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Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ

Annual Giving
$40.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $40,032,620 (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 455 awards (2024)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$87,950
  • Total Assets: Over $700 million in charitable assets
  • Geographic Focus: Greater MetroWest NJ region, Israel partnership communities
  • Application Timing: Spring annually

Contact Details

Address: 901 Route 10, P.O. Box 929, Whippany, NJ 07981-0929

Phone: (973) 929-3066

Website: https://jcfgmw.org

Grant Inquiries:

  • Yaffa Karp, Associate Director of Strategic Philanthropy

Financial Inquiries:

Overview

Since 1949, the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ has served as the endowment and legacy arm of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, helping individuals, families, and institutions make a lasting impact through values-driven philanthropy. The Foundation now stewards over $700 million in charitable assets and more than $100 million in future legacy commitments. JCF and their fundholders distribute nearly $40 million in grants annually to support Jewish community causes and broader charitable work, both locally and globally. The Foundation operates through multiple funding streams, including donor-advised funds (which represent approximately 70% of grantmaking), advisory councils focused on specific areas like camps, day schools, senior programs, and Israel, and restricted endowment funds that honor legacy donors. Under the leadership of President Maxine Murnick and incoming Executive Director Michal Werner (beginning July 2025), JCF emphasizes strategic philanthropy that creates measurable impact aligned with Jewish values.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Local NJ Community Grants: Open annually in spring

  • Focus: Care for older adults (with special consideration for the financially vulnerable), Jewish education programming, and care for those in need
  • Application: Online through Foundant platform
  • Access code: LOCAL26
  • Total pool: Approximately $230,000 distributed across multiple organizations for FY2026

Israel Partnership Community Grants: Open annually in spring

  • Geographic restriction: Only organizations located in or serving residents of Greater MetroWest NJ's partnership communities in Israel (Ofakim/Merchavim, Arad, Kibbutz Erez, Rishon LeZion, and Hurfeish)
  • Focus areas: Support for individuals with developmental disabilities (up to $10,900), cultural activities in Ofakim and Merchavim (up to $9,600), resettlement assistance for Olim, and scholarships for Ethiopian Jews in Israel
  • Application: Online through Foundant platform

Advisory Council Grants:

  • Specialized councils oversee targeted funding areas including Jewish camps, day schools, senior programs, women's initiatives, teen programming, and Israel-focused work
  • Each council acts as a collective philanthropic advisor, enabling like-minded community members to engage in grantmaking together

Donor-Advised Funds:

  • Represents approximately 70% of total grantmaking
  • Fundholders recommend grants supporting Federation partners, Israel programs, and secular organizations locally, nationally, and internationally
  • About 70% of fundholder grants support Jewish causes

Special Funds:

  • Grotta Fund for Older Adults: Serves Essex, Union, Morris, Sussex, and eastern Somerset counties; supports programs helping older adults age in place independently, safely, and with dignity
  • The Mack Ness Fund: Economic development in Israel's Negev region through low-interest business loans
  • Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund: Scholarships to Israeli women in need through educational institutions

Priority Areas

For Local NJ Grants:

  • Care for older adults, especially the financially vulnerable
  • Jewish education programming and professional development
  • Intergenerational programming
  • Services for those in need (food assistance, transportation, healthcare access)
  • Projects that inspire joy in Judaism
  • Emergency medical services enhancement
  • Memory impairment support services

For Israel Grants:

  • Support for individuals living with developmental disabilities
  • Cultural engagement activities
  • Scholarships and educational opportunities
  • Economic development in partnership regions

Strategic Emphasis:

  • Programs with clear vision and measurable impact
  • Alignment with Jewish values of inclusion, learning, and communal responsibility
  • Innovative programs and special community projects
  • Emergency response for Jewish communities in NJ, nationally, and globally

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation does not explicitly publish exclusions, but based on their focus areas, grants are limited to:

  • Organizations serving Greater MetroWest NJ or their Israel partnership communities
  • Programs aligned with Jewish community priorities and values
  • For Israel grants: Only organizations located in or serving their specific partnership communities

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

  • Maxine Murnick, President of JCF - Also serves as Unified Allocations Council Chairwoman. Murnick has emphasized the Foundation's role in securing Greater MetroWest "for the next 100 years and beyond" and states that allocations committees are "committed to ensuring that the gifts you make to the UJA Annual Campaign have the greatest impact possible."

  • Michal Werner, Executive Director (beginning July 1, 2025) - Previously played a critical role in building the next generation of philanthropists through steering "100 for 100," a Centennial Campaign segment aimed at raising centennial gifts from 100 donors aged 50 and under. Upon her appointment, Werner expressed "deep gratitude for the path paved by Kim and many Executive Directors before her."

Board Officers:

  • Gary R. Botwinick, Vice President - Co-managing partner of Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost & Botwinick, P.C.
  • Dov Ben-Shimon, Secretary - Executive Vice President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ

Board Members:

  • Paula Gottesman, At Large - Past President of JCF
  • Sandra Sherman, At Large - Founding partner of Sherman Wells Sylvester & Stamelman LLP
  • Michael Schechner, At Large - CEO of Schechner Lifson Corporation
  • Gary Aidekman - President of Highview Capital Corp.
  • Jean Mandell - Member of the Board of Trustees

Investment Oversight: The Foundation's investment strategy is guided by a skilled Investment Committee of volunteer investment professionals. The organization emphasizes that "proper stewardship of charitable funds is our highest priority" and notes that "for the last five years, the performance of our investment pools has exceeded their benchmarks."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Local NJ Community Grants and Israel Grants:

  1. Applications open each spring
  2. Submit through the Foundant online platform at grantinterface.com
  3. One application per organization
  4. Tutorial available on how to use Foundant
  5. Different access codes for different programs (e.g., LOCAL26 for local NJ grants)

Application Requirements:

  • Clear vision and measurable outcomes
  • Demonstrated alignment with Jewish values of inclusion, learning, and communal responsibility
  • Specific program details showing how the grant will create impact
  • Budget and organizational information

For Donor-Advised Fund Grants: Fundholders recommend grants directly through their donor-advised fund accounts. This is not a public application process.

For Advisory Council Grants: Each Advisory Council has its own processes and focus areas. Contact JCF directly for information about specific council grant opportunities.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Period: Spring (annually)
  • Review Process: Dedicated volunteers review applications, including lay leaders who allocate funds from legacy commitments
  • Decision Announcement: Later in summer
  • Grant Distribution: FY2026 grants were announced, suggesting fiscal year cycle (July-June)

The review process involves "hundreds of volunteer hours discussing priorities and ultimately deciding how to allocate the dollars" raised through campaigns and endowments.

Success Rates

Based on available data, the Foundation distributed approximately $230,000 across 24 organizations for local and Israel grants in FY2026, from a total annual grantmaking budget of over $40 million. However, the vast majority of grants come from donor-advised funds and are not part of the competitive application process. Specific success rates for competitive grant programs are not publicly disclosed.

In 2024, the Foundation made 455 total awards, showing steady growth from 407 awards in 2023, 387 in 2022, and 323 in 2021.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation does not publicly disclose a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Since applications are solicited annually in spring, organizations can presumably apply in subsequent years, but this should be confirmed with JCF staff.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's stated priorities and funded projects, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Alignment with Jewish Values The Foundation explicitly states that successful programs show "alignment with Jewish values of inclusion, learning, and communal responsibility." Maxine Murnick emphasizes that allocations committees consider "how best to leverage the dollars available to improve the lives of millions of people in Greater MetroWest, in Israel and around the world."

2. Measurable Impact Each funded program must demonstrate "a clear vision, measurable impact." Applicants should include specific metrics and outcomes that show how the grant will create tangible change.

3. Focus on Priority Populations Recent FY2026 funded projects demonstrate clear priorities:

  • Older Adults: Programs like JCC MetroWest's memory impairment support services, Jewish Family Service's meals for Holocaust survivors, and transportation assistance for dental care
  • Jewish Education: Professional development for educators (Congregation Beth El, Shomrei Emunah Preschool), immersive learning experiences (JEC Holocaust curriculum, Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy Israel education retreat), and programs that inspire joy in Judaism (Temple Shalom family Shabbat programming)
  • Those in Need: Kosher food assistance (Jewish Family Service of Central NJ), emergency medical services (Friends of Hatzalah)
  • Israel Connection: Support for lone soldiers, law school scholarships, disability services, and youth trauma support

4. Innovation and Community Impact The Foundation funds "new initiatives, innovative programs, and special community projects." Examples include intergenerational programming (Congregation B'nai Israel of Millburn), alumni leadership fellowships (Golda Och Academy), and programming for Russian-speaking families (Jewish Parent Academy).

5. Professional Development and Capacity Building Multiple funded projects focus on strengthening the Jewish education workforce through professional development, suggesting this is a strategic priority.

6. Special Consideration for Financial Vulnerability The Foundation explicitly gives "special consideration for the financially vulnerable" in their care for older adults priority area.

7. Application Quality

  • Use the Foundant platform correctly (tutorial available)
  • Submit one application per organization
  • Ensure all required fields are completed thoroughly
  • Provide detailed budgets and program descriptions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Spring is application season: Plan ahead for annual spring application cycles; late summer decisions mean you need to be ready early in the year
  • Measurable outcomes are essential: Don't just describe activities—clearly articulate the impact with specific, quantifiable outcomes that align with Jewish values
  • Focus on the three priority pillars: Competitive grants specifically target older adults/those in need, Jewish education, and Israel partnership communities—ensure your program clearly fits one of these
  • Average grant size varies widely: While the overall average is ~$88,000, competitive local/Israel grants appear smaller (FY2026 distributed ~$230,000 across 24 organizations, averaging ~$9,600 each)
  • Build relationships through advisory councils: If your work aligns with specialized areas like camps, day schools, women's initiatives, or senior programs, connecting with the relevant advisory council could provide additional pathways to funding
  • Demonstrate financial vulnerability focus: For programs serving older adults, explicitly address how you serve the financially vulnerable to align with their stated priority
  • Leverage the Foundant system: Familiarize yourself with the online platform before the deadline and use the tutorial provided
  • Contact Yaffa Karp early: As Associate Director of Strategic Philanthropy, she can provide guidance on fit and program alignment before you invest time in a full application

References

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