Liz Offen has been promoted to national director of strategic partnerships for Yachad, the Orthodox Union’s leading organization for individuals with disabilities in the Jewish community. Yachad’s mission is to foster inclusion and connectivity to Judaism for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities within the broader Jewish community throughout the United States, Canada and Israel.
Liz has served for the past 10 years as regional director of Yachad’s New England region and brings more than 35 years of experience in nonprofit and government management to the newly created role.
As national director of strategic partnerships for Yachad, she will focus on building new partnerships with foundations and federations, maximizing and expanding financial opportunities for Yachad across all of its programs internationally, while also seeking to develop new and creative projects that support children, teens and adults with disabilities. Liz will remain closely connected to the New England region as its director of development and fundraising, building on her decade-long success.
“Liz will work within Yachad’s National Development Department to broaden awareness of Yachad’s scope among philanthropists and donors who maintain family foundations, so Yachad is no longer seen as the ‘best kept secret’,” said Yachad Associate Director Ken Saibel.
Said Yachad International Director Avromie Adler, “We are thrilled to promote from within someone of Liz’s caliber and experience to take the helm of this newly created role for Yachad. Bringing Liz to the national level will allow her to focus her energy and enthusiasm across all of Yachad’s programmatic areas to benefit hundreds of individuals and their families. Yachad is growing and Liz is stepping into a critical position to ensure our financial footing keeps apace with our growth.”
Said Liz, “It is an honor to further my professional role with Yachad and the OU. I’m looking forward to helping the entire network of Yachad programs and camps to realize their goals by creating new partnerships with foundations and federations across the globe. Foundation support is critical to the work of the nonprofit community, but many do not know about the great work Yachad does. I hope to find the ways we fit into their priorities and open dialogues about our shared goals to improve the quality of life for marginalized and underserved members of the Jewish community.”
A search for a new regional director is underway and Liz will assist with the search and transition.
Liz lives in Boston with her husband, Ethan Mascoop.