Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $40,032,620 (2024, through Jewish Community Foundation)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Announced in summer (applications accepted in spring)
Grant Range: $2,800 - $20,000 (depending on program category)
Geographic Focus: Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union, and parts of Somerset and Warren counties, NJ; Partnership communities in Israel

Contact Details

Organization Address: 901 Route 10, Whippany, NJ 07981

Grant Contact: Yaffa Karp, Associate Executive Director Phone: (973) 929-2982 Email: ykarp@jfedgmw.org

Website: https://jfedgmw.org / https://jcfgmw.org

Overview

Established in 1923 and celebrating over 100 years of service, the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ is the largest Jewish philanthropy in New Jersey and the eighth-largest federation in the United States. The organization operates through its affiliated Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ (JCF), founded in 1949, which now stewards over $700 million in charitable assets and more than $100 million in future legacy commitments. In 2024, the Foundation provided $40,032,620 in grants through 455 awards, making it one of the largest community foundations in New Jersey. The Federation serves as the center of a network of 27 local and 4 overseas partner agencies, directing funding to meet human service needs with emphasis on Jewish individuals and communities. In September 2025, Meredith Dragon became Executive Vice President and CEO, bringing a track record of innovation and community-building from her decade of leadership at the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Local Greater MetroWest NJ Grants (Annual cycle, applications open in spring):

Care for Older Adults: Up to $20,000 (special consideration for financially vulnerable populations)
Jewish Education Programming: Up to $10,000 (including Israel education, educator development, joy-focused learning)
Care for the Needy: Up to $10,000

Israel Partnership Community Grants (Annual cycle, applications open in spring):

Developmental Disability Support: Up to $10,900
Cultural Engagement in Ofakim/Merchavim: Up to $9,600
Olim Resettlement Assistance: Up to $2,800
Ethiopian Jewish Scholarships in Israel: Up to $3,300

Application method: Annual fixed deadline cycle (spring), online via Foundant grant management system

Priority Areas

Local New Jersey:

Care for older adults, particularly financially vulnerable populations
Jewish education programming and classes
Israel education and advocacy
Professional development for Jewish educators
Immersive Jewish learning experiences
Education-based programming that inspires joy in Judaism
Services for those in need
Senior services
Vocational services
Mental health counseling for all ages
Services for individuals with special needs and their families
Social and recreational programming
Early childhood education
Teen leadership development
Holocaust survivor care and education
Intergenerational programming

Israel Partnership Communities (Ofakim/Merchavim, Arad, Kibbutz Erez, Rishon LeZion & Hurfeish):

Individuals living with developmental disabilities
Cultural activities engagement
Support for lone soldiers
Ethiopian-Israeli scholarships
Youth trauma support

Strategic Approach: The Foundation emphasizes programs with "clear vision, measurable impact, and alignment with Jewish values of inclusion, learning, and communal responsibility." Recent funded initiatives emphasize intergenerational connection, Holocaust remembrance, educational accessibility, and support for vulnerable populations.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, Israel grants are restricted to organizations "located in or serving residents of Greater MetroWest NJ's partnership communities in Israel" (Ofakim/Merchavim, Arad, Kibbutz Erez, Rishon LeZion & Hurfeish). Local grants are restricted to organizations serving the geographic area of Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union, and parts of Somerset and Warren counties in New Jersey.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

Meredith Dragon, Executive Vice President and CEO (joined September 2025)
Yaffa Karp, Associate Executive Director

Board Leadership:

Michael Goldberg, President, Board of Trustees

CEO Vision and Quotes:

Meredith Dragon on her leadership approach: "The thing that I've done best is galvanizing teams around shared purpose and goals."

On Federation impact: "When you look at the amount of money that is raised and distributed in the MetroWest area across the globe and in Israel, there is a significant amount of impact, and we have to do a much better job telling that story."

On community awareness: "One of the challenges in the federation system is sometimes people feel like they don't know where the money goes."

On interfaith engagement: "If we're not at the table for interfaith dialogue and for standing with other communities, then we're on the menu."

Dragon has emphasized improving communications around federation activities, building staff cohesion, strengthening partnerships (including unique work with the Druze community in Israel), and maintaining active interfaith relationships. Prior to joining MetroWest, she established the Levine Center to End Hate in 2018 and set fundraising records in Rochester, including raising over $5 million for the ROCStrong Safety & Security Campaign.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted annually through the Foundant online grant management system. The Foundation provides access codes for applicants:

LOCAL26 for local NJ grants
ISRAEL26 for Israel partnership grants

A tutorial is available on how to use the Foundant grantmaking software system.

Key Requirements:

Only one application per organization is permitted
Organizations must serve the community's geographic area as defined by JCF
Israel applicants must be located in or serving residents of Greater MetroWest NJ's partnership communities

Application Period: Applications open each spring. For FY2026, applications have closed; new applications will be available in Spring 2026.

Decision Timeline

Applications submitted in spring are reviewed by volunteer grant review committees. Decisions are typically announced in late summer (by October). In FY2026, approximately $230,000 was awarded across all grant programs.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, in FY2026, the Foundation made grants across three categories to approximately 24 local and Israel-based organizations from the $230,000 available. The Jewish Community Foundation overall made 455 awards in 2024 totaling $40,032,620 across all its grantmaking activities (including donor-advised funds and other programs beyond the annual competitive grants).

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may reapply annually, though funding is not guaranteed. The Foundation accepts applications on an annual cycle, and there is no indication of restrictions preventing unsuccessful applicants from reapplying in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

What JCF Looks For: According to the Foundation's materials, "each program selected had a clear vision, measurable impact, and alignment with Jewish values of inclusion, learning, and communal responsibility."

Specific Program Guidance:

For Jewish Education grants, the Foundation encourages applicants to explore:

Israel education initiatives
Professional development for Jewish educators
Immersive Jewish learning experiences
Education-based programming that inspires joy in Judaism

For Care for Older Adults grants, special consideration is given to programs serving financially vulnerable populations, with grants up to $20,000 available for this priority area.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects (FY2026):

Care for Older Adults & Those in Need:

Intergenerational programming (Congregation B'nai Israel of Millburn)
Emergency medical training (Friends of Hatzalah)
Memory care financial assistance (JCC MetroWest)
Kosher food packages (Jewish Family Service of Central NJ)
Meals for Holocaust survivors (Jewish Family Service of MetroWest)
Survivor dental care transportation (Jewish Federation CARES)
Senior luncheon programming (Union Y)

Jewish Education:

Project-based ritual learning (Congregation Beth El)
Alumni leadership fellows program (Golda Och Academy)
Youth leadership development (JCC of Central New Jersey)
Holocaust curriculum expansion (JEC)
Russian-speaking parent learning initiatives (Jewish Parent Academy)
Israel education retreat (Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy)
Educator professional development (Shomrei Emunah Preschool)
Teen Torah program (Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim)
Family programming (Temple Shalom)
Holiday resource guides (Temple Sinai ECEP)
Teen Shabbat programs (Tri-State NCSY)

Key Success Patterns: Funded initiatives demonstrate intergenerational connection, Holocaust remembrance, educational accessibility, support for vulnerable populations, and programs that strengthen Jewish identity and community bonds. Applications should clearly articulate measurable outcomes and demonstrate alignment with Jewish values.

Strategic Advice from Leadership: CEO Meredith Dragon emphasizes the importance of understanding where funding goes and communicating impact effectively. She notes that "one of the challenges in the federation system is sometimes people feel like they don't know where the money goes," suggesting that strong, clear communication about program impact and outcomes is valued in successful applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Demonstrate measurable impact: The Foundation explicitly looks for programs with "measurable impact"—include specific outcomes, metrics, and evaluation plans in your application
Align with Jewish values: Emphasize how your program reflects Jewish values of inclusion, learning, and communal responsibility
Focus on priority populations: Applications serving older adults (especially financially vulnerable), Jewish education, and those in need receive the highest grant amounts (up to $20,000)
One shot per year: Only one application per organization is allowed, so choose your strongest program and category carefully
Geographic specificity matters: Clearly demonstrate how your organization serves the defined geographic area (Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union, and parts of Somerset and Warren counties)
Intergenerational and innovative approaches stand out: Recent grantees include programs with intergenerational programming, innovative educational approaches, and support for Holocaust survivors
Spring timing is critical: Applications open in spring with decisions in late summer—plan ahead as this is an annual fixed cycle, not rolling admissions
Contact Yaffa Karp early: The Associate Executive Director is available to answer questions at (973) 929-2982 before you apply

References

Information accessed December 2025