Hanna Shaul Bar Nissim, PhD

Hanna is Deputy Director U.S. at the Ruderman Family Foundation. Hanna completed her PhD at the School of Social Work and Social Welfare at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, with a focus on philanthropic studies. She joined the Ruderman Family Foundation after completing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Brandeis University, specializing in the research of Jewish philanthropy.

Hanna is taking an important role in moving the Foundation’s goals forward by overseeing the foundation’s programs, operations, staff and consultants in the U.S., and leading its research and data driven activities.

Her research focuses on documenting and analyzing the activities of multiple foundations and community philanthropies, working closely with hundreds of philanthropists and practitioners of philanthropic organizations in the Jewish world. She researches changes in organized Jewish giving has been acknowledged worldwide as the expert on American Jewish philanthropy. Her work has been supported by several universities, research institutes, and by foundations. She authors scholarly peer reviewed articles, media publications, and professional reports, and is frequently quoted in media outlets. In addition, Hanna is a Visiting Scholar at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and a member of the Faith & Giving Task Force of the Generosity Commission.

Latest publications and op-eds:

 2024