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United Jewish Foundation

Annual Giving
$47.2M
Grant Range
From $0K
Decision Time
2w

United Jewish Foundation - Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $47,155,970 (2024)
  • Total Grants Made: 297 awards (2024)
  • Decision Time: Processed at least twice monthly
  • Grant Range: $250 minimum per distribution
  • Geographic Focus: Metropolitan Detroit, national, and international (Jewish communities)
  • Established: 1899

Contact Details

Address: 6735 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301-3141

Phone: (248) 642-4260

Website: https://jewishdetroit.org

Email: Contact Endowment Department at (248) 203-1519

Overview

The United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit, established in 1899 and tax-exempt since December 1943, serves as a supporting organization of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. The Foundation owns, manages and invests Jewish communal assets, including general and endowment funds, agency endowments, supporting foundations and real property. With annual giving of over $47 million in 2024, the Foundation is committed to ensuring that assets are available to promote the continuity of the Jewish people. The Foundation administers Philanthropic Funds (donor-advised funds) and distributes assets to the Jewish Federation's Annual Campaign and other qualified 501(c)(3) organizations serving Jewish and non-sectarian communities locally, nationally, and internationally. The organization operates primarily as an asset management and distribution entity rather than a traditional grant-making foundation with a public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The United Jewish Foundation operates primarily through two mechanisms:

Philanthropic Funds (Donor-Advised Funds)

  • Minimum $5,000 to establish
  • Minimum $250 per distribution
  • Donors recommend distributions to IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charities
  • All recommendations subject to staff review and Grants & Distributions Committee approval
  • Fees: 0.75% annual administrative fee (capped at $15,000 annually) plus pro rata investment management fees

Direct Foundation Distributions

  • Distributions to Jewish Federation's Annual Campaign
  • Grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations serving Jewish and non-sectarian communities
  • 297 awards made in 2024, 252 in 2023, 268 in 2022

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports:

  • Jewish communal continuity and Jewish community development
  • Local Detroit-area Jewish and non-sectarian organizations
  • National Jewish organizations and initiatives
  • International Jewish communities, particularly in Israel
  • Organizations promoting Jewish education, culture, and welfare
  • Community services benefiting vulnerable populations

What They Don't Fund

According to the Philanthropic Fund guidelines, distributions cannot be made for:

  • Satisfaction of personal pledges or obligations
  • Purchase of event tickets or membership dues providing personal benefit to the donor
  • Any purpose that provides material benefit to the donor, donor advisor, or related parties
  • Organizations promoting antisemitism or opposing Israel's right to exist as a legitimate Jewish state
  • Grants to individuals (must be to 501(c)(3) organizations)

Governance and Leadership

Foundation 2025-2026 Executive Committee

Officers:

  • Michael Berger – President
  • Mindi Fynke – President-Elect
  • David Karp – Vice President
  • Laurence Tisdale – Vice President
  • Warren Rose – Vice President
  • Karen Sosnick Schoenberg – Vice President
  • Ralph Gerson – Vice President
  • Terri Chapman – Treasurer
  • Steven Ingber – Secretary

At-Large Members: Matt Shiffman, Jodie Kaufman Davis, Mark Rubenfire, Glenn Pavey, Jeff Schostak, Josh Levine

Federation 2025-2026 Executive Committee

Officers:

  • Brian Hermelin – President
  • Sherri Ketai – Vice President
  • Carolyn Bellinson – Vice President
  • Arn Tellem – Vice President
  • Diane Goldstein – Vice President
  • Richard Broder – Secretary
  • David Feber – Treasurer
  • Steven Ingber – Executive Secretary

Chief Executive Officer: Steven Ingber was named CEO of the Jewish Federation/United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit in May 2021, having previously served as COO since 2016.

Gary Torgow currently serves as Chair of The Jewish Federation of Detroit and was recently elected as Chair of the Jewish Federations of North America.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The United Jewish Foundation does not have a public grant application process for organizations seeking funding. The Foundation operates primarily as an asset management entity that:

  1. Manages Donor-Advised Funds: Individual donors establish Philanthropic Funds and recommend distributions to nonprofits of their choosing
  2. Makes Institutional Distributions: The Foundation's board and Grants & Distributions Committee approve distributions to the Jewish Federation's Annual Campaign and select qualified organizations

For Donor-Advised Fund Distributions: Organizations do not apply directly to the Foundation. Instead, individual donors who have established Philanthropic Funds recommend distributions to organizations. The donor advisor submits a Philanthropic Fund Distribution Recommendation Form, which is then reviewed by staff and the Grants & Distributions Committee for approval.

For Institutional Funding: The Foundation makes strategic distributions determined by its board and committees rather than through an open application process.

Decision Timeline

  • Distributions from Philanthropic Funds are processed and distributed at least twice per month
  • All distribution recommendations are subject to staff review and Grants & Distributions Committee approval
  • Specific timeline for institutional grants determined by board meeting schedules

Getting on Their Radar

Building Relationships with Donor Advisors: The most viable path to receiving funding from the United Jewish Foundation is to build relationships with individual donors who have established Philanthropic Funds. The Foundation's endowment team members are available at (248) 642-4260 and can provide valuable information regarding local community needs.

Connecting with the Jewish Federation: Since the United Jewish Foundation is a supporting organization of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, organizations should:

  • Engage with Jewish Federation programs and initiatives
  • Attend community events sponsored by the Jewish Federation
  • Demonstrate alignment with Jewish communal priorities and the continuity of the Jewish people
  • Contact the Endowment Department to discuss how your organization's work aligns with community needs

Note: The Foundation's endowment team can assist with questions about specific nonprofit organizations and provide guidance on how to connect with potential donor advisors.

Application Success Factors

Since the United Jewish Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, success in receiving funding depends on different factors than traditional grant applications:

For Organizations Seeking Donor-Advised Fund Support:

  • Align with Jewish values and priorities: The Foundation's mission centers on promoting the continuity of the Jewish people
  • Build relationships with individual donors: Donor advisors have significant discretion in recommending distributions from their Philanthropic Funds
  • Demonstrate 501(c)(3) status: All recipient organizations must be IRS-approved public charities
  • Meet the Foundation's restrictions: Ensure your organization does not promote antisemitism or oppose Israel's legitimacy
  • Understand donor motivations: Different donors have different philanthropic priorities within the broader Jewish communal framework

For Strategic Institutional Funding:

  • Serve Jewish or non-sectarian communities: The Foundation distributes to organizations serving both Jewish and broader community needs locally and nationally
  • Support the Detroit Jewish community: Local Detroit-area organizations have natural alignment with the Foundation's geographic base
  • Demonstrate impact and sustainability: The Foundation manages endowments for long-term community benefit

Key Insight: The United Jewish Foundation primarily functions as an intermediary, managing assets and facilitating philanthropy through donor-advised funds. Building visibility within the Jewish community and developing relationships with potential donor advisors is more important than traditional grant application strategies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a traditional grant-making foundation: The United Jewish Foundation does not have a public application process; it primarily manages donor-advised funds and makes board-directed institutional distributions
  • Focus on donor relationships: The most accessible funding path is through individual donor advisors who have established Philanthropic Funds ($5,000 minimum)
  • Connect with the Jewish Federation: As a supporting organization of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, building relationships with the Federation is essential
  • Significant annual giving: With $47+ million in annual distributions and nearly 300 grants made in 2024, the Foundation facilitates substantial philanthropic activity
  • Local and national scope: While based in Detroit, the Foundation supports organizations locally, nationally, and internationally (particularly Israel)
  • Jewish continuity is central: All funding ultimately serves the Foundation's mission of promoting the continuity of the Jewish people
  • Contact the Endowment Department: Call (248) 642-4260 or (248) 203-1519 to discuss community needs and potential connections with donor advisors

References

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