A charity dedicated to supporting LGBTQ Jews will soon have a new leader.

Neil Spears is set to take charge of the Jewish LGBTQ Donor Network on Jan. 9, the organization announced on Tuesday.

In a press release, the Donor Network described Spears as a “seasoned educator and community builder” who holds a master’s in education policy and management from Harvard University.

Spears has previously served as executive director of the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles and sits on the board of JQ International, another nonprofit dedicated to offering support services for LGBTQ Jews. 

“Neil is the ideal candidate to maximize the already considerable impact of the Jewish LGBTQ Donor Network,” said Donor Network co-founder Stuart Kurlander in a press release, adding that Spears will enable the organization “to drive grant-making opportunities, and to significantly grow partnerships with well-established philanthropists that will meaningfully impact the lives of LGBTQ Jews and enhance their roles in the broader Jewish community.”

Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 by a trio of Jews with roots in Tel Aviv, Washington, D.C., Miami and New York, the Donor Network has operated primarily online until now. The organization’s mission is to provide “philanthropic support, mentoring and other members skills to organizations and individuals in order to advance and support the Jewish LGBTQ community.”

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