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Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey

Annual Giving
$0.1M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
2mo

Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately $100,000 in grants through JCF program
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks following application deadline
  • Grant Range: $500 - $5,000 (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in Southern New Jersey

Contact Details

Main Organization:

Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) Grants:

Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) Grants:

Overview

The Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey was founded in 1922 and serves the Jewish community in Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington counties, making it the third largest Jewish Federation in New Jersey. The organization has earned a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator with a score of 96%. The Federation's mission is to care for those in need, enhance Jewish life, and ensure the continuity of a vibrant Jewish community locally, in Israel, and around the world.

Under the leadership of CEO Jennifer Dubrow Weiss (who has served since October 2012), the organization operates through five Areas of Impact: Older Adults, Disability Services, Global Connections, Community Engagement, and Family & Youth. The Federation's grant-making activities are conducted primarily through two affiliated foundations: the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) and the Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) Grants:

  • Award Amount: Up to $5,000 per approved application
  • Total Annual Distribution: Approximately $100,000 per year
  • Application Cycles: Spring and Fall (twice annually)
  • Application Method: Online application via jcfsnj.org/grants
  • Recent Distribution: For Spring 2025, 22 separate requests were fulfilled with $41,300 in grant awards benefiting 15 organizations

Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) Grants:

  • Award Amount: $500 - $2,000 per grant
  • Focus: Programs affecting Jewish women and children
  • Application Method: Two-stage process (Letter of Intent, then Full Application)
  • Application Deadline: Letter of Intent due in January; Full Application due in April

Priority Areas

JCF Grant Focus:

  • New and innovative programming and services
  • Programs benefiting residents of Burlington, Camden, and/or Gloucester counties
  • Jewish Federation agencies, synagogues, Jewish day schools, and secular non-profits
  • Projects that do not duplicate existing funding or ongoing operating budgets

JWF Grant Focus:

  • Programs bringing positive change to the lives of Jewish women and girls
  • Recent funding areas include: mental health support, healing and PTSD prevention, intergenerational women's leadership development, play therapy training, sensory-inclusive environments, domestic abuse prevention, and caregiver support programs
  • Priority given to tri-county area (Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties)
  • International organizations considered if they have a sponsoring American organization

What They Don't Fund

JCF Restrictions:

  • Grants are not intended to supplement or duplicate existing funding
  • Not for ongoing operating budgets
  • Not for programs and services presently in existence

JWF Eligibility Limitations:

  • All applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Organizations from Israel or other countries must have a sponsoring American organization

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership (2023-2024):

Officers:

  • Edward S. Rivkin, President
  • Ivy Brown Rovner, Vice President & President-Elect
  • Caroline Austin, Vice President
  • Shira Katz Scanlon, Vice President
  • Scott Schulman, Vice President
  • Missy Wayne, Vice President
  • Harry A. Platt, Immediate Past President
  • Jennifer Dubrow Weiss, Secretary & CEO

Board Members include: Arthur Abramowitz, Betty S. Adler, Josh Aronovitch, Robert M. Benedon, Jodi Berman, Harv Cohen, Jamie Dollinger, Robert Elias, Glenn Fuhrman, Rick Goldstein, Michele Golkow, Jeff Gottlieb, Larry Gottlieb, Mike Greenspun, Harry Horwitz, and David Hulnick, among others.

CEO Statement on Community Investment: Jennifer Dubrow Weiss has emphasized the importance of local investment, stating: "Now more than ever, we must invest locally to ensure our community remains resilient, connected, and cared for." She has also noted: "It's so important that we use this moment of reflection to also look ahead to the future. The time and effort that we put in today create the groundwork for a sustainable Jewish community filled with important programming, resources, and security for generations to come."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) Grants:

  1. Review the JCF Grant Guidelines document available at jcfsnj.org/grants
  2. Complete the online application form
  3. Organizations may submit more than one request per cycle
  4. Each program is eligible to receive funding over the course of up to three cycles (usually once per year for three years)
  5. A new application is required for each cycle
  6. If awarded a JCF Grant, recipients must complete a form and submit receipts for program expenses after program completion to get reimbursed

Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) Grants:

  1. Submit Letter of Intent by deadline (typically in January)
  2. Letters of Intent are reviewed by the Grants Committee in March
  3. Qualifying groups selected to submit full grant application in April
  4. Submit completed Letter of Intent and full grant application to Arielle Ben-Haim at abenhaim@jfedsnj.org
  5. Full application deadline typically in April (4pm EST)

Decision Timeline

JCF Grants:

  • The Grants Committee reviews all applications
  • Review process may take 6-8 weeks in total following the application deadline

JWF Grants:

  • Letter of Intent review: March
  • Full application deadline: April
  • Final decisions announced following Grants Committee review

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly disclosed. However, for Spring 2025 JCF Grants Cycle, 22 requests were fulfilled totaling $41,300 benefiting 15 organizations, suggesting some organizations submitted multiple requests.

Reapplication Policy

JCF: Each program is eligible to receive funding over the course of up to three cycles (usually once per year for three years), with a new application required for each cycle.

JWF: Reapplication policy not explicitly stated; contact Arielle Ben-Haim for clarification.

Application Success Factors

Focus on Innovation and New Programming: JCF grants specifically prioritize "new and innovative programming and services" rather than supplements to existing programs. Applications should clearly articulate what makes the proposed program novel and how it differs from current offerings.

Geographic Alignment is Critical: Both JCF and JWF give priority to programs serving Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties. Applications should clearly demonstrate how the program benefits residents of these specific tri-county areas.

Recent Examples of Funded Projects:

JWF 2025 Recipients:

  • Congregation Beth El's Healing Arts Mitzvah Project for Artists 4 Israel (PTSD prevention following October 7th)
  • Congregation Beth Tikvah's Intergenerational Women's Leadership workshop series
  • Jewish Children's & Family Service Play Therapy Professional Development
  • JFCS 3rd Annual SARAH Self Care Social (domestic violence recovery)
  • Katz JCC Camp Hilltop Sensory Building (sensory-inclusive environment)
  • Katz JCC's "Representation in the Arts: Please Stand By" film series (young women with disabilities)
  • Katz JCC's Parkinson's Connection caregivers support program
  • Congregation Sons of Israel's Children and Women's Safety Initiative

JCF Past Recipients (2022):

  • JCRC's "Teens Advocating Together" program (bringing together students from all backgrounds)
  • JFCS Cooking Companions program (providing seniors with remote nutritional and emotional support)

Budget Realism and Specific Amounts: With JCF grants capped at $5,000 and JWF grants ranging from $500-$2,000, proposals should have realistic budgets that match the funding available. The reimbursement structure for JCF grants means organizations need to be prepared to pay upfront and submit receipts.

Multi-Year Opportunities: JCF allows programs to receive funding for up to three cycles (typically annually for three years), so applicants should consider whether their program could benefit from sustained funding and plan accordingly.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize innovation: JCF grants are specifically for "new and innovative programming" - clearly articulate what makes your program novel and different from existing services
  • Geographic specificity matters: Demonstrate clear benefits to residents of Burlington, Camden, and/or Gloucester counties in your application
  • Understand the reimbursement model: JCF grants require organizations to pay upfront and submit receipts for reimbursement, so ensure your organization has the cash flow capacity
  • Consider the two-stage JWF process: For JWF grants, invest time in a strong Letter of Intent since this determines whether you'll be invited to submit a full application
  • Plan for potential multi-year funding: JCF allows up to three years of support for the same program, so think about sustainability and how the program might evolve over time
  • Connect to current community needs: Recent JWF grants show responsiveness to contemporary issues (e.g., October 7th aftermath, mental health support) - tie your program to current community priorities
  • Prepare for 6-8 week decision timeline: Build sufficient lead time into your planning to accommodate the review process

References

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