Jack Ryger

Jack Ryger is a business professional with 20+ years of outstanding experience in creative fundraising and non-profit work at major health, education, and social service organizations.

Jack Ryger is a native New Yorker, and a graduate of Columbia University where he earned a B.S. in Political Science with a minor in International Affairs. He was the youngest Vice-President of the local Democratic Club, and actively involved in local, state, and national political campaigns. Both of Jack Ryger’s parents were Holocaust Survivors, which has imbued within him a strong sense of social responsibility, and led to his dedicated career in the fundraising, volunteer, and philanthropy world.

At UJA-Federation, the largest nonprofit philanthropic organization in Manhattan, Jack Ryger was a Development Executive working on Long Island’s North Shore community campaigns. Jack notably spearheaded major fundraising resulting in over $7M tangible funds raised for the organization.

In 2000, Jack Ryger was recruited as New York Development Director for American ORT. ORT is one of the largest educational and training NGO in the world, with programs in over 100 countries. It was the original model for the Peace Corps in training individuals in various professions. Jack Ryger was recruited to ORT to revitalize 5 chapters, and develop new executive leadership. Mr. Ryger started advisory groups for various chapters, which fed into executive committees and members of the board of directors. He also rebuilt and updated the contributor base, as well as major gift prospects. ORT holds a special place in Jack’s heart, as it helped train his mother as a seamstress in a Displaced Persons Camp in Bergen Belsen, Germany. Mr. Ryger is most proud of raising $45,000 for Operation Sunflower, which benefits children with cancer at Hadassah Hospital.

At UJC (now known as JFNA) Jack Ryger served as the Northeast Regional Director, working with communities and small federations in over 65 communities from Maryland to Maine, plus the state of Vermont. He raised over $2.1M and $3.45M in total cash annually, which resulted in a 20% increase in funds for the organization.

Jack Ryger currently resides in New York City with his wife and daughter. When he is not working, Jack can be found volunteering for organizations such as God’s Love We Deliver, spending time with his family and friends, and skiing all over the globe.