Chief Executive Officer, AICF USA & AICF Israel
Shirlee Klein is an experienced executive with extensive leadership in philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and cross-sector collaborations across Israel, North America, and Europe. Prior to joining AICF, she served as Vice President North America at Start-Up Nation Central, strengthening Israel’s high-tech sector through global partnerships, and as Deputy CEO of the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation, an international philanthropic organization supporting education, innovation, and arts and culture.
Previously, Shirlee was Executive Director of the Clore Israel Foundation, where she led grantmaking and partnerships supporting education, welfare, and cultural initiatives in Israel and the UK. Before Clore, she served as Vice President of Partnerships at the Rashi Foundation, managing its international philanthropic collaborations. Throughout her career, Shirlee has worked closely with artists, musicians, and cultural institutions in Israel and internationally, and has served as an advisor to Sotheby’s Auction House. She played a key role in developing and producing Art Up Nation in Chelsea, New York City, supporting Israeli artists in the aftermath of October 7.
Shirlee holds an MBA from Tel Aviv University, a Master’s degree in Education from York University, and a Bachelor of Education from McGill University.
Chief Executive Officer, AICF USA & AICF Israel
Shirlee Klein is an experienced executive with extensive leadership in philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and cross-sector collaborations across Israel, North America, and Europe. Prior to joining AICF, she served as Vice President North America at Start-Up Nation Central, strengthening Israel’s high-tech sector through global partnerships, and as Deputy CEO of the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation, an international philanthropic organization supporting education, innovation, and arts and culture.
Previously, Shirlee was Executive Director of the Clore Israel Foundation, where she led grantmaking and partnerships supporting education, welfare, and cultural initiatives in Israel and the UK. Before Clore, she served as Vice President of Partnerships at the Rashi Foundation, managing its international philanthropic collaborations. Throughout her career, Shirlee has worked closely with artists, musicians, and cultural institutions in Israel and internationally, and has served as an advisor to Sotheby’s Auction House. She played a key role in developing and producing Art Up Nation in Chelsea, New York City, supporting Israeli artists in the aftermath of October 7.
Shirlee holds an MBA from Tel Aviv University, a Master’s degree in Education from York University, and a Bachelor of Education from McGill University.
Jessica Hadler
Director of Programs & Grants
Jessica Hadler is a longtime advocate of the arts and a supporter of young artists. She was Director of Artistic Programs for Concert Artists Guild, where she worked for more than 10 years. In this role she oversaw the organization’s New York concert series, an annual international competition, record label, and commissioning program, and mentored a roster of talented musicians. She taught the Art of Engagement at Mannes School of Music at the New School, a course designed to inspire students to discover and express their unique artistic points of view. Jessica served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Look & Listen Festival, a new music festival held each Spring in NYC, and was a Board Member of AlpenKammerMusik, a chamber music festival in Austria. Jessica studied music at Indiana University, earning her BM and MM degrees in saxophone performance. She made Aliya to Israel in 2017.