Our Economic Vitality portfolio draws its inspiration from Mr. Davidson’s belief in the power of economic opportunity to improve lives. As an entrepreneur and investor, he helped boost job creation in Southeast Michigan, Israel, and in many emerging economies. Investments are now made to nonprofit organizations that help Southeast Michigan and Israel spur the creation and growth of new businesses and industries of strategic significance, as well as attract and cultivate the talent needed to expand opportunity and prosperity for generations to come.
We advance two goals of the Economic Vitality focus area through the following strategy: Entrepreneurship and Strategic Growth.
Start-Up Nation Central promotes entrepreneurship in Israel and connects Israeli entrepreneurs to opportunities around the globe, including Southeast Michigan. The nonprofit organization, located in Tel Aviv, was founded in 2012, following the release of The New York Times bestseller Start-Up Nation by Dan Senor. The book chronicles the culture of invention and new-business development that has come to define Israel.
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The New Economy Initiative (NEI) is a Detroit, Michigan-based funder collaborative established in 2007 to drive entrepreneurship and diversify and strengthen Southeast Michigan’s regional economy. Between 2000 and 2010, 50 percent of all jobs lost in the United States were in Michigan. The initiative represents the philanthropic community’s collective effort to help change the economic trajectory of Detroit and the surrounding region.
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