Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America

Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, is a nonprofit membership organisation founded in 1912 at Temple Emanu-El in New York City, where 38 women gathered to respond to the needs of immigrants in pre-state Israel. It works across healthcare, women's leadership, Jewish community advocacy and youth programmes, carried out through philanthropy, advocacy and volunteerism. The organisation is women-led - established before American women had the vote - and operates on a mission described as "healing the world" (tikkun olam).

Its largest undertaking is a pair of state-of-the-art hospitals in Jerusalem, which formed the groundwork for Israel's healthcare system and today serve more than one million patients a year. Youth programmes include Young Judaea and Youth Aliyah. Hadassah also advances women's leadership and campaigns against antisemitism.

The organisation has nearly 300,000 members and more than 700 chapters nationwide, with a presence in every Congressional district in the United States, alongside its operations in Jerusalem and wider global activity. It has run continuously for more than a century. Its footprint spans healthcare and medical services, nonprofit and philanthropic work, Jewish communal organisations, women's organisations, youth education and development, and advocacy and public policy.