence, and sustainable at scale.
BRAND PRESENCE: Scaling Recognition and InuenceOPPORTUNITY: A clear, recognizable and compelling Jewish Studio Project brand will position creative capacity as a “must-have” for Jewish life nationwide.• Develop impact storytelling initiatives: Produce clear messaging campaigns leveraging impact stories and launch quarterly impact reports in Year 1.• Elevate Jewish Studio Project’s thought leadership: Secure major media features, increase email list by 5x over three years and conduct ve keynote engagements annually.• Deepen investment in communications capacity: Expand our communications team, marketing partnerships, and connections to inuencers.• Position Jewish Studio Project as a leader in the emerging eld of Creative Health: Publish a position paper in a mainstream outlet in Year 2.LEVERS: RISK: If our brand lacks clarity, we risk slowing adoption and missing critical opportunities to position creativity as core to Jewish engagement.• Expand sta and leadership: Hire new regional directors and strengthen our national team to anchor growth and maintain operational excellence.• Develop scalable training models: Prototype and invest in simplied, eective, and cost-ecient training and leader development models.• Enhance operational systems: Strengthen Jewish Studio Project’s nancial, managerial, and technological infrastructure to support national expansion.• Expand with depth: Grow studios at a sustainable pace, ensuring each new hub strengthens rather than diminishes our impact.OPERATIONAL CAPACITY Expanding Leadership and InfrastructureOPPORTUNITY: Strengthened and focused infrastructure and leadership will enable us to make systemic and sustained impact across the Jewish community.LEVERS: 21RISK: If our operational capacity does not keep pace with growth, we risk organizational overwhelm and ineciencies, as well as diluting the eectiveness of our methodology.
22OPPORTUNITY: By positioning creative capacity as essential to the future of Jewish life and human thriving, Jewish Studio Project can attract funders seeking scalable solutions for Jewish engagement and communal vitality.RISK: If our nancial resources are too reliant on narrow funding streams, we risk instability in an already competitive philanthropic landscape and an inability to sustain impact growth.• Expand regional fundraising: Cultivate local funders to anchor ve regional studios, ensuring long-term sustainability through place-based philanthropy.• Diversify revenue streams: Develop a more balanced funding mix — including institutional grants, major donations, and earned income — in support of Jewish Studio Project’s impact.• Build development capacity: Expand advancement team, adding campaign and event capacity and expertise.• Strengthen fundraising infrastructure: Equip board, ambassadors, and development teams with tools and strategies to deepen funder engagement and increase multi-year commitments.FINANCIAL RESOURCES: Ensuring Longterm SustainabilityLEVERS:
ContentDevelop core set of digital oerings, build dynamic digital library, pilot peer-led group model. Launch dynamic digital content library, publish Rabbi Adina’s second book.Expand distribution pathways and network of content creators.LeadersPrototype leader development models, deepen existing strategic partnerships, pilot annual leadership summit.Launch new leader development portfolio, establish new strategic partnerships, grow annual creativity summit.Grow leader development portfolio with new partners, evaluate learnings and impact.StudiosGrow JSP Bay Area and JSP Boston, fully launch JSP Los Angeles, explore 2 new markets.Deepen programming and partnerships in existing regions, launch 1 new hub, explore 2 new markets.Deepen programming and partnerships in existing regions, launch 1 new hub, explore 2 new markets, hire national studio director.Brand PresenceLaunch strategic marketing workgroup, codify brand identity, develop storytelling campaigns.Hire marketing sta, leverage 10th anniversary for audience growth, publish creative health position paper.Identify and launch strategic brand partnerships, leverage Rabbi Adina’s second book.Operational CapacityEmpower cross- functional work teams, streamline data systems.Hire new regional directors, strengthen impact tracking, expand national admin sta.Standardize regional operations, strengthen nance and HR functions.Financial SustainabilityLaunch regional cultivation, hire fundraising campaign position, secure new foundation partnerships.Produce 10th anniversary event, deepen regional cultivation, expand earned revenue partnerships.Advance major gifts program, expand foundation partner portfolio, identify new earned income models.2025 2026 2027BUILDING BLOCKS IMPACT PATHWAYS23IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
24FINANCIALS2025 2026 2027 TOTALREVENUESIndividual Donations $375,000 $465,000 $600,000 $1,440,000Foundation Grants $1,425,000 $1,745,000 $2,005,000 $5,175,000Earned Revenue $325,000 $450,000 $555,000 $1,330,000Other Revenue $35,000 $42,500 $50,000 $127,500Total Revenues $2,160,000 $2,702,500 $3,210,000 $8,072,500EXPENSESPersonnel Expenses $1,551,520 $1,991,327 $2,449,746 $5,992,593Program Expenses (non-sta)$369,200 $371,400 $356,650 $1,097,250Operational Expenses $135,420 $152,700 $192,260 $480,380Studio Expenses $81,375 $95,808 $128,652 $305,835Total Expenses $2,137,515 $2,611,235 $3,127,308 $7,876,058Net Operating Revenue$22,485 $91,265 $82,692 $196,442Three Year Projected Budget
AN INVITATIONThis strategic plan is both bold and achievable. Over the past decade, Jewish Studio Project has built a national reputation, developed a proven methodology, and cultivated a network of leaders and institutions that are ready for this next step. A strong foundation has been established, the demand is clear, and the mechanisms for expansion are already in motion.By 2028, Jewish Studio Project will have transformed the Jewish landscape with a network of ve thriving regional studios anchoring creative practice in key Jewish communities, 5,000 trained leaders embedding this work in hundreds of organizations, and 250,000 individuals strengthened and inspired by dynamic content. More than growth in numbers, this plan ensures a lasting shift — making creativity a recognized necessity in Jewish communal life.We are scaling a proven model. With the right investment, this vision is not just possible—it is within reach. Together, we can make it a reality.25
26GRATITUDEWe are deeply grateful to our supporters, partners, and the growing network of Jewish leaders who make Jewish Studio Project’s work possible. Your dedication enables us to create dynamic, inclusive spaces where creativity sparks transformation, resilience, and well-being. Because of you, we can oer powerful experiences that inspire individuals and communities to explore, create, and reimagine Jewish life in meaningful ways. Through your unwavering support we are able to inspire organizations, individuals, and communities, ensuring that this vision will continue to empower and uplift generations to come. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey.We are especially grateful to our Strategic Planning Committee, Insyte Partners, our Board of Directors, our sta, and our donors — both major and grassroots — who transform this vision into reality with passion and brilliance.We extend our deepest gratitude to our foundation partners for your generous support and belief in our work. A special thank you to Jim Joseph Foundation for your partnership and lead investment in our vision. Together, we are shaping a vibrant, creative, and thriving Jewish future, and we are honored to walk this path with you.
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WWW.JEWISHSTUDIOPROJECT.ORGHelp us bring this vision to life. Contact Je Kasowitz, Co-Founder & Executive Director at je@jewishstudioproject.org