Born and raised in Miami Beach, Florida, making aliyah at the age of 17, and serving as a lone soldier in the Armored Corps, Sam Grundwerg never imagined he would one day serve as an Israeli diplomat and hold leadership positions in some of the Jewish people’s most influential national organizations.
Before entering the world of diplomacy and Jewish organizations, he built a promising business and legal career, holding positions in law and finance in both the U.S. and Israel, including at the prestigious Greenberg Traurig law firm. In 2016, Grundwerg was appointed Israel's Consul General in Los Angeles. During his tenure, he led efforts to engage with the Hollywood establishment and create a more positive image of Israel.
For the past seven years, Grundwerg, World Chairman of Keren Hayesod-UIA (United Israel Appeal), has been leading this iconic Zionist fundraising arm and national institution. Together with the organization’s leadership, he has spearheaded transformative changes that have re-energized Keren Hayesod and greatly impacted Jewish Diaspora communities outside of the US.
Leading Keren Hayesod through historic milestones
Grundwerg has led the organization through historic milestones such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and most recently, October 7. Following the emergency campaign in the aftermath of October 7th, Keren Hayesod, under Grundwerg’s leadership, will have raised more than 2 billion shekels since 2023—representing an increase of over 20% compared to the annual fundraising average in the years prior.
As part of his strategic efforts to modernize the organization and ensure its relevance to new generations of donors and supporters, Grundwerg has built and strengthened relationships with Christian leaders across the world, including in the US, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea—an effort with enormous impact.
In this especially critical year, Grundwerg has led strategic partnerships between Keren Hayesod, municipalities, NGOs, and other initiatives focused on Israel’s rehabilitation process—achieving historic records and directly benefiting the people of Israel.