OCTOBER 6 • 2022 | 13
W
hen Ida Benson attended college
at Michigan State University in
the 1980s, working in a nonprofit
field was virtually unheard of. In fact, it wasn’t
even available as an option for a major.
Now, nonprofit management is readily
available as a major. Yet 40 years ago, college
graduates chose to work on “special events”
instead, which were today’s equivalent of
fundraising for a nonprofit. They often took
on different majors, which in Benson’s case
was communication.
While today Benson is a leader in Metro
Detroit’s nonprofit world, and recently took
on a new role as Midwest regional director
for American Friends of Bar-Ilan
University, her eyes were originally
set on working in the venture cap-
ital world.
Early in her career, she handled
corporate communications for a
biotech company. Yet, following a
stock market crash in the 1990s,
Benson saw how volatile the indus-
try had become.
“I decided I needed to look at a
different field,
” the Oak Park resident recalls.
After considering the fundraising vertical,
where she could naturally apply her commu-
nication skills, she found an open position at
a small organization. It eventually led her to
work for the Detroit Medical Center.
“That gave me a lot of background and
experience in doing everything from small
special events to major giving,
” Benson
says. “
As I moved through my career, I real-
ly focused on leadership giving, or giving
$10,000 or more.
”
DOLLARS AT WORK
For the first time, Benson truly saw “dollars
at work,
” or the impact that major giving can
have. It was a rewarding feeling, one missing
during her career in venture capital.
Instead, Benson began connecting with
donors to identify where they could get
involved with programs or missions that met
their interests. She developed a passion for
long-distance running and spent her Saturday
mornings on the phone with donors during
her runs (it’s a hobby she continues
today and one that gives her inspira-
tion for new ideas).
Eventually, she took on a role as
regional director of individual giving
for the National Epilepsy Foundation,
which hit close to home for Benson.
Her father had epilepsy, as did
siblings, nieces and nephews. She
was essential to raising funding for
epilepsy research in that role.
Benson also worked at Covenant House
Michigan as director of development and
communications, helping youth experienc-
ing homelessness find shelter and hope.
While both roles were highly reward-
ing, Benson had a career move on the
horizon that she says truly “brought her
home.
” With her daughter and son-in-law,
Madeleine and Abraham Truitt, graduating
from Bar-Ilan University, Benson fell in love
with the university’s mission.
CONTINUING A LEGACY
As one of the largest public universities in
Israel, Bar-Ilan’s founding partners, Phillip and
Max Stollman, were major philanthropists in
the Metro Detroit area. Not only did Benson
have a personal connection as the mother of
a Bar-Ilan alumni; she had a local connection
as well.
American Friends of Bar-Ilan University,
which fundraises toward the university’s
mission with U.S.-based donors, was started
in Detroit. Therefore, it was a perfect oppor-
tunity for Benson to get involved and lend a
hand to fundraising throughout the greater
Midwest region.
“I’m excited to take that legacy and to rein-
vigorate the support of the university,
” Benson
says.
Bar-Ilan University’s mission appealed to
her “in a number of ways,
” she explains. As
a world-renowned institution, the university
provides critical research for nanotechnol-
ogy, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer treatment,
COVID-19 and more.
Its Rackmen Center also runs programs for
Israeli women in abusive relationships.
“It’s a great university that appealed to me,
”
Benson says.
Still, COVID-19 and a change in staffing
created a gap that Benson’s role will need to
fill. Throughout the pandemic, there was no
one in Detroit, Chicago or Cleveland to liaise
with Bar-Ilan University donors. Now, Benson
plans to step in and change that.
It’s a challenge, but one that Benson is look-
ing forward to taking on.
“Bar-Ilan really connects my Jewish
values and my family’s Jewish values with
the organization,” she explains. “I got Rosh
Hashanah off. Everyone says Shabbat
Shalom on Fridays. It just feels so right, it
just feels so welcoming.”
OUR COMMUNITY
Meet Ida Benson, American Friends of Bar-Ilan
University’s new Midwest regional director.
Putting
Dollars to Work
ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ida Benson
Campus Tower
at Bar-Ilan
University
The Brain Research Garden by
Orly Gotiv at Bar-Ilan University