Our Team
Bradley Bewkes
Director of Business Development
Almost 20 years ago I left bucolic Wisconsin for bustling Manhattan to attend FIT. I spent more than a decade managing global businesses in high-tech apparel and consumer products, and dipped my toes in entrepreneurship with my own ventures in real estate and fitness. Yearning to engage in more hands-on volunteer work, I came across Idealist in 2015 and began helping Ami think about new (and awesome) products for the organization. Now, I oversee our iOS mobile app, a social network for good, as well as strategic partnerships to expand Idealist’s mission.
Outside Idealist, I am an elected official in Stamford, CT, where I live, and serve on the legislative body, the Board of Representatives. I’m also a (nice!) landlord of a small building on the Upper East Side, and love getting out of the area for skiing, scuba-diving, and exploring the world.
I really enjoy the intersection of tech & social good and am passionate about providing opportunities for underserved communities to enter the tech industry and grow in their careers. Feel free to reach out anytime at bradley@idealist.org! :)
Patrick Metzger
Director of Product
As the Director of Product, I help shape the vision and strategy across Idealist's digital products. Combining insights from data analytics and user research, I collaborate with our tech team to ensure we're building the best possible user experience for the global community of Idealists.
Before arriving at Idealist, I worked on Planned Parenthood digital products at the national level, focusing on the full-scale redesign of PlannedParenthood.org. I got my start in the digital space at Graphika, a social media analytics startup where I helped transform a highly technical data product into a user-friendly platform for use by clients like Conde Nast.
Outside of Idealist, I write about patterns in music, culture, and the universe. I also play bluegrass banjo and make folk music with my wife, Amie. I grew up in Chattanooga, TN and now call Beacon, NY my home!
Matthew Chavez
Senior Producer
Inspired by Idealist’s mission after Ami Dar's talk at Creative Mornings, Matthew Chavez joined the team as a Senior Producer. In this role, he creates compelling videos, organizes engaging events, and facilitates impactful community initiatives. All aimed at furthering Idealist’s goal of fostering a more connected, supported, dignified world.
Outside of Idealist, Matthew is an NYC-based artist, educator, and author, known for his innovative participatory public installations like Subway Therapy, an acclaimed work that garnered him the Brendan Gill Prize from the Municipal Art Society of New York and the Demos Transforming America Award.
Driven by a passion for empowering others, Matthew co-founded Listening Lab, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering social connections and personal growth through the practice of listening. Listening Lab develops transformative educational programs and public works designed to uplift communities.
He has many hobbies and interests including backpacking, traveling, people watching, video games, political/philosophical discourse, sewing, climbing, podcasting, and volunteering. Occasionally, you can find him in parks around NYC moonlighting as a surprise game show host.
Ami Dar
Executive Director
Ami is the founder and executive director of Idealist.org. Built in 1996 with $3,500, Idealist has become one of the most popular nonprofit resources on the web, with information provided by 150,000 organizations around the world. Ami was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Peru and in Mexico, and lives in New York with his wife and daughters.
Learn more about our values and commitment to working with each other and with the community.