United Jewish Israel Appeal

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £12.8 million (2024, doubled from £6.4m in 2023)
• Grant Range: £500 - £10,000 (for organisational grants when programmes are open)
• Individual Scholarships: Up to 50% of programme costs (Gap Year Scholars)
• Decision Time: Varies by programme
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (UK Jewish community); Galilee region, Israel
• Application Method: Time-limited programmes (no continuous open application process)

Contact Details

Address: 4th Floor, Amelie House, 221 Golders Green Road, London, NW11 9DQ

Phone: +44 (0)20 7424 6400

Email: info@ujia.org

Website: www.ujia.org

Si3 (Social Impact Investment): si3@ujia.org

Registered Charity Number: 1060078 (England & Wales), SC 039181 (Scotland)

Overview

United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA) is a London-based charity founded in 1996 that works to strengthen connections between young British Jews and Israel while supporting vulnerable communities in Israel's Galilee region. With current CEO Mandie Winston (appointed January 2020, the organisation's first female CEO) and Chair Zvi Noé (appointed April 2024), UJIA has significantly expanded its impact following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, with annual giving doubling to £12.8 million in 2024.

UJIA's mission is to inspire young Jews to forge their own personal relationship with Israel past, present, and future, working primarily through youth movements and the Union of Jewish Students. The organisation operates through a dual approach: providing Israel experiences and financial assistance for UK Jewish youth, while funding educational and community development projects in Israel's underserved Galilee region. Their work focuses on reducing disadvantage and inequality, supporting at-risk children, and helping families escape poverty through employment opportunities.

Following October 7, UJIA launched an emergency appeal that has allocated over £7.2 million to more than 30 vital projects, providing psychological support, emergency grants, and assistance to evacuees and survivors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

IMPORTANT NOTE: UJIA does not have a continuous open application process for organisational grants. Instead, they periodically launch time-limited funding programmes. Organisations interested in funding should contact UJIA directly or monitor their website and communications for announcements of new funding rounds.

Historical Organisational Grant Programmes (Reference for Future Opportunities)

Summer Engagement Fund (2020)

• Grants up to £10,000
• £100,000 total fund
• Supported 20+ projects impacting 7,000+ British Jews
• Focus: Summer educational projects for children and teenagers

Winter Engagement Fund (2020-21)

• Grants up to £5,000
• £20,000 fund
• Focus: Winter activities promoting Jewish identity and Israel engagement
• Eligibility: Organisations serving primarily the Jewish community with legal structure (charity, company limited by guarantee, etc.)
• Priority: Projects for underserved Jewish communities, joint UK-Israel activities, creative use of technology

Current Individual Financial Assistance Programmes (Ongoing)

Gap Year Scholars

• Covers up to 50% of programme costs
• For MASA-approved gap year programmes (minimum 4 months)
• Must be British resident, active in UK Jewish community, attending post-secondary school programme

Access Israel Fund - Israel Tour Subsidies

• £2,200 subsidy available
• For young people with limited Jewish community engagement
• Applications through youth movements

Mosaic Award

• Targeted at those with limited engagement in Israel/Jewish communal life
• 62 vouchers awarded for Israel Tour

Israel-Based Funding

Si3 (Social Impact Investment Initiative)

• NOTE: This is NOT a grant programme - provides loans and equity investments
• Up to NIS 500,000 per initiative in loans or 50% equity position
• Focus: Education, employment, community development
• 28 projects funded to date
• For Israeli non-profit or for-profit organisations
• Contact: si3@ujia.org

Emergency Appeal Grants (Post-October 7, 2023)

• Over £7.2 million allocated to more than 30 vital projects
• Through partners: Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT), Pitchon Lev, SAHI network
• Focus: Psychological support, evacuee assistance, emergency supplies, education facilities

Galilee Development Projects

• Long-term commitments to educational institutions
• Western Galilee College (including £6 million Kaye Family Building for School of Management)
• Carmiel Children's Village
• Medical school in Safad
• Funding for construction, student villages, employment programmes

Priority Areas

UK-Based Projects (when grant programmes are open):

• Informal Jewish education
• Israel engagement activities
• Youth leadership development
• Projects for underserved Jewish communities
• Joint UK-Israel peer activities
• Innovative use of technology for Jewish education

Israel-Based Projects:

• Education and employment opportunities in Galilee region
• Support for at-risk children
• Community development for vulnerable populations
• Multicultural education (Jewish and Arab communities)
• Psychological and emergency support (post-October 7)
• Social mobility and poverty reduction

What They Don't Fund

• Projects whose primary beneficiaries are not British Jews (for UK grants)
• Projects outside the Galilee region focus (for Israel development grants)
• General operating costs without specific programmatic focus
• Organisations without legal structure (for organisational grants)
• Pure social impact investments are handled through Si3, not grant programmes

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Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Chair: Zvi Noé (appointed April 2024)

• Previously UJIA Trustee since 2022
• Succeeded Louise Jacobs (first female chair, 2018-2024)
• Priorities: Jewish unity, Zionism, cross-denominational inclusion, youth connection to Israel

CEO: Mandie Winston (appointed January 2020)

• First female CEO of UJIA
• Former LJY-Netzer leader
• Quote: “We are committed to empowering young Jews by removing barriers to help them form strong connections with Israel and by cultivating future leaders who can inspire their peers.”

Trustees

Board includes: Keith Black (35-year association with UJIA, former Manchester chairman), James Burchell, Alex Dwek, Ian Grabiner, Ruth Green, Karen Harris, Jeremy Isaacs, Stuart Levy, Robert Randall

Note: No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

How to Apply to United Jewish Israel Appeal

How to Apply

For Organisational Grants:

UJIA does not currently have an open application process for organisational grants. Grant programmes are launched periodically in response to community needs. Organisations interested in funding should:

1. Monitor UJIA communications - Sign up for updates at www.ujia.org
2. Contact UJIA directly - Email info@ujia.org to express interest and be notified of future opportunities
3. Build relationships - Engage with UJIA through their events and programmes
4. Review past programmes - Understand their priorities through previously funded initiatives

When grant programmes have been open (historical reference):

• Online application form on UJIA website
• Application required: Project budget, safeguarding/child protection policy, organisational budget, latest accounts
• Short Zoom meeting with UJIA educator to discuss application
• Rolling or fixed deadline basis depending on programme

For Individual Financial Assistance:

• Gap Year Scholars: Apply through MASA-approved gap year programmes
• Israel Tour subsidies: Apply through your youth movement
• Contact: Check UJIA website or email info@ujia.org for current programmes

For Si3 Social Impact Investment:

• Continuous application process at si3.ujia.org/apply/
• Email: si3@ujia.org

Decision Timeline

Historical organisational grant programmes:

• Application review: 2-4 weeks
• Zoom interview scheduled within application period
• Decision notification: Varies by programme, typically within 4-6 weeks of deadline

Individual programmes:

• Israel Tour subsidies: Decisions typically notified late January
• Gap Year Scholars: Rolling basis, decisions made in consultation with MASA programmes

Success Rates

Specific success rates for organisational grants are not publicly available. However:

• Summer Engagement Fund 2020: 20+ organisations funded from “many dozens” of applications (estimated 30-40% success rate)
• Gap Year Scholars: Over £270,000 distributed annually in bursaries
• Israel Tour: 62 Mosaic vouchers awarded

Reapplication Policy

Organisations can reapply for subsequent funding rounds. UJIA appears open to funding organisations multiple times if programmes align with their priorities and demonstrate impact.

Application Success Factors

Evidence from Past Funded Projects

Successful organisational applications typically demonstrate:

1. Clear Jewish identity and Israel connection - Projects must engage participants with Jewish identity and Israel, as UJIA CEO Mandie Winston stated: the fund aims to “provide young Jewish people and their families with meaningful and exciting ways to connect with their Jewish identity and with Israel.”

1. Focus on underserved communities - UJIA “looks favourably” on projects aimed at underserved Jewish communities in the UK who may have limited access to traditional programmes.

1. Innovation and technology - During pandemic-era funds, UJIA prioritised “creative use of technology” and innovative approaches to engagement.

1. Joint UK-Israel activities - Projects featuring collaboration with Israeli peers receive favourable consideration.

1. Strong safeguarding - Applications must include current safeguarding and child protection policies.

1. Clear impact on youth - Primary beneficiaries should be British Jews, particularly young people.

1. Covid-compliance (when relevant) - Historical programmes required adherence to health and safety requirements.

Key Priorities from Leadership

Chair Zvi Noé's stated priorities:

• “Jewish unity is my top priority”
• "Communal unity, Zionism, active inclusion and our young people's connection to Israel across all religious denominations"
• “What we do here, in the UK, matters” - emphasising UK-Israel connection

Strategic focus areas:

• Post-October 7: “UJIA will be there, not just for the physical rebuilding but in addressing the mental scars too”
• Youth leadership: "Israel experiences, particularly immersive gap year programmes, play a vital role in strengthening young people's sense of belonging to the Jewish people, which in turn inspires them to become the communal leaders of the future"

What to Avoid

• Projects that don't primarily serve the Jewish community
• Applications without required documentation (budget, safeguarding policy, accounts)
• Generic proposals without clear connection to Jewish identity or Israel
• Projects outside UJIA's geographic or thematic focus areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. UJIA is a grant-maker but without continuous open applications - Monitor their website and communications for announcements of time-limited funding programmes rather than expecting an always-open application process.

1. Dual focus on UK youth and Israeli communities - Programmes must either support British Jewish youth engagement with Israel/Jewish identity OR address inequality and disadvantage in Israel's Galilee region.

1. Significant emergency response capacity - Following October 7, UJIA doubled its income and demonstrated ability to launch major funding initiatives rapidly in response to crises.

1. Strong emphasis on inclusion and accessibility - Access Israel Fund and focus on underserved communities shows commitment to removing financial barriers for young people with limited engagement.

1. Relationship-based funding for Israeli projects - Israeli grants appear to flow through established partnerships rather than open applications, except for Si3 social impact investments.

1. Youth movements are key partners - Much of UJIA's UK work flows through youth movements and UJS (Union of Jewish Students), so connecting through these organisations may be strategic.

1. Contact them proactively - Given the time-limited nature of grant programmes, organisations should contact info@ujia.org to express interest and ensure they're notified when new funding opportunities arise.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Central British Fund For World Jewish Relief
• Motor Neurone Disease Association
• The Weizmann Institute Foundation
• The Save The Children Fund
• The Prisoners Of Conscience Appeal Fund
• New Israel Fund
• The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity
• The Jerusalem Foundation
• Jw3 Development
• Shaare Zedek Uk
• Wizo.uk
• Prism The Gift Fund

References

• UJIA Official Website: www.ujia.org
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 1060078: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1060078
• “UJIA doubles income in year after October 7,” The Jewish Chronicle, 2024: https://www.thejc.com/news/community/ujia-doubles-income-in-year-after-october-7-m9ra3cpt
• “Jewish unity is my top priority, says new UJIA chair,” The Jewish Chronicle, 2024: https://www.thejc.com/news/community/jewish-unity-is-my-top-priority-says-new-ujia-chair-hy9ika39
• “UJIA launches £100,000 fund for summer educational projects,” Jewish News: https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/ujia-launches-100000-fund-for-summer-educational-projects/
• “UJIA to offer grants of up to £5,000 for winter Israel projects,” Jewish News: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/ujia-to-offer-grants-of-up-to-5000-for-winter-israel-projects/
• “UJIA elects Zvi Noé as new chair,” Jewish News, 2024: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/ujia-elects-new-chair/
• “UJIA Appoints Mandie Winston CEO,” eJewishPhilanthropy, 2019: https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/ujia-appoints-mandie-winston-ceo/
• Si3 Social Impact Investment Initiative website: https://si3.ujia.org
• “Speech at Annual dinner of United Jewish Israel Appeal,” UK Government, GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/speech-at-annual-dinner-of-united-jewish-israel-appeal
• UJIA Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UJIA
• “Applications open for UJIA gap year scholar programmes,” Jewish News: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/applications-open-for-ujia-gap-year-scholar-programmes/