Director: I. Jerome Hirsch

Jerry Hirsch began his professional career in the computer/aerospace industry. He then practiced law and then real estate development and other entrepreneurial activities. Since 1995, Jerry has spent most of his time in philanthropy, primarily as founder of The Lodestar Foundation, based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Lodestar's mission is to expand philanthropy through two strategies: to support organizations that encourage philanthropy, public service and volunteerism; and to encourage collaboration and other long-term cooperative activities among nonprofits working in the same area. Some of Lodestar's projects include the Lodestar Day Resource Center, the central resource facility for the Phoenix's homeless; the Lodestar Family Connection Center for foster and adoptive parents of special needs children; the Lodestar Alternative Dispute Resolution Center, and the Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Non-profit Innovation. Jerry has served as the founder, chairman, president and board member of numerous nonprofit organizations. He is currently on the advisory boards of the Institute For Philanthropy and the Global Leadership Foundation.

Jerry has been extensively involved with philanthropy in many developing world countries. He has also developed a unique passion for and expertise in introducing to each other, for collaborative purposes, leaders from different parts of the world working in various nonprofit areas, including poverty alleviation, human rights, the free press, and world peace and security. Jerry has a BA from Temple University and a JD (magna cum laude) from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. He is an alumnus of The Philanthropy Workshop, created by the Rockefeller Foundation.