Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8,218,513 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (board-directed grants)
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $855,000 (based on recent awards)
• Geographic Focus: United States (primarily New York area) and Israel
• Total Awards: 63 grants in 2023

Contact Details

Address: 770 Middle Neck Road, Suite 5P, Great Neck, NY 11024

Phone: (516) 466-8947

Fax: (516) 466-8948

Email: info@iajfny.org

Website: www.iajfny.org

Key Contacts:

• Limor Ohebshalom, Associate Director: limor@iajfny.org, (516) 466-8947
• For naming opportunities: tova@iajfny.org

Overview

Founded in 2001, the Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York (IAJF NY) is a community-based 501(c)(3) public foundation that serves Iranian Jews in the Greater New York area with a global outlook focused on supporting Israel. Since its inception, IAJF has raised more than $100 million to support over 230 organisations across healthcare, education, IDF soldier support, social services, and humanitarian aid sectors. In fiscal year 2023, the organisation distributed grants totalling $8,218,513 to 63 organisations with total revenues of $9,592,919 and total assets of $9,720,135. The federation operates through volunteer leadership, with all five highest-paid positions reporting $0 compensation, and maintains a strong programme expense ratio, meaning the vast majority of funds go directly to programmes rather than overhead. The organisation demonstrated remarkable responsiveness following October 7, 2023, by rapidly mobilising crisis assistance for Israeli soldiers, hospitals, and affected families. IAJF operates with only 2 paid employees, with the vast majority of leadership serving without compensation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

IAJF does not operate formal grant programmes with public application processes. Instead, the board of trustees identifies and selects organisations to support based on the federation's strategic priorities and community needs. Recent major grants have included:

• American Friends of Beit Ruth: $855,000 (largest grant in 2023)
• Friends of the Israel Defense Forces: $850,000
• One Family Fund: $290,000
• Additional grants ranging from approximately $10,000 to several hundred thousand dollars across 60 other organisations

The federation raised over $6 million at their 2024 annual gala specifically to support Israel-related causes.

Priority Areas

Israeli Support Programmes:

• Healthcare facilities (including Hadassah Medical Centre's Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower physical-occupational therapy room)
• IDF soldier programming and support
• Victims of terror and humanitarian relief
• Israeli innovation and technology programmes (such as Jewish Heart for Africa's sustainable technology initiatives)

Jewish Community Services:

• Educational programmes promoting Jewish values and Zionist education
• Social services for disadvantaged individuals in the Iranian American Jewish community
• Medical and therapeutic programmes (including specialised care for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia through Sid Jacobson JCC)
• Research on diseases affecting Persian Jews, particularly HIBM (Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy)

Youth and Leadership Development:

• Young Leadership Board programmes engaging next-generation leaders
• Cultural and educational events including Shabbat dinners, Israel advocacy through AIPAC
• Programmes supporting mental health initiatives and organisations like Tribe of Nova Foundation

Community Unity:

• Establishing an influential voice for Iranian Jews in the metropolitan New York area
• Serving as a connector between the community and other Jewish organisations
• Supporting daily lunch distributions to children in Israeli schools (such as elementary schools in Nahariya)

What They Don't Fund

While the organisation does not publish explicit exclusions, their focus is clearly on:

• Organisations outside their geographic focus (New York area and Israel)
• Causes not aligned with Jewish community support or Israeli welfare
• Individual requests unrelated to the Iranian American Jewish community
• Projects that do not advance their four strategic pillars: community unity, Jewish & Zionist education, community services, and leadership development

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Board Chair: Shahram Yaghoubzadeh (Founder, served as President 2003-2015, Chairman since 2015)

• Founded IAJF NY in 2001 with a group of prominent community members
• All board leadership positions are uncompensated volunteer roles

President: Joanna Eshaghoff (Elected 2025)

• Previously served as Board Member for three years
• Brings extensive leadership experience from Temple Israel of Great Neck, Sephardic Heritage Alliance Inc. (SHAI), and Adventures in Learning of Great Neck

Previous President: Steven Khadavi (President 2020-2025)

• Joined IAJF Board in 2007
• Served as Secretary and Vice President before becoming President

Vice President: David (Founding member, first elected President, Co-Chairman, Vice President since 2015)

Principal Officer: Robert Kahen

The board comprises over 30 trustees and officers who volunteer their time and expertise. The organisation maintains only 2 paid employees, with the vast majority of leadership serving without compensation.

Organisational Philosophy

The federation's leadership emphasises rapid response and adaptability. The organisation demonstrated exceptional adaptability by rapidly mobilising crisis assistance following October 7, 2023, collaborating with Israeli partners to support soldiers, hospitals, and affected families.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: The Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York does not have a public application process for grants. The organisation's board of trustees identifies and selects grant recipients based on strategic priorities, community needs, and organisational relationships.

Organisations seeking support cannot submit unsolicited applications. Grant decisions are made through internal board deliberations, with funding typically directed to established organisations working in their priority areas of Israeli support, Jewish community services, and humanitarian relief.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through board discretion rather than competitive application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organisations cannot apply or reapply as there is no formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since IAJF does not accept public applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organisations that have received support share these characteristics:

Alignment with Mission: All funded organisations clearly support one or more of IAJF's four strategic pillars:

1. Community Unity (Iranian Jewish voice and connectivity)
2. Jewish & Zionist Education (cultural heritage and Israel advocacy)
3. Community Services (social, educational, and medical programmes)
4. Leadership Development (next-generation engagement)

Focus Areas: Organisations receiving the largest grants tend to focus on:

• Direct support for Israel, particularly IDF-related services and Israeli healthcare
• Humanitarian relief for victims of terror
• Medical innovation and therapeutic services
• Educational programmes promoting Jewish identity and Zionist values

Geographic Relevance: Funded organisations primarily operate in:

• Israel (with emphasis on healthcare, IDF support, and humanitarian relief)
• Greater New York area (with focus on Iranian American Jewish community services)

Established Credibility: Recent grant recipients include well-known, established organisations such as:

• American Friends of Beit Ruth
• Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
• One Family Fund
• Hadassah Medical Centre
• Sid Jacobson JCC

Crisis Responsiveness: The organisation prioritises rapid deployment of resources during emergencies, as demonstrated by their immediate mobilisation following October 7, 2023.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: IAJF operates entirely through board-directed grantmaking. Organisations cannot submit applications and should not attempt to do so through traditional grant-seeking channels.

• Relationship-Based Funding: The federation funds organisations it identifies through its network, board connections, and strategic partnerships within the Iranian Jewish community and broader Jewish organisational landscape.

• Dual Geographic Focus: All funding supports either the Iranian American Jewish community in the Greater New York area or organisations working in Israel, with particular emphasis on Israeli security, healthcare, and humanitarian causes.

• Crisis-Responsive: The organisation has demonstrated the ability to rapidly mobilise significant resources during emergencies, particularly for Israeli-related crises.

• Volunteer-Led Governance: With all top leadership serving without compensation and only 2 paid staff, this is a lean, community-driven organisation that maximises programme spending.

• Major Donor Events: The annual gala at Lincoln Centre's David Geffen Hall is the primary fundraising vehicle, regularly raising $6+ million per event with high-profile speakers.

• Young Leadership Pipeline: The organisation actively cultivates next-generation donors and leaders through its Young Leadership Division, which may be a point of engagement for younger professionals connected to the Iranian Jewish community.

References

1. Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York - Official Website. www.iajfny.org. Accessed January 2025.

2. "Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York Inc." GuideStar Profile. www.guidestar.org/profile/01-0651843. Accessed January 2025.

3. "Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York (IAJF)." Cause IQ. www.causeiq.com/organizations/iranian-american-jewish-federation-of-new-york,010651843/. Accessed January 2025. (Financial data: FY 2023 revenues $9,592,919; grants made $8,218,513)

4. "Iranian American Jewish Federation - Nonprofit Explorer." ProPublica. projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10651843. Accessed January 2025.

5. "Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York Inc." Foundation Directory, Candid. fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=IRAN416. Accessed January 2025.

6. "Iranian American Jewish Federation Holds Groundbreaking Gala at NY's Geffen Hall." The Jewish Voice, November 2022. tjvnews.com/2022/11/iranian-american-jewish-federation-holds-groundbreaking-gala-at-nys-geffen-hall/. Accessed January 2025.

7. "Iranian American Jewish Federation Joins the Conference of Presidents." Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations. conferenceofpresidents.org/press/iranian-american-jewish-federation-joins-the-conference-of-presidents/. Accessed January 2025.