The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati

Private foundation · EIN 31-1451489 · since 1996thejewishfoundation.org·Cincinnati·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$23M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$17,500 to $1.5M

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$57,500

Typical grant (median)

37 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati is based in Cincinnati, OH, and its geographic focus is Greater Cincinnati, so it suits Jewish community organisations serving that area, including local agencies, congregations and programmes such as immersive Israel and overnight Jewish camp experiences, as well as selected local civic, cultural and social-impact initiatives for the Cincinnati Jewish community.
Typical grants to organisations run from $17,500 to $1,500,000, with about 8 in 10 falling in that band and a median grant of $55,500, so a modest request of tens of thousands of pounds is the realistic starting point for most applicants, though the Foundation's largest grant, around $8,250,000, went to Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, an organisation it funds every year that regrants to others.
It accepts applications on a rolling basis, so there is no fixed deadline to plan around.
The Foundation looks strongly relationship-led: 98% of its grant dollars in its most recent filing went to organisations it had also funded in the two prior filings, so newer applicants should expect this to be a longer-term relationship-building process rather than a one-off ask.
For Civic, Cultural and Community Impact requests specifically, you should first contact Danniell Nadiv to discuss the potential project; Foundation staff then conduct due diligence before inviting a full submission.

Overview

The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati is a US private foundation based in Cincinnati, OH.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports a healthy and strong Cincinnati Jewish community, principally through local Jewish institutions and national organisations with a local presence. Its grantmaking centres on Jewish engagement, Jewish education, Jewish social services and Jewish communal infrastructure. Funding supports local agencies, congregations, immersive Israel and overnight Jewish camp experiences, while drawing on national expertise and local start-ups. Its grantee partners help people deepen connections to Jewish values, heritage and identity, find meaningful Jewish education and engagement, strengthen social networks, and meet basic physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing needs. It also identifies new and experimental ways to connect people on the periphery of organised Jewish life, and allocates a portion of funding to selected local civic, cultural and social-impact initiatives for the Cincinnati Jewish community.

Themes

Jewish Engagement
Jewish Education
Jewish Social Services
Jewish Communal Infrastructure
Civic & Cultural

Geographic Focus

Greater Cincinnati.

How to apply

For Civic, Cultural and Community Impact (3CI) requests, contact Danniell Nadiv to discuss the potential project. Foundation staff conduct due diligence on the organisation and project; requests are invited for submission after that review.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 136 grants to organisations were $55,500 or less.

What the foundation says:

Organisations with a programme or funding opportunity aligned with one or more funding pillars are encouraged to contact the Foundation about a possible funding relationship.
The Foundation values measuring investment impact, especially for requests aligned with its funding priorities.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Ohio97%

District of Columbia1%

Georgia<1%

New York<1%

Minnesota<1%

Massachusetts<1%

2 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 39% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
40% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

37 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $57,500

How much do they typically give?

Share of 37 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$10k–$25k8%

$25k–$50k27%

$50k–$100k27%

$100k–$250k16%

$250k–$500k5%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over16%

Median $57,500 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Jewish Federation of Cincinnati · Cincy Journeys - Israel Travel and Overnight Jewish Camping 2025 Annual Campaign Matching Contribution Connecting Community Priorities to Philanthropy Operating Grant Talent Management Initiative "Strengthening Individual Giving Fundraising" Capacity Building Initiative Community Buildings & Maintenance SAFE Cincinnati Shared Business Services Indigent Burial Fund
$8,228,2882024 tax year
Rockwern Academy · 2025 and 2026 Operating Support Division of Adulting ECE Professional Development
$4,184,8122024 tax year
Mayerson JCC · Operating Support Short-term Capital needs Campus Repairs - Rockdale Temple Jewish Community Night at the Reds ECE Professional Development JLIVE Expansion
$2,910,3352024 tax year
Jewish Family Service · K'vod Operating Support Youth Mental Health Expansion Initiative
$1,991,4372024 tax year
Community Congregations · Operating Grants
$1,743,3802024 tax year
Cincinnati Hebrew Day School · 2022 - 2026 Operating Support Emergency Request: HVAC Needs
$1,494,2502024 tax year
JVS Careers · Operating Support
$301,5002024 tax year
B'nai B'rith Youth Organization · Cincinnati Teen Initiative Grant
$250,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Robert Kahn MD — Trustee
Debbie Brant — Trustee
Brian Jaffee — Chief Executive Officer
Sandra P Kaltman — Treasurer And Finance & Audit Committee Chairperson
Rachel Faust — Secretary
Ed Frankel — VP of Investments
Tedd Friedman — Trustee
Ernesto Levy — Trustee
Walter H Solomon — Board Chairperson
Ronna Schneider — Trustee
Guy Peri — Trustee
Adam Symson — Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$27,220,096	$23,111,071	$474,210,820	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$24,884,567	$20,579,222	$508,500,609	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$28,035,645	$22,975,137	$546,025,519	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

Registers and filings

Other sources

thejewishfoundation.org

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