Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation (Jim Joseph Foundation)

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $61.5 million (2023)
Total Assets: $1.45 billion
Decision Time: Quarterly board meetings (proposals reviewed at quarterly intervals)
Grant Range: $25,000 - $7,500,000
Geographic Focus: United States (Jewish youth and young adults)
Application Method: Invitation only (accepts one-page letters of inquiry)

Contact Details

Website: www.jimjosephfoundation.org

Address: 343 Sansome Street, Suite 550, San Francisco, CA 94104

Phone: (415) 658-8730

Email: [email protected] (for inquiries from potential partners)

Leadership Contact:

Barry Finestone, President and CEO
Shira Goodman, Board Chair

Overview

The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation, operating as the Jim Joseph Foundation, was established in 2006 following the death of philanthropist Jim Joseph. With assets of approximately $1.45 billion and annual grantmaking of over $61 million, the Foundation has distributed more than $800 million since its inception. The Foundation's singular mission is to foster compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews in the United States. Through strategic, multiyear investments averaging $25,000 to over $7 million, the Foundation supports exemplary Jewish nonprofit organizations with proven models for Jewish learning and leadership development. The Foundation is devoted exclusively to supporting education of Jewish youth and young adults who are residents of the United States. In 2023, the Foundation made 270 grants totaling $61.5 million. The Foundation employs both deliberate and emergent strategies to enhance connection, meaning, and purpose in young Jews' lives, including its innovative R&D platform Common Era, which seeks to reach the estimated 70% of American Jews who don't connect with mainstream Jewish institutions but remain proud of their Jewish identity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Powerful Jewish Learning Experiences (PJLE)

Grant range: $25,000 - $7,500,000
Supports organizations with proven models for Jewish learning with deep and enduring effects on participants
Build Grants support organizations to invest in capacity to expand programs and operations
Multi-year funding typical for major initiatives
Application method: Invitation only, following board approval at quarterly meetings

Exceptional Jewish Leaders and Educators (EJLE)

Grant range: Typically $100,000 - $3,000,000
Supports training and development of dynamic, pioneering leaders and educators attuned to young people's needs
Recent grants totaling $16.7 million provided professional development for over 500 Jewish educators over four years
Includes support for leadership development programs ($7 million in recent round)

R&D for the Future of Jewish Learning (Common Era)

Experimental platform for innovation and new approaches
Aims to serve the 70% of American Jews who don't connect with mainstream Jewish life
Catalyzes work of creators, builders, and entrepreneurs in Jewish education
Application method: Through Common Era platform (www.commonera.org)

Priority Areas

Hebrew schools and supplemental Jewish education programs
Jewish day schools (in remarkable cases)
Jewish summer camps (in remarkable cases)
Israel experience programs for American Jewish youth
Jewish youth groups and teen engagement
College campus Jewish life and Hillel programs
Early childhood Jewish education
Rabbinical training and seminary programs
Jewish cultural enrichment and higher education programs in Jewish studies
Leadership development programs for Jewish professionals
Programs serving Jews of Color (specific initiative focus)
Family engagement with young children

What They Don't Fund

Capital projects
Operating deficits
Endowments
Individual schools, camps, congregations, or youth groups (except in "remarkable cases")
Initiatives outside the United States (unless 501(c)(3) organization serving American Jewish youth/educators)
Programs serving audiences outside youth, teens, college students, young adults, and families with young children
Initiatives that conflict with Foundation values

Governance and Leadership

Board Chair: Shira Goodman - Former CEO of Staples Inc. (26-year tenure), Advisory Director at Charlesbank Capital Partners. Serves on boards of CarMax, CBRE, and Henry Schein. Chair of CJP (Boston Jewish Federation). Education: Princeton (BA), MIT Sloan (MBA), Harvard Law School (JD).

President and CEO: Barry Finestone - 34 years in Jewish nonprofit sector, overseeing $800M+ in grants. Former CEO of JCC San Francisco and previously led Lisa and John Pritzker Family Fund. Finestone stated about the Foundation's direction: "Our goal here is to elevate the issue, to build the field so this becomes embedded in the DNA of the Jewish community" (regarding Jews of Color initiative). On operational support, Finestone noted: "You don't walk into Starbucks and say, 'I just want to pay for the milk and the coffee,'" emphasizing the Foundation's commitment to funding full organizational needs rather than restricted program support only.

Board Members:

David Agger - 30+ years in investment/finance; manages Metropolis Partners. Chair of Investment & Finance Committee.
Amy Born - 20+ years in organizational psychology and development; consulting focus on family business governance and nonprofit strategy.
Rafael Burde - Co-Lead for Global Search Policy at Google; Bay Area Jewish communal leader.
Dr. Dvora Joseph Davey - Jim Joseph's eldest child; Associate Professor of Infectious Disease Medicine at UCLA; sits on Research and Learning Committee.
Ariela Dubler - Head of School at Abraham Joshua Heschel School (NYC); former professor of legal history at Columbia Law School.
Joshua Foer - Author of Moonwalking with Einstein; Co-founder/chairman of Atlas Obscura and Sefaria.
Matt Goldberg - CEO and President of Tripadvisor, Inc.
Joshua Joseph - Jim Joseph's son; pursuing Master's in Integral Counseling Psychology; advocates for philanthropy meeting young people authentically.
Jeff Schoenfeld - Partner at Brown Brothers Harriman; Immediate Past President of UJA-Federation of New York.
Michael Shimansky - CPA with 20+ years in public accounting; Inspections Leader at PCAOB.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This Foundation does not have a public application process. The Jim Joseph Foundation accepts grant proposals by invitation only. The Foundation identifies potential partners through ongoing conversations with organizations whose missions align with Foundation goals.

Letters of Inquiry: While formal proposals are by invitation only, organizations may submit brief letters of inquiry (maximum one page) to [email protected]. These letters should:

Describe an idea or potential initiative (not a formal proposal)
Be submitted only after carefully reviewing the Foundation's website to understand mission, vision, values, strategic funding priorities, and grantmaking process
Focus on alignment with the Foundation's strategic priorities

Five-Stage Process (After Invitation):

Invitation Phase - Foundation identifies partners through ongoing field conversations
Investigation & Review - Foundation professionals engage in dialogue with potential partners to clarify initiatives and establish evaluation metrics
Proposal Submission - Upon Board invitation, applicants submit narrative, full budget, specific funding request, and supporting documentation
Grant Agreement - Approved grants include narrative outlining purpose/goals and deliverables tied to benchmarks (grants are "up to" amounts)
Ongoing Partnership - Foundation staff maintain close relationships throughout implementation

Required Documentation (When Invited):

Narrative description of initiative
Full budget
Specific funding request
Supporting documentation
Current 501(c)(3) determination letter or valid tax-exempt status

Decision Timeline

Board of Directors meets quarterly to review and approve grant proposals
Annual meeting schedule is set each December
Timeline from initial conversation to proposal submission varies based on project complexity
Foundation responds to all letters of inquiry "in as timely a manner as possible"
Typical process involves several months of dialogue before formal invitation

Success Rates

In 2023, the Foundation made 270 grant awards from its $1.45 billion in assets. The Foundation employs a highly selective, relationship-based approach focused on strategic partnerships rather than open competition. Success depends primarily on mission alignment and invitation rather than competitive application review.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that are declined may reapply if their work evolves to better align with the Foundation's strategic priorities. The Foundation maintains ongoing relationships with organizations in the field even when not providing current funding.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical: The Foundation emphasizes thorough understanding of its mission before approaching them. Foundation professionals state: "Grant seekers are urged to carefully review the Jim Joseph Foundation website before making any inquiry to understand the Foundation's mission, vision, values, strategic funding priorities and grantmaking process."

Proven Track Record Matters: The Foundation explicitly seeks "exemplary Jewish nonprofit organizations and initiatives with proven models" for Jewish learning and leadership development. They support both well-established organizations and more recently founded organizations that "show promise for success."

Focus on Educational Outcomes: The Foundation's deliberate grantmaking process is focused on "educational outcomes and field-wide learning." Proposals should demonstrate clear impact on Jewish learning experiences for youth and young adults.

Build Organizational Capacity: The Foundation is interested in "Build Grants" that help organizations "invest in their capacity to expand their programs and operations, thus engaging more people at different life stages in meaningful Jewish life."

Embrace Evaluation: For grants over $250,000, the Foundation typically budgets 5-8% of the total grant award for independent external evaluation. Organizations should be prepared for rigorous evaluation frameworks tied to grant payments.

National Scope Preferred: While not exclusive, "most grantees work nationally with Jewish communities across the U.S." rather than serving only local populations. The Foundation looks for scalable, field-building initiatives.

Recent Funded Examples:

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion - Executive Master of Arts in Religious Education program for Jewish educators
American Jewish World Service - Global Justice Fellowship for early- and mid-career rabbis
Bend the Arc - Selah Leadership Program for Jewish leaders of color
Habonim Dror North America - Bonimot Tzedek Leadership Development Program
Jewish Theological Seminary - Early childhood education leaders support
National Yiddish Book Center - Educator professional development
JDC Entwine - $3 million over multiple years
Hazon Inc. - Up to $7.5 million over four years

Operational Support Philosophy: CEO Barry Finestone has emphasized the Foundation's willingness to fund full organizational needs, not just restricted program costs, using the Starbucks analogy: "You don't walk into Starbucks and say, 'I just want to pay for the milk and the coffee.'"

Innovation and Experimentation: Through Common Era, the Foundation is "shifting organizational culture toward increased excellence, experimentation, learning, and belonging." Organizations demonstrating willingness to innovate and iterate align well with Foundation values.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only model requires relationship building: Focus on getting on the Foundation's radar through field presence, networking at Jewish education conferences, and demonstrating alignment with Foundation priorities before submitting a letter of inquiry.
Mission alignment is non-negotiable: The Foundation exclusively funds Jewish education for youth and young adults in the United States. Any work outside this scope will not be considered.
Proven models trump new ideas: The Foundation seeks "exemplary organizations with proven models" rather than experimental or untested approaches (except through the Common Era R&D platform). Demonstrate your track record.
Think national scale, not local impact: Most grantees work nationally. If your program is local, articulate how it could scale or serve as a model for field-wide learning.
Prepare for deep partnership, not transactional funding: The Foundation maintains close ongoing relationships with grantees, including investigation and review phases before funding and continued oversight throughout grant periods.
Budget for evaluation from the start: Grants over $250,000 require 5-8% for external evaluation. Build robust evaluation frameworks into your proposal and be prepared to demonstrate outcomes.
Multiyear thinking is valued: The Foundation makes substantial multiyear investments (grants range from $25,000 to over $7 million, with many in the millions for 3-4 year periods). Articulate long-term vision and sustainability.
Embrace the Foundation's values around inclusion: Recent emphasis on Jews of Color and reaching the "70%" of non-Orthodox, self-identifying Jews who don't affiliate with traditional institutions. Demonstrate inclusive approach.

References

Accessed: December 17, 2025