Minneapolis Jewish Federation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $32.4 million (2023 grants distributed)
Annual Campaign: $11.64 million raised (2024)
Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000
Geographic Focus: Minneapolis area, national (US), and international (Israel and Jewish communities worldwide)
Total Assets: $196.7 million (2023)
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Contact Details

Minneapolis Jewish Federation
4330 Cedar Lake Road South
Minneapolis, MN 55416

Phone: 952-593-2600
Email (General): info@jewishminneapolis.org
Email (Philanthropy/Grants): philanthropy@jewishminneapolis.org
Website: www.jewishminneapolis.org

Overview

Founded in 1930 and tax-exempt since March 1943, the Minneapolis Jewish Federation serves as the central philanthropic organization for the Minneapolis Jewish community. With total assets of $196.7 million and distributing $32.4 million in grants in 2023, the Federation operates through a federated fundraising model, raising funds through annual and directed campaigns to support over 60 Jewish organizations and programs locally, nationally, and globally. The organization's mission is to "promote a culture of philanthropy, leverage financial and professional resources to meet local and global Jewish needs, and facilitate community planning to ensure a thriving and secure future at home, in Israel, and around the world." The Federation has received a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, indicating strong financial health and transparency. Its philanthropic strategy includes three main components: an Annual Community Campaign, directed campaigns such as Impact Focused Funding and emergency responses, and donor-advised grantmaking through the Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Partner Funding (Core Operating and Program Grants)

Base Allocations: Unrestricted funding for established community partners
Supplemental Allocations: Additional unrestricted funding based on previous year's campaign results
Impact Focused Funding: Programmatic grants ($480,127 distributed from 2023 campaign)
Grant Range: Typically $10,000 - $50,000 for program-based funding
Application Method: Annual application cycle for community partners; Letter of Inquiry required for new applicants

Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation Grant Programs

Louis Herman Memorial Fund
- Grant Range: $5,000 - $20,000
- Focus: Promoting Judaism among children/youth, day school education, Israel experience, technology in schools
- Preferences: New and innovative projects (not for regular operating budgets)
- Application Platform: Online through grantinterface.com
- Status: Applications open periodically
Toodie and Frank Trestman Collaborative Education and Special Needs Fund
- Focus: Formal and informal Jewish education programs involving collaboration between two or more organizations; programs increasing ability of children and adults with special needs to participate in Jewish life
- Preferences: Programmatic requests, assistance to low-income groups, proven quality, wide community impact
- Special Note: Will consider multi-year funding requests for innovative programming
- Status: Currently accepting applications
Women's Endowment Fund
- Grant Amount: Up to $10,000
- Focus: Programs enhancing lives of Jewish women and children in education, civic, culture, health, or social services
- Geographic Priority: Minnesota organizations
- Status: Applications open periodically
Mount Sinai Community Foundation
- Grant Amount: Up to $10,000
- Focus: Improving health, enhancing well-being, advancing medical care
- Special Consideration: One grant annually for cancer research/education
- Status: Applications open periodically
Howard B. & Ruth F. Brin Jewish Arts Endowment Fund
- Previous Impact: Awarded over $150,000 to nearly 130 arts projects
- Current Focus: Supporting Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council
- Status: Applications open periodically

Project Support Grants

Small grants for individual artists and cultural projects
Examples: Jewish music festivals, cross-cultural performances, documentary films

Priority Areas

The Federation organizes its funding around five community priorities, evaluated through four allocation committees:

Jewish Identity & Engagement: Programs fostering connection to Jewish life and community, including young adult engagement and Israel experience
Jewish Education: Formal and informal education programs for all ages, particularly teens and collaborative initiatives
Caring Community (Human & Social Services): Support for vulnerable populations including homebound seniors, children with special needs, immigrant populations, emergency housing assistance
Israel & Overseas: Support for Israeli organizations and global Jewish communities

Key Service Areas Supported:

Jewish education for over 2,150 Minneapolis students in grades K-12
25,000 kosher meals annually to 120 isolated seniors
Programming for nearly 1,200 Jewish students at the University of Minnesota
Support for 220 children with special needs in Jewish community schools
Case management and social services for 500 Jewish seniors

What They Don't Fund

Regular operating budgets for new applicants (preference for innovative programmatic funding)
Organizations without Jewish mission or connection to Jewish community
Organizations not aligned with community priorities established through planning process

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: James A. (Jim) Cohen (appointed May 15, 2017)

James Cohen previously served as CEO of the United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien, and prior to that as Assistant Secretary of the University for International Affairs at Yale University and as a career diplomat in the Foreign Service of the United States Department of State.

CEO Cohen has identified key organizational priorities: "The two biggest challenges are the issue of directed giving and reminding people of the value of a federated gift and why it's important, and forming a stronger, more enduring relationships with our partner agencies."

Board Structure:

Board of Directors provides high-level strategy and direction aligned with Strategic Plan
Board President: Mark Appelbaum
Board establishes overall priorities that guide allocation funding decisions

Allocation Committee Structure:

Community Impact Steering Committee: Reviews recommendations from allocation committees and makes final recommendations to the Board of Directors
Four Allocation Committees: Jewish Identity & Engagement, Jewish Education, Caring Community, and Israel & Overseas
Process: Committees spend 2-3 months annually learning about needs in their areas, reviewing requests, and aligning funding with identified priorities

Planning & Allocations Committees: Work directly with Community Partners to answer questions, assist with applications, and ensure smooth process. Each Community Partner has a primary relationship with one planning and allocations committee.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For New Organizations (Not Currently Community Partners):

Letter of Inquiry: Submit through the Federation's online grants management system at grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=minneapolisjewishfederation
Initial Review: Within 3 business days, a Minneapolis Jewish Federation staff member will respond with either:
- An invitation to complete a full application, or
- Other guidance about fit with Federation priorities
Full Application: If invited, complete online application through grants portal
Committee Review: Allocation committees review applications throughout spring
Board Approval: Final funding decisions made and approved by Board of Directors in July

For Current Community Partners:

Annual application process for unrestricted funding (Base and Supplemental Allocations)
Each partner works with their primary planning and allocations committee
Applications due in spring (historically April 20, though dates vary by year)
Committees review throughout spring for funding beginning the following fiscal year

For Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation Grants:

Apply online at grantinterface.com
Each fund has different application cycles; check mnjcf.org/foundation-grants for current status
Most funds open applications periodically rather than on rolling basis

Grant Amount Guidance:

Community Partner grants: $10,000 - $50,000 for programmatic funding
MN JCF funds: $5,000 - $20,000 typical range, with some funds offering up to $10,000

Decision Timeline

Community Partner Funding Cycle:

Applications due: Spring (typically late April)
Committee review: Throughout spring (2-3 months)
Final Board approval: July
Funding begins: Following fiscal year

Letter of Inquiry Process:

Initial staff response: Within 3 business days
If invited to full application: Follow community partner timeline above

Foundation Grants:

Timelines vary by fund
Advisory committees review when application cycles are open
No standardized timeline across all funds

Success Rates

The Federation distributed 116 grants in 2023, 117 grants in 2021, 104 grants in 2020, and 132 grants in 2019. In 2024, the Annual Community Campaign raised $11.64 million supporting over 60 organizations and programs.

The organization does not publish specific acceptance rates for new applicants. However, the Federation maintains ongoing relationships with established Community Partners, suggesting a preference for sustained multi-year funding relationships over one-time grants.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period for unsuccessful applicants was documented. Organizations are encouraged to maintain dialogue with Federation staff and relevant committee members to strengthen future applications.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Essential: The Federation emphasizes that funding must align with Community Priorities established through a 9-month community-wide input process. Organizations should clearly demonstrate how their work advances one or more of the five community priorities (Jewish Identity & Engagement, Jewish Education, Caring Community, Israel & Overseas).

Innovation Over Operations: Multiple grant programs explicitly state: "Special consideration given to new and innovative projects; grants will not generally be awarded for regular operating budgets." Applications should highlight innovative approaches, new programming, or creative solutions to community needs rather than general operating support (unless applying as an established Community Partner).

Collaboration is Valued: The Trestman Collaborative Education and Special Needs Fund specifically supports "programs that involve collaboration between two or more organizations." Demonstrating partnerships and collaborative approaches can strengthen applications.

Community Impact: The Trestman Fund preferences include "wide community impact" and programs that "assist low-income groups." Applications should articulate how programming will reach significant numbers of community members and serve vulnerable populations.

Proven Quality: While innovation is valued, the Federation also looks for "proven quality" in programming. New applicants should demonstrate track record, even if proposing innovative approaches.

Relationship Building: CEO Jim Cohen emphasized "forming stronger, more enduring relationships with our partner agencies." Organizations should view Federation funding as part of an ongoing relationship, not a one-time transaction. Engage with planning and allocations committees throughout the year, not just during application periods.

Recent Funded Examples:

Cross-cultural performance "Joyful Movement" combining Jewish and African dance, music, and storytelling (Project Support Grant to Cia Sauter)
Bo Nashir: Twin Cities Jewish Community Music Festival celebrating Jewish music
Programs providing 25,000 kosher meals to homebound seniors
Individualized support for 220 children with special needs in Jewish community schools

What Federation Values:

Programs connecting new generations to Jewish life and the Jewish world
Support for vulnerable populations (seniors, children with special needs, immigrants)
Educational programming across formal and informal settings
Community planning based on research and data
Transparent, collaborative relationships with grantees

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Start with Letter of Inquiry: New organizations must submit LOI first; expect response within 3 business days determining whether to proceed with full application
Align with Community Priorities: Clearly connect your work to one of the five community priorities established through community-wide planning process
Emphasize Innovation: Especially for Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation grants, highlight new and innovative approaches rather than routine operations
Build Relationships Before Applying: Engage with relevant allocation committee members throughout the year; Federation values ongoing partnerships over transactional funding
Consider Collaboration: Multi-organization partnerships, especially in education, are explicitly valued and may strengthen applications
Target Your Ask: Grant ranges typically $10,000-$50,000 for program funding; foundation grants typically $5,000-$20,000
Plan for Long Timeline: Applications due in spring with final decisions in July for following fiscal year—build this into your planning
Focus on Community Impact: Demonstrate how your program will serve significant numbers and reach vulnerable populations including seniors, children with special needs, and immigrants

References

Minneapolis Jewish Federation official website. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://jewishminneapolis.org/
Minneapolis Jewish Federation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/410693866
Minneapolis Jewish Federation - GuideStar Profile. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-0693866
Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation - Foundation Grants. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://mnjcf.org/foundation-grants
Minneapolis Jewish Federation - Cause IQ Profile. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/minneapolis-jewish-federation,410693866/
"Minneapolis Jewish Federation names new CEO." Minneapolis Jewish Federation website. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://jewishminneapolis.org/minneapolis-jewish-federation-names-new-ceo/
"Minneapolis Federation Names New CEO." TC Jewfolk, March 31, 2017. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://tcjewfolk.com/2017/03/31/minneapolis-federation-cohen-new-ceo/
Quote from CEO Jim Cohen: "The two biggest challenges are the issue of directed giving and reminding people of the value of a federated gift and why it's important, and forming a stronger, more enduring relationships with our partner agencies."
Minneapolis Jewish Federation - Charity Navigator Rating. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/410693866
Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation Annual Reports. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://mnjcf.org/annual-reports