Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

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

Contact Details

Main Organisation:

Website: https://www.jewishsouthjersey.org/
Address: 1301 Springdale Road, Suite 200, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Phone: 856.751.9500

Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) Grants:

Website: https://www.jcfsnj.org/grants
Contact: Mike Staff, JCF Assistant Director
Email: mstaff@jfedsnj.org
Phone: 856.673.2528

Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) Grants:

Website: https://www.jewishsouthjersey.org/jwf/grants
Contact: Arielle Ben-Haim, JFSNJ Women's Philanthropy Associate
Email: abenhaim@jfedsnj.org
Phone: 856.751.9500 x1296

Overview

The Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey was founded in 1922 (originally as the Federation of Jewish Charities in Camden, New Jersey) and serves the Jewish community in Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington counties, making it the third largest Jewish Federation in New Jersey. The organisation 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 organisation 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).

Important Note on Financial Data: The Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey (EIN 210634489) files Form 990 and reports minimal direct grant-making. Grant distribution is conducted through the affiliated Jewish Community Foundation, which is a separate legal entity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) Grants:

Award Amount: Up to $5,000 per approved application
Total Annual Distribution: Approximately $100,000 per year through the JCF grants programme; individual grant cycles may exceed this (Fall 2025 distributed an estimated $80,000, the largest in JCF history)
Application Cycles: Spring and Fall (twice annually)
Application Method: Online application via jcfsnj.org/grants
Recent Distribution: Spring 2025 cycle fulfilled 22 separate requests with $41,300 in grant awards benefiting 15 organisations

Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) Grants:

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

Priority Areas

JCF Grant Focus:

New and innovative programming and services
Programmes 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:

Programmes 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 programmes
Priority given to tri-county area (Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties)
International organisations considered if they have a sponsoring American organisation

What They Don't Fund

JCF Restrictions:

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

JWF Eligibility Limitations:

All applicants must be 501(c)(3) organisations
Organisations from Israel or other countries must have a sponsoring American organisation

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

CEO:

Jennifer Dubrow Weiss, Chief Executive Officer (serving since October 2012)

CEO Statement on Community Investment: Jennifer Dubrow Weiss has emphasised 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:

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

Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF) Grants:

Submit Letter of Intent by deadline (typically in January)
Letters of Intent are reviewed by the Grants Committee in March
Qualifying groups selected to submit full grant application in April
Submit completed Letter of Intent and full grant application to Arielle Ben-Haim at abenhaim@jfedsnj.org
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 the Spring 2025 JCF Grants Cycle, 22 requests were fulfilled totalling $41,300 benefiting 15 organisations, suggesting some organisations submitted multiple requests.

Reapplication Policy

JCF: Each programme 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 prioritise "new and innovative programming and services" rather than supplements to existing programmes. Applications should clearly articulate what makes the proposed programme novel and how it differs from current offerings.

Geographic Alignment is Critical: Both JCF and JWF give priority to programmes serving Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties. Applications should clearly demonstrate how the programme 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 programme
Congregation Sons of Israel's Children and Women's Safety Initiative

JCF Past Recipients:

JCRC's "Teens Advocating Together" programme (bringing together students from all backgrounds)
JFCS Cooking Companions programme (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 organisations need to be prepared to pay upfront and submit receipts.

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

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Emphasise innovation: JCF grants are specifically for "new and innovative programming" - clearly articulate what makes your programme 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 organisations to pay upfront and submit receipts for reimbursement, so ensure your organisation 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 programme, so think about sustainability and how the programme 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 programme 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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