← Back to US Funders Directory

The Sephardic Foundation on Aging

Annual Giving
$4.6M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.3M
Decision Time
5mo

The Sephardic Foundation on Aging

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,570,600 (2023)
  • Total Grants Made: 81 grants (2023)
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $333,000
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily New York/National (with some international Jewish community support)
  • Total Assets: $67.6 million

Contact Details

Address: 3 Columbus Circle, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019
Phone: (646) 854-9975
Email: info@sfoa.org
Website: https://sfoa.org
Application Portal: https://thesephardicfoundationonaging.submittable.com

Grant Inquiries:

  • Janice G. Stolar, Director of Grants
  • Elisabeth Stevens, Grants Coordinator

Overview

The Sephardic Foundation on Aging began over 60 years ago as the Sephardic Home for the Aged in Brooklyn, serving as the heart of New York's Sephardic community. In 2015, the organization transformed into a private grantmaking foundation with a mission to foster innovation and collaboration in the field of aging so older people and their communities have the support and resources they need to flourish. The foundation operates on five Jewish-rooted core values: Experience (Hochma), Community (Kehilla), Humility (Anava), Dignity (Tzelem Elohim), and Sincerity (Emet). In 2023, the foundation distributed $4.57 million across 81 grants, supporting organizations serving older adults both domestically and internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates three distinct grant cycles throughout the year:

Cycle #1: End of Life Care or Preventing Elder Abuse

  • Opens August (e.g., August 18, 2025 at 9am ET through September 18, 2025 at 5pm ET)
  • Grant awards announced approximately February

Cycle #2: Dementia Care and Brain Degenerative Diseases

  • Opens November (e.g., November 10, 2025 at 9am ET through December 11, 2025 at 5pm ET)
  • Grant awards announced approximately June

Cycle #3: Combating Social Isolation of Older Adults

  • Opens March (e.g., March 23, 2026 at 9am ET through April 23, 2026 at 5pm ET)
  • Grant awards announced approximately September

Priority Areas

The foundation funds projects across five key areas:

  1. Holocaust Survivors: Programs providing social, financial, and mental health support to Holocaust survivors and older trauma survivors
  2. Community Connections: Initiatives reducing loneliness and isolation through interactive learning and essential services that enable aging at home with dignity
  3. Dementia Care: Support for people with dementia and their caregivers, including non-pharmacological treatments and programs promoting wellbeing
  4. Capital Improvements: Construction, renovations, and major equipment purchases for facilities serving older adults
  5. Intergenerational Programming: Projects creating meaningful relationships between older and younger generations

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly excludes:

  • Individuals
  • Endowments
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Political Organizations/Action Groups
  • Debt reduction
  • Multi-year grant proposals

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

  • Joshua Hoffman - Executive Director
  • Janice G. Stolar - Director of Grants
  • Elisabeth Stevens - Grants Coordinator

Board of Directors

  • Joe Halio, M.D. - President
  • Michael Lopez - Chair
  • Neil Crespi - Treasurer
  • James J. Khani - Secretary
  • James Caspi
  • Robert Cohen
  • Laurie Kamhi
  • Alan Matarasso, M.D.
  • Henry Perahia
  • Ira Rousso
  • Clifton Russo

Leadership Perspective

Joshua Hoffman, Executive Director, articulated the foundation's philosophy: "The Lynn Kramer Village by the Shore is a prime example of communities caring for their older members, ensuring the ability to continue living at home with dignity and support. The Sephardic Foundation on Aging is proud to continue our partnership with JFS." This statement reflects the foundation's emphasis on aging in place with dignity and partnering with community organizations.

Application Process & Timeline

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for funding, organizations must:

  • Be a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, OR have a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status
  • Have been operational for at least two years
  • Serve older adults through programs aligned with one of the foundation's priority areas

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) All prospective grantees must first submit a Letter of Inquiry through the foundation's Submittable online platform. The LOI is the first stage of evaluation, and only selected applicants will be invited to submit a full grant application.

Step 2: Full Application (by invitation only) Selected LOI applicants receive invitations to submit full grant applications. Required documents include:

  • Recent audited financial statements
  • Most recent Form 990
  • IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Determination Letter
  • Current organizational budget
  • Project budget (if applicable)

Application Platform: The foundation uses Submittable for all communications with applicants and grantees. Applicants should use a supported browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari—not Internet Explorer) and ensure they maintain access to the email address used for their account.

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a cycle-based timeline:

  • LOI Submission Period: Typically open for 4-5 weeks
  • Full Application Invitations: Sent approximately 1-2 months after LOI deadline
  • Grant Awards Announced: 4-6 months after full application deadline

For example:

  • Cycle #2 (Dementia Care): LOI closes December → Full applications invited late February → Awards announced June
  • Cycle #3 (Social Isolation): LOI closes April → Awards announced September

Success Rates

In 2023, the foundation made 81 grants, though specific data on the total number of applications received is not publicly available. The foundation typically invites a select group of LOI applicants to submit full proposals, suggesting a competitive multi-stage review process.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's website and public materials do not specify a formal reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations interested in reapplying should contact the foundation directly to inquire about timing and guidance.

Notable Grant Examples

Major Capital Grant: MJHS Health System ($1.5 million, 2018)

In January 2018, the foundation awarded a $1.5 million grant to MJHS Health System for a dedicated 80-bed wing offering specialized non-pharmacological treatments for Menorah Center residents with dementia. The grant funded ongoing staff training, education development, workshops for family caregivers, and creative therapies including music, art, pet, aroma, tactile, and dance/movement therapy.

Multi-Year Partnership: DOROT ($245,000 over four years)

The foundation contributed $245,000 to DOROT over four years, expanding DOROT's flagship Door to Door program. By the end of 2018, $175,000 in grants enabled DOROT to hire a Program Manager and double their Travel Companions, helping more seniors unable to leave their homes. During COVID-19, the foundation allocated an additional $70,000 in 2020, including $20,000 for an additional social worker and $50,000 for Thanksgiving meal deliveries.

Recent Grant: Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties ($60,000)

The foundation awarded $60,000 to JFS Atlantic to support care coordination and transportation services through the Lynn Kramer Village by the Shore, enabling older adults to continue living at home with dignity.

2023 Grant Recipients

Major 2023 grants included:

  • PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc: $333,000
  • Struggle to Save Ethiopian Jewry Inc: $296,000
  • Jewish Agency for Israel North American Council: $295,000
  • Friends of the Israel Defense Forces: $250,000
  • FJC: $250,000
  • American Friends of Turkish Jewry: $225,000
  • Jewish National Fund: $200,000

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Cycle-Specific Focus

The foundation operates three distinct grant cycles with specific focus areas. Applications must clearly align with the designated priority area for that cycle (End of Life Care/Elder Abuse, Dementia Care, or Social Isolation). Review the cycle themes carefully and tailor your LOI to demonstrate how your project directly addresses the specific focus area.

Innovation and Collaboration

The foundation's mission explicitly emphasizes "fostering innovation and collaboration in the field of aging." Successful applications should demonstrate innovative approaches to serving older adults and opportunities for collaboration with other organizations or sectors.

Demonstrated Impact on Dignity and Quality of Life

As Executive Director Joshua Hoffman stated, the foundation values programs that ensure older adults can "continue living at home with dignity and support." Applications should articulate how the proposed project will tangibly improve dignity, independence, and quality of life for older adults.

Evidence of Organizational Capacity

The foundation requires that organizations have been operational for at least two years and requests audited financial statements and Form 990s. Strong applications will demonstrate financial stability, effective governance, and the capacity to successfully implement the proposed project.

Connection to Jewish Values

While not explicitly required, the foundation's roots in the Sephardic Jewish community and its core values based on Jewish principles (Experience, Community, Humility, Dignity, and Sincerity) suggest that organizations with connections to Jewish communities or that incorporate these values may have an advantage.

Support for Specific Vulnerable Populations

The foundation has shown particular interest in serving Holocaust survivors, trauma survivors, and isolated older adults. Projects targeting these populations with culturally sensitive programming appear to resonate with the foundation's priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Two-stage process: All applications begin with a Letter of Inquiry; only selected applicants are invited to submit full proposals, so invest time in a compelling LOI
  • Cycle-specific alignment is critical: Ensure your project directly addresses the specific focus area of the grant cycle you're applying to (End of Life/Elder Abuse, Dementia Care, or Social Isolation)
  • Emphasize innovation: The foundation's mission explicitly seeks "innovative work in the field of aging"—demonstrate what makes your approach unique or cutting-edge
  • Show dignity-centered outcomes: Frame your project around how it enables older adults to maintain dignity, independence, and quality of life
  • Demonstrate organizational readiness: With a two-year operational requirement and requests for audited financials, the foundation seeks established organizations with proven capacity
  • Consider multi-year impact: The DOROT example ($245,000 over four years) shows the foundation values sustained partnerships with effective organizations
  • Plan ahead: Grant cycles have specific windows throughout the year—mark your calendar and prepare LOIs well in advance of deadlines

References

← Back to US Funders Directory