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Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Annual Giving
$20.2M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.3M
Decision Time
3mo

Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $20.2 million (2022); recent campaign raised $13.6 million with $8 million in grants (2024-2025)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; SteelTree Fund meets 3-4 times per year
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $291,000 (program dependent)
  • Geographic Focus: Pittsburgh region (Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland counties); Israel and overseas

Contact Details

Overview

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh (EIN: 25-1017602) was established to build and sustain a flourishing Jewish community in the Pittsburgh region. As one of 151 independent Federations associated with The Jewish Federations of North America, the organization raises and allocates funds to build community locally, in Israel, and around the world. With CEO Jeff Finkelstein at the helm for over 20 years, the Federation has raised more than $681 million and distributes approximately $20 million annually in grants. The organization holds a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator (99% score), demonstrating strong financial health and accountability. Recent strategic priorities focus on combating antisemitism and enhancing security, teen mental health, young adult engagement, enabling the elderly to age well, and helping Israel rebuild. Finkelstein describes the Federation's mission as creating "a Jewish community where everyone feels included, supported and inspired."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Priorities Impact Grants

  • Focus areas: Young Adult Engagement, Addressing Antisemitism, Addressing Teen Mental Health
  • Amounts: Recent awards totaled $536,000 across these three priority areas
  • Application method: Online portal (rolling acceptance for some programs)
  • Contact: Ilene Rinn, irinn@jfedpgh.org, 412-992-5205

Israel & Overseas Funding

  • Grant range: $10,000 - $25,000
  • Application method: By invitation only
  • Priority given to Partnership 2Gether Region (Karmiel/Misgav)
  • Contact: ksalzman@jfedpgh.org

SteelTree Fund

  • Amount: Up to $10,000
  • Frequency: Two grant cycles per year
  • Focus: Innovative programs that strengthen vibrancy, endurance, and inclusiveness of Pittsburgh's Jewish community
  • Pre-review requirement: Mandatory consultation with SteelTree board member before application
  • Contact: Lily Wein, lwein@jfedpgh.org, 412-992-5213

Israel Travel Scholarships

  • Amount: $2,200 per student for minimum 21-day trips
  • Additional need-based scholarships available
  • Contact: Kim Salzman, ksalzman@jfedpgh.org, 412-992-5208

One Happy Camper

  • Amount: Up to $1,000 for first-time Jewish overnight camp attendees
  • Application: Through jewishcamp.org/one-happy-camper/

Young Adult Engagement Grants

  • Target: Programs for ages 22-45
  • Recent awards: $291,000 total to organizations including ElevatED, The Friendship Circle, Hillel centers, Chabad Young Professionals, and others
  • Contact: Moshe Luzer, mluzer@jfedpgh.org

Youth Convention Subsidies

  • For teen leadership development at regional/national conventions
  • Requirements: Minimum two nights; recognized national Jewish youth movement
  • Contact: Carolyn Linder, clinder@jfedpgh.org, 412-697-6648

Security Grants

  • Supports local Jewish agencies pursuing Pennsylvania PCCD and federal NSGP grants
  • Contact: Erin Fagan, efagan@jfedpgh.org, 412-992-5252

Vibrant Pittsburgh Mini Grants

  • Focus: Retaining diverse workforce talent
  • Contact: Laura Cherner, lcherner@jfedpgh.org, 412-992-5235

Urban Affairs Foundation Grant

  • Focus: Supporting at-risk youth, families, and communities
  • Contact: Laura Cherner, lcherner@jfedpgh.org, 412-992-5235

Priority Areas

The Federation's strategic planning identified key focus areas aligned with community needs:

Current Priority Topics:

  • Young Adult Engagement (ages 22-45)
  • Addressing Antisemitism
  • Teen Mental Health

Planning Focus Areas:

  • Aging and Human Needs
  • Jewish Community Life
  • Jewish Learning

Israel & Overseas Priorities:

  • Food security
  • At-risk youth
  • Economic development
  • Shared society
  • Ethiopian community
  • Jewish education
  • Special needs
  • Partnership 2Gether Region (Karmiel/Misgav)

What They Don't Fund

While the Federation does not publish comprehensive exclusion criteria, the following limitations have been identified:

  • Most programs require 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or international equivalent (NGO/Amuta)
  • Scholarship programs generally do not assist students with family incomes exceeding 5x the federal poverty level or investable assets over $250,000 (though exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances)
  • Capital improvements may be considered but lower priority than projects with impact "beyond your institution's four walls"
  • Awardees must be current on all prior Foundation requirements and reporting

Governance and Leadership

CEO: Jeff Finkelstein

  • MA from Hornstein Program of Jewish Communal Service at Brandeis University
  • BA in Sociology from Columbia University
  • BA in Talmud from Jewish Theological Seminary
  • 20+ years as Federation CEO (raised $681 million during tenure)

Board Leadership:

  • Jan Levinson, Chair of the Board
  • Judith Kanal, Vice Chair
  • Susan G. Berman Kress, Vice Chair
  • Debbie Resnick, Vice Chair
  • Carol Cozen, Treasurer
  • Howard Sniderman, Assistant Treasurer
  • Marc Brown, Secretary

CFO: David Work

Key Staff:

  • Ilene Rinn, Assistant Planning Director (Community Priorities Grants)
  • Kim Salzman, Israel & Overseas Programs
  • Carolyn Linder, Youth Programs
  • Shelly Parver, Assistant Planning Director (SteelTree Fund)
  • Laura Cherner, Community Programs

CEO Vision: When interviewing for the position 20 years ago, Finkelstein described his vision as carrying forward his Camp Yavneh experience: "a diverse place where we all lived together whether we were Orthodox or Hassidic or Reform, where we spoke Hebrew and where we learned to live a little more Jewishly every single day." He emphasizes the Federation is "all about: creating a Jewish community where everyone feels included, supported and inspired." While much of the Federation's work focuses on combating antisemitism and enhancing security, the ultimate goal is "so, we can live rich, meaningful Jewish lives."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

General Application Process:

  1. Visit https://jewishpgh.org/info/grants/ to review available opportunities
  2. Create an account on the grantmaking portal at https://grantmakingportal.smapply.io
  3. Contact the designated program officer before applying (recommended or required depending on program)
  4. Complete and submit application through online portal

Program-Specific Requirements:

SteelTree Fund (unique pre-review requirement):

  1. Email steeltreefund@jfedpgh.org with project name, brief description, and requested amount ($1,800, $3,600, $5,000, or up to $10,000)
  2. Within a few days, you will be connected with a SteelTree board member for mandatory pre-review consultation
  3. Receive access code to begin application after pre-review
  4. Submit full application online

Israel & Overseas Funding:

Community Priorities Impact Grants:

Partnership 2Gether (Israel) Applications:

  • Use separate Fluid Review portal (not the standard grantmaking portal)

Decision Timeline

SteelTree Fund: Funding decisions made 3-4 times per year by the SteelTree Fund Board (composed of young adult leaders in the Pittsburgh Jewish community)

Other Programs: Decision timelines vary by program and are not publicly disclosed. Contact program officers for specific information.

Success Rates

Success rates and application competitiveness data are not publicly disclosed. However, recent funding announcements show:

  • $245,000 awarded across 6 antisemitism grants
  • $291,000 awarded across multiple young adult engagement grants
  • Over $500,000 in community grants in one announcement
  • $400,000 approved in Community Priority Grants

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated in public materials. Applicants should contact program officers for guidance on unsuccessful applications and reapplication timing.

Application Success Factors

The Federation provides specific guidance on what makes successful applications across different grant categories:

For Signature Grants (Larger Impact Projects):

  • "Tackle big questions" and "envision the Jewish Pittsburgh of the future"
  • Proposed projects should be broad in scope
  • Touch a diverse population of Jewish Pittsburghers
  • Ambitious initiatives that aim to make lasting change to the community
  • While capital improvements considered, priority given to projects with "impact beyond your institution's four walls"

For Focus Area Grants:

  • Fund research or non-recurring projects of importance to the Jewish community
  • Provide "seed money" for start-up costs and initial funding for new projects
  • Especially those which directly address a critical, unmet need
  • Respond to emergency needs

For SteelTree Fund:

  • Programs considered innovative if they do not currently exist in Pittsburgh's Jewish community
  • Address an unmet need or opportunity
  • Strengthen the vibrancy, endurance, and inclusiveness of the Jewish community
  • Mandatory pre-review consultation allows applicants to refine proposals before submission

For Israel & Overseas Funding:

  • Special consideration given to applications which work to enhance the Partnership 2Gether Region (Karmiel/Misgav)
  • Focus on sustainable impact in priority areas

General Success Factors:

  • Organizations must be registered as United States 501(c)3 non-profits or with legal conduits holding that status
  • Awardees must be current on all prior Foundation requirements and reporting
  • Applications should describe how they plan to measure success with specific metrics (e.g., tracking attendance, pre/post surveys to gauge knowledge or attitude changes)

Recent Successful Projects (2024-2025):

  • Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh (antisemitism programming)
  • Tree of Life, Inc. (antisemitism programming)
  • ElevatED (young adult engagement)
  • The Friendship Circle (young adult engagement)
  • Multiple Hillel centers (young adult engagement)
  • Chabad Young Professionals (young adult engagement)
  • Jewish Family and Community Services Squirrel Hill Food Pantry ($10,000)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Align with current priorities: The Federation has clearly identified strategic focus areas (young adult engagement, antisemitism, teen mental health). Applications addressing these topics receive dedicated funding pools.

  • Emphasize community-wide impact: The Federation prioritizes projects that are "broad in scope, touch a diverse population of Jewish Pittsburghers, and aim to make lasting change." Avoid proposals that only benefit a single institution.

  • Innovation matters for SteelTree: If applying to SteelTree Fund, ensure your program is genuinely innovative—either it doesn't currently exist in Pittsburgh's Jewish community or addresses an unmet need in a new way.

  • Pre-application contact is critical: For SteelTree, pre-review is mandatory. For other programs, contacting the program officer before applying is strongly recommended. These conversations help refine proposals and ensure alignment.

  • Build measurement into your proposal: The Federation explicitly asks how you will measure success. Include specific, quantifiable metrics from the outset.

  • Partnership 2Gether connection helps: For Israel & Overseas funding, demonstrating connection to or impact in Karmiel/Misgav gives applications special consideration.

  • Stay current on requirements: Awardees must be current on all prior reporting requirements, so maintain strong relationships and fulfill obligations from any previous grants.

References

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