Stan Polovets on How The Genesis Prize Foundation Chooses Its Laureates

Stan Polovets details The Genesis Prize Foundation’s unique selection process, with a focus on inclusivity, and community impact.

The Genesis Prize Foundation stands out in the philanthropic world for its innovative approach to impactful giving. Central to its strategy is a carefully crafted process for awarding and maximizing its annual $1 million prize, setting a new standard in Jewish philanthropy.

The process of selecting an honoree has evolved over the years. Before 2020, it was an internal process where The Genesis Prize Foundation solicited nominations from over 1,000 Jewish leaders worldwide. These nominations were then narrowed down based on alignment with the prize criteria. The selection committee would propose a ranking of candidates, which the prize committee would review for the final decision.

In 2020 and 2021, the foundation introduced a nomination and voting process through social media and email. “The public was asked to vote on their chosen candidate,” explains Stan Polovets, Genesis Prize co-founder and CEO. “In 2022, we continued with the public nominations process.”

The Unique Position of the Genesis Prize in Jewish Philanthropy

The Genesis Prize Foundation has carved a unique niche in Jewish philanthropy. Unlike many organizations, the Genesis Prize awards $1 million annually to an individual who reinvests the prize back into the community, often amplifying the impact through matching donors and grants. Stan Polovets says, ”This approach has been one of innovation, inclusivity, and agility in allowing our foundation and its honorees the opportunity to find timely issues in need of philanthropic contribution and global attention.”

The foundation’s vision centers on fostering a strong, vibrant Jewish community that appreciates its roots while looking toward the future. The Genesis Prize aims to unite the Jewish community around its most pressing issues. Currently, the focus is on the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. By highlighting this issue and coordinating with other Jewish and hostage aid organizations, the foundation strives to unite the community to support freedom and justice.

In the long term, The Genesis Prize Foundation aims to enhance unity within the Jewish community. “The Genesis Prize and the foundation exist to hold up role models that will engender pride in the next generation of Jews,” says Stan Polovets. “The more Jews feel proud and connected to their identity and see highly accomplished individuals demonstrating the same, the stronger our community will be heading into the future.”

Assessing the effectiveness of the Genesis Prize involves both quantitative and qualitative metrics. “We look not only at the money that we distribute, but also the funding that we are able to galvanize toward a particular cause,” says Stan Polovets. “The decade of Genesis Prize grants — through matching donations by other philanthropists — has been leveraged into over $50 million for charitable causes. We look at the number of organizations we have supported — over 200. We also look at the individual honorees — 12 highly accomplished, respected, proud Jewish individuals who live their Jewish values. We look at the impact we have on the laureates themselves — by giving them a meaningful Jewish experience and recognition, we hope that they, too, will be moved to be involved more Jewishly.”

A Look at the Laureates 

The Genesis Prize’s innovative recognition model transcends traditional award paradigms, strategically identifying and honoring luminaries across various sectors. This approach showcases the Jewish community’s global impact and leverages the laureates’ influence to amplify philanthropic outcomes. By redirecting prize funds to chosen causes, the foundation catalyzes positive change, maximizing the return on investment for its stakeholders and society more broadly. This unique value proposition transforms individual accolades into far-reaching, measurable impacts across the globe.

In 2014, Michael Bloomberg, former New York City mayor and philanthropist, became the first Genesis Prize winner. He allocated his $1 million award to launch the Genesis Generation Challenge, a global contest encouraging young entrepreneurs to solve social problems creatively.

The 2015 Genesis Prize highlighted the foundation’s adaptability to changing community needs by choosing Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas. Douglas leveraged his award to champion the welcoming of intermarried families into the Jewish community. His initiative aimed to cultivate a more open and diverse environment, ultimately reinforcing community cohesion.

Violinist Itzhak Perlman was awarded the 2016 Genesis Prize. He channeled his award into programs promoting inclusion for people with disabilities, helping create a more accessible society.

Anish Kapoor, the 2017 Genesis Prize winner, is known for his modern art and refugee advocacy. He directed his award to tackle the global refugee crisis, emphasizing the need to support displaced people worldwide.

In 2018, The Genesis Prize Foundation gave its first Lifetime Achievement Award to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Previous winners chose Ginsburg for her groundbreaking work in civil rights and women’s advocacy, recognizing her impact on justice and equality. That year, the prize funds were directed to women’s empowerment initiatives in her honor.

Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, received the 2019 Genesis Prize. He designated the prize to combat antisemitism and launched a new foundation with a $20 million personal contribution to fight it and other forms of hate globally.

In 2020, human rights activist Natan Sharansky received the Genesis Prize. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he allocated his award to organizations helping vulnerable groups affected by the crisis.

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg won the 2021 Genesis Prize. He channeled his award — together with an additional personal contribution of $1 million — to support organizations promoting racial and economic justice in the United States.

Also in 2021, The Genesis Prize Foundation gave a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award to Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, former U.K. chief rabbi. He was recognized for inspiring young Jews, his teaching career, and promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla received the 2022 Genesis Prize for his leadership during the pandemic and his role in rapidly developing the COVID-19 vaccine. Bourla designated the prize money to help establish a Holocaust museum in his native Thessaloniki, Greece.

The 2023 Genesis Prize recognized Jewish activists and organizations helping Ukrainians during the war. This award highlighted the Jewish community’s important role in supporting Ukrainian civilians.

For its 10th anniversary in 2024, The Genesis Prize Foundation honored Barbra Streisand, the multitalented performer and activist. Streisand directed her award to nonprofits focused on environmental protection, women’s health, fighting media disinformation, and aiding Ukraine. 

Also, in 2024, the Genesis Prize recognized Israeli organizations supporting hostages kidnapped by Hamas, as well as the hostages’ families. This award aimed to keep global attention on the hostages’ situation and urge international leaders to prioritize their release.

By reinvesting the prize money back into the community and fostering pride within the Jewish community, the foundation continues to support and uplift Jewish values and identity globally.