Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) announced the addition of Kim Isaac as its vice president of advancement. Isaac will lead efforts to secure U.S. contributions to “Way Forward,” a landmark $1 billion global fundraising campaign aiming to strengthen the future of Israel through its south, with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev serving as the region’s anchor institution and engine for growth.
Isaac comes to A4BGU with 27 years of experience working in highly successful advancement programs for higher and secondary education institutions, social-service organizations and Jewish federations, including Seattle University, University of Washington and The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. In her role at A4BGU, Isaac will provide thought leadership and managerial oversight in all areas of financial resource development and donor engagement.
To date, supporters from around the world have committed more than $475 million to the Way Forward campaign. Tasked with securing 60%, or $600 million of the campaign’s $1 billion goal, A4BGU is galvanizing American supporters into action. The $1 billion raised will support BGU’s capital building and expansion projects, student access and support, and academic and research excellence.
As the largest employer in the region, BGU is key to the economic vitality of southern Israel and is playing a pivotal role in rebuilding the Negev after the tragic events of Oct. 7, 2023. While planning for the Way Forward campaign was in the works long before then, the Hamas massacres gave the campaign an even greater sense of urgency.
“We are excited to have a professional of Kim’s caliber spearheading U.S. development initiatives in support of Ben-Gurion University as the way forward,” said Doug Seserman, CEO of A4BGU. “On Oct. 6, it was already evident BGU represented the future of Israel in the south. On Oct. 7 and in the months that followed, BGU has demonstrated just how vital it is to the remarkable resilience of the entire nation.”
BGU was directly and disproportionately impacted by the Oct. 7 attacks, and yet, the university community is spearheading the nation’s recovery and rebuilding. In massive numbers, BGU students, faculty and staff have volunteered in hospitals, aided families of Israel Defense Forces soldiers and organized logistical operations to circulate food and supplies.
Isaac is coming full circle both professionally and personally, having started her career in fundraising for Israel-related causes.
“I am honored to join the A4BGU team, and eager to leverage my experience in higher-education fundraising and in the Jewish community to further the impact of BGU,” Isaac said. “Now is the time to rededicate my career to the people of Israel. It is incumbent upon American Jews who stand with Israel to discover the story of BGU, the institution that is leading the way forward in rebuilding the region which suffered the greatest devastation on Oct. 7.”
As the majority of philanthropic support for BGU comes from the United States, A4BGU plays a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion’s vision: creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community, and sharing the University’s expertise locally and around the globe. A4BGU also builds an aspirational movement of Americans who are committed to improving the world through a new 21st-century unifying vision for Israel. This is manifested by the cutting-edge research carried out at BGU that results in scalable solutions for all of humanity in water conservation, environmental science, medical research, AI, cybersecurity and more.
To learn more about Way Forward, visit: https://americansforbgu.org/way-forward/