Deeply Rooted Connections

Ami Becker Aronson belongs to a family with 6 generations of roots in the Washington, DC area. She received her education in Jerusalem, Israel, Amsterdam and the Netherlands; igniting a passion for building connections all over our world, and ensuring the welfare of the people who inhabit it.

Conscientious Education & Service

The biggest lesson Ami learned from her mother was to be conscious of her role in the world, and to serve at the highest possible level. As a result of this and her travels, Ami sees life in terms of spiritual capital – what do we each have to offer to the world, how can we invest that spiritual energy, and how can we make sure we are seeing the results we wish to see?

After receiving her Masters in Public Health in Jerusalem, she worked for 18 years in the field of global public health with organizations such as Save the Children and the Women’s Aid Network, focused in Thailand, Nepal, and the United States, and on the rights of women and providing them with equality and a voice.

While living in Amsterdam, participating in the THNK School of Creative Leadership Executive Leadership Program, Ami developed the concept of Feminine Design Strategy. She created a methodology that helps leaders harness their own personal and unique qualities to solve problems and advance society.

Rich Experience

Ami currently serves as the long-term Executive Director for the family-funded Bernstein Family Foundation, preserving the legacy of giving that was established by her philanthropic grandfather, Leo M. Bernstein. The organization provides capital to grantees with projects in three primary areas: American Democracy, Arts & Culture, and Jewish Causes. The primary focus is improving the Washington, DC ecosystem. Leading the organization with her Feminine Design Strategy, Ami has honored her grandfather’s tradition of giving while creating a new approach to grant-making. This new direction not only encourages organizations to reexamine how they identify grantees; but challenges them to work beyond mere financial donations, cultivating collaborations and nurturing synergies that will produce more impactful results.

Her work has allowed her to connect with some of the most influential and intriguing people in the world, including artists, social activists, and those in civic life.”