Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $117.1 million annual revenue (2023 990 filing)
• Success Rate: Approximately 20% for some programmes (e.g., Voices Teen Foundation)
• Decision Time: Varies by programme
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $150,000+ (varies by programme)
• Geographic Focus: Chicago metropolitan area, Israel, and international Jewish communities

Contact Details

Main Office: 30 S. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60606

Website: https://www.juf.org

Grant Portal: https://juf-grants.smapply.org

Email: grants@juf.org

Phone: (312) 444-2800

Programme-Specific Contacts:

• Jewish Women's Foundation: Genna Kahn, GennaKahn@juf.org, (312) 444-2867
• General Grant Inquiries: Julie Brodsky, Alex Goodman

Overview

The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF), founded over 120 years ago, is the central philanthropic address of Chicago's Jewish community and one of the largest nonprofit social welfare institutions in Illinois. With assets of $238 million and mobilising over $200 million annually in financial resources, JUF funds a network of 100+ agencies, schools, and initiatives that bring food, refuge, health care, education, and emergency assistance to 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and millions of Jews in Israel and around the world. Under President Lonnie Nasatir's leadership since 2019, JUF has responded to historic crises including COVID-19, the Ukraine war, and the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, investing over $100 million in emergency relief since October 7 alone. The organisation allocates funds to more than 70 affiliates and beneficiary agencies through a sophisticated planning process involving nearly 200 board and community members.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF)

• Grant Range: $15,000 minimum, typically $20,000-$25,000 average
• Focus: Strategic grantmaking to expand opportunities for Jewish women and girls
• Types: Annual Grants and Innovation Grants (for startups within 3 years or pilot projects)
• Application: Through JUF grant portal, contact Genna Kahn

Voices: The Chicago Jewish Teen Foundation

• Grant Range: $2,500-$8,000
• Annual Distribution: Approximately $50,000 total
• Success Rate: Approximately 20% (receives approximately 50 proposals annually, funds approximately 20% of projects)
• Eligibility: 75% must go to Jewish/Israeli organisations; only 25% may go to secular organisations
• Application: Through grant portal; organisations may apply for funding from up to 2 committees across both boards for separate projects/programmes

Breakthrough Fund (Note: Final cycle completed; replaced by Fund for the Future)

• Historical Grant Range: $25,000-$150,000
• Focus: Leading-edge programmes, capacity-building, planning, R&D initiatives for Chicago's Jewish community

Springboard Access Grants

• Grant Amount: Up to 50% of tuition costs, maximum $300-$400
• Eligibility: Teens in grades 8-12 in Chicago metro area attending first-time Jewish teen programmes
• Requirements: Minimum 15 hours over 3 days with approved Jewish nonprofit
• Contact: Springboard@juf.org

Additional Programmes:

• jBaby Chicago
• 18 Under 18
• Chicago Resiliency Roundtable Microgrant
• JUF Israel and Overseas Commission Ukraine Grant
• Organisations with National Reach grants

Core Allocation Priorities

Social Services ($26.3 million to local agencies):

• Jewish Child & Family Services (JCFS Chicago)
• CJE SeniorLife
• Jewish Vocational Services
• Sinai Chicago (Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center)
• The Ark
• EZRA Multi-Service Center
• SHALVA
• Basic needs: food assistance, financial aid for housing, medical care, affordable housing services

Jewish Education and Continuity:

• Jewish Community Center of Chicago (JCC Chicago)
• Community Foundation for Jewish Education
• Associated Talmud Torahs
• 16 Chicago-area Jewish day schools
• Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning & Leadership
• Hebrew Theological College
• Youth programmes: BBYO, NFTY, USY, NCSY

Cultural and Holocaust Education:

• Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Israel and Overseas:

• Jewish Agency For Israel (JAFI)
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
• World ORT
• Jewish Federations of North America (received $48.7 million in 2023)

Security:

• $10 million in state nonprofit security grants to 59 Jewish institutions
• $10 million in U.S. Homeland Security grants to 73 Jewish institutions

Priority Areas

• Basic Human Needs: Food, housing, financial assistance
• Healthcare: Medical care, prescriptions, mental health services
• Security: Enhanced security for Jewish institutions
• Mental Health: Allocated $2.2 million additional funding, doubled respite services
• Immigrant/Refugee Support: Support for immigrants and refugees, including those from Ukraine
• Jewish Education: Day schools, supplementary education, cultural programmes
• Israel Connection: Israel experience programmes, emergency relief
• Community Engagement: Jewish programmes and volunteer opportunities

What They Don't Fund

Jewish Women's Foundation Specific Exclusions:

• Political campaigns or PACs
• Loans, scholarships, or tuition reimbursements
• Event sponsorships or ticket/table purchases
• Group homes
• Capital campaigns
• Direct service or job training programmes

Israeli Programmes Additional Requirements:

• Must demonstrate national/regional social change impact or serve as replicable models
• Five-year threshold applies for established programmes

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Lonnie Nasatir, President & CEO (since 2019)

• Only the fifth president in JUF's 120+ year history
• Former Regional Director of ADL's Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest area
• Led organisation through COVID-19 pandemic, Ukraine crisis, and October 7 Hamas attacks
• Quote: "To lead this singular institution that impacts the lives of so many is a privilege and a once in a lifetime opportunity."
• Focus on strategic visioning, organisational culture, and next-generation engagement

Dr. Steven B. Nasatir, Executive Vice Chairman

• Served as JUF President 1979-2019 (40 years)
• Raised over $8 billion during tenure

Jay Tcath, Executive Vice President

• 30-year tenure overseeing security, policy, marketing, fundraising, and Israel office
• Former U.S. Army captain and Green Beret paratrooper

Boaz Blumovitz, Chief Financial Officer

• Oversees $2.5 billion in assets, $200 million annual budget, $1 billion investment portfolio

Emily Sweet, Chief Impact Officer

• 25+ years nonprofit/philanthropic experience
• Former Executive Director of Public Affairs and Jewish Women's Foundation at JUF

Dan Goldwin, Chief Public Affairs Officer

• Oversees advocacy, antisemitism work, U.S.-Israel relations
• Former AIPAC Midwest Regional Director

David Prystowsky, Chief Development Officer

• JUF career since 2001
• Quote: "Leaders who have come before me have built the foundation...I take great pride in being the steward."

David S. Rosen, Senior Vice President, Endowments

• 37+ year tenure
• Grew endowments to $2 billion+ with $120 million+ annual distributions

Board Leadership

Wendy C. Abrams - Board Chair

Planning and Allocations

JUF's planning and allocations process involves nearly 200 board and community members through four standing commissions and committees. The process is informed by periodic local population studies examining the demographic composition of the Chicago-area Jewish community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Grant Management System: JUF operates a comprehensive online grant management system through SurveyMonkey Apply (Smapply) at https://juf-grants.smapply.org. Applicants scroll to the "Programmes" section to begin applications for specific grant programmes.

Application Types:

• Competitive Grant Programmes: Jewish Women's Foundation, Voices Teen Foundation, and other named programmes accept applications through the portal
• Core Allocations: JUF's largest allocations ($26.3 million+ to social service agencies) are distributed through the annual planning and allocations process involving standing commissions and committees, not through open applications

Eligibility Requirements (General):

• 501(c)(3) organisations or fiscally-sponsored projects
• Israeli nonprofits (amutot) may apply through Jewish Federations of North America
• Geographic scope varies by programme: Chicago metro, U.S., Israel, and international

Programme-Specific Processes:

• Each grant programme has specific guidelines, deadlines, and requirements
• Organisations may apply to multiple committees/programmes for separate projects
• Pre-application consultations available through programme officers

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by programme; contact programme officers for specific details on application cycles and notification schedules.

Success Rates

Voices Teen Foundation: Approximately 20% success rate (receives approximately 50 proposals annually, funds approximately 20% of projects)

General Notes: Success rates vary significantly by programme type and funding availability.

Reapplication Policy

Organisations may reapply to programmes in subsequent funding cycles. Grant-seeking organisations may apply for funding from more than one JUF committee or programme, provided applications are for separate projects/programmes.

Application Success Factors

For Jewish Women's Foundation

Critical Alignment Factors:

• Apply both a "gender lens" and "Jewish lens" - projects must recognise Jewish women and girls have unique needs because of both gender and religious/cultural heritage
• Demonstrate social change approach through: reframing community issues, shifting behaviour, increasing engagement, changing institutional policies, or maintaining previous progress
• Organisational commitment: JWF considers holistic support of women and girls, including representation of Jewish women and girls among leadership and key staff positions

Funding Strategy:

• General operating support only available to organisations exclusively serving Jewish women and girls
• Most grants are project-specific funding
• Innovation grants favour startups within 3 years or pilot projects with creative approaches

Priority Focus Areas (choose one):

1. Economic Security/Legal Reform
2. Education/Leadership Development
3. Health and Well-Being
4. Innovation

For All JUF Grant Programmes

Strategic Considerations:

• Community Impact: JUF prioritises programmes serving broad community needs - food assistance, healthcare, education, security, mental health
• Crisis Response: Organisation demonstrated strong crisis response capacity, having mobilised over $100 million for Israel emergency relief and $21.6 million for COVID-19 relief
• Jewish Connection: Programmes strengthening Jewish identity, education, and community connections highly valued
• Vulnerable Populations: Strong focus on serving those with basic needs
• Next Generation: President Lonnie Nasatir emphasises engaging younger generations
• Israel Connection: Programmes supporting Israel and U.S.-Israel relationship prioritised, especially given recent events

Application Best Practices:

• Attend programme-specific presentations where offered (e.g., JWF hosts presentations on application process)
• Contact programme officers before applying to discuss project fit
• For Israeli programmes, ensure clear demonstration of national/regional impact or replicability
• Align with JUF's sophisticated planning process informed by demographic studies
• Consider JUF's network approach - they fund 70+ affiliates and beneficiary agencies through coordinated system

Language and Approach:

• Emphasise community-powered solutions
• Demonstrate ability to address "totality of local and global Jewish needs"
• Show capacity for crisis response and organisational stability
• Highlight volunteer engagement and community participation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Know Your Programme: JUF operates multiple distinct grant programmes with different requirements, amounts, and success rates - research the specific programme that fits your work
• Core vs. Competitive: Understand that largest allocations ($26.3 million to social services) go through planning commissions, not open competition; competitive grants (JWF, Voices, etc.) are separate opportunities
• Jewish Lens Essential: All programmes require Jewish connection - for JWF specifically, both Jewish and gender lenses are mandatory
• Crisis Capacity Matters: JUF values organisations that can respond to emergencies and demonstrate stability - they invested $100 million+ after October 7 and $21.6 million for COVID relief
• Build Relationships: Contact programme officers (Genna Kahn for JWF, others for different programmes) before applying to ensure good fit
• Social Change Framework: For JWF, demonstrate how project creates social change through reframing issues, shifting behaviour, increasing engagement, or changing policies - not just providing services
• Community Integration: JUF sees itself as network hub connecting 100+ agencies - show how your work fits into broader Chicago Jewish community ecosystem and aligns with their sophisticated planning process involving 200+ community members

References

• Jewish United Fund Official Website: https://www.juf.org (Accessed December 2025)
• JUF Grant Management System: https://juf-grants.smapply.org (Accessed December 2025)
• Jewish Women's Foundation Grant Guidelines: https://www.juf.org/jwf/Grants_Guidelines.aspx (Accessed December 2025)
• Jewish Women's Foundation How to Apply: https://www.juf.org/jwf/Grants_How-To-Apply.aspx (Accessed December 2025)
• JUF Breakthrough Fund: https://www.juf.org/grants/breakthrough.aspx (Accessed December 2025)
• JUF Executive Leadership: https://www.juf.org/about_juf/About-JUF-Executive-Leadership.aspx (Accessed December 2025)
• Voices Teen Foundation for Grant Seekers: https://www.juf.org/teens/Voices_GrantSeekers.aspx (Accessed December 2025)
• JUF Springboard Access Grants: https://www.juf.org/springboard/Springboard-Access-Grants.aspx (Accessed December 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Jewish United Fund: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/362167034 (Accessed December 2025)
• Cause IQ Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/jewish-united-fund-of-metropolitan-chicago,362167034/ (Accessed December 2025)
• JUF News - "Get to Know JUF President Lonnie Nasatir": https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=448407 (Accessed December 2025)
• JUF News - "Breaking through: Jewish United Fund awards $1 million in grants": https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=428428 (Accessed December 2025)
• JUF News - "JUF approves $141 million budget 'to assure the future'": https://www.juf.org/news/local.aspx?id=415828 (Accessed December 2025)
• JUF Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_United_Fund (Accessed December 2025)
• 2024 Annual Report of the Jewish Federation of Chicago: https://jufwebfiles.org/pdf/about_juf/2024_Jewish_Federation_Annual_Report.pdf (Accessed December 2025)