Through Stan Polovets’ leadership, The Genesis Prize Foundation honors top achievers, promotes Jewish values, and addresses global issues.
Established in 2013, The Genesis Prize Foundation has honored exceptional Jewish individuals who have significantly contributed to society while maintaining their Jewish identity. This prestigious award, which Time magazine calls the “Jewish Nobel,” aims to inspire the next generation by celebrating those who have made notable achievements across various fields. Stan Polovets, co-founder and CEO of The Genesis Prize Foundation, has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s mission and strategic direction.
Under his leadership, the Genesis Prize has distinguished itself in the philanthropic world by recognizing and honoring Jewish individuals who have made significant contributions to humanity. Each laureate receives a $1 million award, which they historically redirect to philanthropic causes, amplifying their impact on society. As a result, over the past decade, with the help of matching donors, the Genesis Prize awards have generated over $50 million for charitable causes, supporting over 200 organizations.
“It is the only organization awarding an annual $1 million to an individual who does not take the money but turns it around and invests it back into the community, often doubling or tripling the contribution through matching donors,” says Stan Polovets. “This approach has been one of innovation, inclusivity, and agility in allowing Genesis Prize and its honorees the opportunity to find timely issues in need of philanthropic contribution and global attention.”
Polovets’ strategic vision for the foundation centers on leveraging the prestige and resources of the Genesis Prize to inspire social change and foster Jewish identity. His approach is characterized by meticulous planning and a commitment to addressing timely and critical issues through philanthropy. By focusing on high-impact giving, Polovets ensures that the prize funds are used to tackle pressing social problems and support innovative solutions.
The Genesis Prize Foundation’s Commitment to Social Change
The foundation’s strategy involves recognizing outstanding individuals and ensuring that the prize money is utilized in ways that create a broader social impact. This approach began with the first laureate, Michael Bloomberg, in 2014. The former mayor of New York City directed his $1 million award to establish the Genesis Generation Challenge, a global competition to inspire young social entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions for pressing social issues. Following Bloomberg, each laureate has continued this tradition of giving back.
Oscar winner Michael Douglas directed his prize to be used to advocate for the inclusion of intermarried families in Jewish communities, promoting a more welcoming and diverse environment. Itzhak Perlman, a world-renowned violinist, directed the foundation to use his prize in initiatives supporting the inclusion of people with disabilities, significantly contributing to a more accessible society. Artist Anish Kapoor allocated his prize to address the global refugee crisis, highlighting the urgent need for support and advocacy for displaced populations.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the U.S. Supreme Court associate justice, received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for her trailblazing work in civil rights and women’s advocacy. Previous laureates chose her for her profound contributions to justice and equality. That year, the prize funds were directed to women’s empowerment initiatives in her honor.
Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, focused his efforts on combating antisemitism. He announced the creation of a new foundation and contributed $20 million to counter the growing threat of antisemitism and all forms of hate. Human rights activist Natan Sharansky directed his prize funds to organizations supporting vulnerable populations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg directed his award to organizations working toward racial and economic justice in the United States in 2021. That same year, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks was awarded a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award for his inspirational work and advocacy for interreligious and intercultural dialogue.
In 2022, Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, allocated his prize to support the establishment of a Holocaust museum in Thessaloniki, Greece. The following year, Jewish activists and organizations aiding Ukraine were honored for their vital contributions during the ongoing conflict, emphasizing the Jewish community’s role in supporting innocent civilians.
In 2024, The Genesis Prize Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary by awarding the prize to Barbra Streisand, who directed her funds to nonprofits focused on environmental protection, women’s health, combating media disinformation, and supporting Ukraine. The Genesis Prize also honored Israeli organizations dedicated to providing care, counseling, and support to hostages abducted by Hamas as well as the hostages’ families, raising global awareness and ensuring international leaders prioritize their release.
Stan Polovets: A Distinguished Career in Business and Philanthropy
Stan Polovets is a prominent figure in both the business and philanthropic worlds, with a career that spans several high-profile roles in various industries. His professional journey began as a financial analyst at ExxonMobil (1985-86) and progressed through significant positions at KPMG (1986-87) and Ernst & Young (1990-92), where he was a senior manager in international M&A for Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Polovets then founded the Russian Petroleum Investor Group and served as CEO from 1992 to 2001. His expertise led him to advisory and executive roles, including adviser to the CEO at Williams (1999-2001), a Fortune 500 company that owns and operates energy infrastructure in the United States, including natural gas pipelines, gathering and processing operations, and petroleum and electricity generation assets. During the same period, Polovets served as adviser to deputy prime minister and minister of oil and gas of Turkmenistan, helping attract foreign investment to this Caspian country’s energy sector.
He then held multiple leadership positions at TNK-BP (2001-07), where he played a pivotal role in the merger negotiations with BP, the largest corporate transaction in Russian history. From 2007 to 2008, Stan Polovets was executive vice president and board member at Uralsib Financial Corp., Russia’s second-largest private banking and insurance group.
In 2008, Polovets returned to the oil industry and led the Alfa-Access-Renova Consortium as CEO (2008-13), overseeing a global energy portfolio valued at over $25 billion. Polovets continued to influence the energy sector as lead nonexecutive director at L1 Energy, a U.K.-based energy holding company with exploration and production assets across the globe (2013-19).
Polovets held prominent management and board positions as chairman for Eastern Europe at Edelman (2014-16) and lead nonexecutive director at CLAL Industries (2014-19). In 2020, he was tapped to serve as chairman of Anchiano Therapeutics Ltd. (2020-21), a Nasdaq-listed biotech company focusing on innovative cancer treatments, and oversaw a merger with Chemomab Therapeutics, yielding a 630% return for shareholders in one year.
Stan Polovets’ leadership at The Genesis Prize Foundation exemplifies how strategic philanthropy can drive meaningful change and foster a united and proud global Jewish community. His extensive career history has equipped him with the expertise and vision to steer philanthropic ventures toward impactful and lasting outcomes.