Alex Shwarzstein of blessed memory was the founder of Mission Mavens and a career fundraiser with over 15 years of experience. With a track record of launching new initiatives and revitalizing existing programs to drive long-term success, she was passionate about helping small and mid-size nonprofits build sustainable, high-impact fundraising programs. 

Alex was also a consummate community builder. She reached out to people and created a diverse community of friends and colleagues in all the places she lived, including New York, the South Bay, and Los Angeles. 

Outside of work, she led and participated in Jewish community-building events, Occupy movements, and disaster relief efforts. When she found out that her cancer was terminal, she created an online forum of almost 180 friends, colleagues, and family members, so that they could come together even in her absence. She died on the morning of August 26, 2025 (2 Elul, 5785).

Her passion, fierce inclusivity, and belief in a more just world continue to guide Mission Mavens today.