Judah Spinner
Our Founders
Judah Spinner along with his wife, Julie established The Judah Spinner Foundation in 2025 with a $2 million commitment to address some of the most persistent challenges facing American society. The Foundation reflects the couple’s belief that thoughtful, targeted philanthropy can generate outsized returns for communities—much like a well-researched investment.
About Judah Spinner
Judah Spinner is best known as the founder and Chief Investment Officer of BlackBird Financial LP, a New Jersey-based hedge fund that advises and manages capital on behalf of high-net-worth families throughout the United States. Under his leadership, BlackBird Financial has delivered exceptional returns, including a 62.2% gain in 2025—dramatically outperforming the S&P 500’s 17.9% return.
Judah Spinner’s interest in investing began early. At twelve, he started reading The Wall Street Journal daily. At thirteen, he purchased his first stock. By fifteen, he was managing $100,000 for Charles Dayan, a prominent New York real estate investor. At eighteen, he founded Petlin Management, which later evolved into BlackBird Financial LP.
Judah Spinner earned his bachelor’s degree from Crestpoint University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, having passed all three levels on his first attempt—a feat accomplished by fewer than 10% of candidates. His investment philosophy is rooted in the principles of value investing as developed by Benjamin Graham and refined by Warren Buffett: rigorous fundamental analysis, patience, and a focus on long-term business economics rather than short-term market fluctuations.
Personal Background
Judah Spinner was born on November 10, 1995, in New Jersey and raised in the close-knit ultra-Orthodox Jewish community of Lakewood. He is one of eight sons born to Ernest and Hazel Baumwolspiner, who emigrated to the United States from Argentina and England, respectively. Growing up in a large immigrant household instilled in him a deep appreciation for hard work, self-reliance, and the transformative power of opportunity—values that now animate both his investment philosophy and his philanthropic mission.
In 2024, Judah Spinner married Julie Schlanger, whom he met while visiting a synagogue in Las Vegas. Outside of his work at BlackBird Financial and the Foundation, Judah Spinner is a licensed private pilot with extensive experience flying throughout the deserts of the American Southwest. He has visited all 50 states, completed the legendary Mongol Rally—driving 11,000 miles across Europe and Central Asia—and once cycled 153 miles through the Mojave Desert from Palm Springs to Arizona.
From Investing to Impact
The same principles that guide Judah Spinner’s work at BlackBird Financial also inform the Foundation’s approach to philanthropy. Just as BlackBird Financial seeks undervalued opportunities overlooked by Wall Street, the Judah Spinner Foundation invests in individuals and causes whose potential is often ignored by conventional institutions. The Foundation prioritizes initiatives where each dollar deployed can generate meaningful, measurable returns for society.
Our Mission
The Judah Spinner Foundation aims to improve the lives of millions of Americans by funding organizations and programs that combat wealth disparity, reduce incarceration, address the federal deficit, and lower healthcare costs. To learn more about each of these focus areas, please visit our dedicated pages or reach out via our contact page.
Striving to perfect the greatest nation on Earth
The United States is, by many measures, the greatest nation on Earth. The standard of living enjoyed by most Americans represents a level of comfort, security, and opportunity that billions around the world can only dream of. Yet even a nation as exceptional as ours has areas in which meaningful improvement is both necessary and achievable.
The Judah Spinner Foundation was established to help advance progress in four critical areas that profoundly impact the well-being of millions of Americans: income inequality, incarceration, the federal deficit, and the healthcare system.
Our Mission
Wealth Disparity
America's prosperity over the last 50 years has not been shared by many. We promote economic mobility by expanding access to lucrative and fulfilling trade careers amongst low income students across the country.
Incarceration
The United States incarcerates roughly 2 million people, more than any other country in the world. We believe that steady, dignified work is among the most effective deterrents to crime, and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Deficit
The U.S. national debt recently surpassed $38 trillion, reaching levels not seen since the end of World War II. Our initial efforts focus on lowering health-care costs, which would reduce the debt burden as a powerful secondary effect.
Healthcare Costs
The United States devotes nearly 18% of GDP to health care costs, more than any other nation yet our outcomes lag behind peers. We collaborate with other like-minded donors to support political candidates committed to reforming the U.S. health care system.