Blueprint for Social Change: Shaping an Impact-Based Strategy - Case Study 2002 – 2020

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national administrations. Thus, we established hundreds of programs in crucial areas of life that have yielded results which will continue to thrive even without financial and professional support from the Foundation. Change in policy The combination of the two axes of impact - the axis of awareness and the axis of solutions - had a major influence on how we worked to further and change policy. In the course of our work, we managed to set in motion forces that moved from the bottom-up as well as top-down. We worked strategically to change policy, with the understanding that only by doing so could we leave a broad, long-term imprint. We worked throughout with decision-makers and stayed in touch with them, although on numerous occasions, we voiced social criticism and worked towards change. Underlying our activity is the idea that a person with a disability is, first and foremost, someone with equal rights and holistic needs. We tried to instill this belief on various levels and in the various spheres of influence: religion, government, academia, employment, entertainment, etc. The main results of our efforts in Israel have been a change in the method of government budgeting, adoption of the concepts of individualized budgeting and person-centered service, a partnership for promoting a multi-disability administration in the government (rather than having each type of disability dealt with separately), a government agency for housing in the community, and influence regarding halachic issues such as permission for deaf people to marry, accessible mikva’ot and bringing guide dogs into synagogues. In the United States, the main results were a change in the casting system used by the two most influential Hollywood production companies, NBC and CBS. The policy changes we were able to create, together with our partners, will ensure the best quality of services and manner of inclusion of people with disabilities in society for the future. A leading player Over the years, the Ruderman Family Foundation has gone from being an anonymous entity to being a central, leading philanthropic foundation furthering the rights of people with disabilities in Israel, in American Jewish communities and, in recent years, internationally. This has manifested itself in the many requests for collaboration, not only for financial resources, but for help spearheading strategic processes, ongoing assistance and professional advice, and assistance in forming connections with other players. The Foundation has gained expertise, experience and knowledge, creating a multi-sector network and becoming an important agent of change with respect to initiating innovative solutions and processes while having a strong presence in social