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Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc

Annual Giving
$208.7M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $208.7 million (FY2023)
  • Assets Under Management: $2.4 billion
  • Grant Recipients: 963 organizations (FY2023)
  • Decision Time: 2-4 months (varies by program)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Boston, Israel, and worldwide Jewish communities

Contact Details

Website: https://www.cjp.org/ and https://ma.cjp.org/

Address: Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Kraft Family Building, 126 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2700

Phone: 617.457.8500

Grant Program Contact: Visit https://www.cjp.org/community-jobs-grants/apply-for-grants for specific program information

Overview

Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) of Greater Boston is Massachusetts' largest nonprofit organization and Greater Boston's Jewish Federation, founded over 125 years ago. With IRS tax-exempt status since 1965 (EIN: 42-103559), CJP manages philanthropic assets valued at $2.4 billion and reported annual expenses of $208.7 million in FY2023, making grants to 963 Jewish and secular organizations. CJP's mission is to inspire and mobilize the diverse Greater Boston Jewish community to engage in building communities of learning and action that strengthen Jewish life and improve the world. The organization employs grant-making as one critical tool for building and fortifying a vibrant Jewish future, collaborating with and supporting more than 200 organizations. Under President & CEO Marc Baker's leadership, CJP has raised more than $200 million in annual support and deployed significant emergency funds, including $41 million for Israel emergency response. CJP holds a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Miriam Fund: $7,500 - $25,000 One-year grants supporting programs for the wellbeing of women and girls in Greater Boston or Israel. Following a first-year grant, organizations may be considered for renewal for up to two additional consecutive years. Awarded $400,000+ to 22 organizations in 2024-2025. Eligible organizations must have operating budgets of $1.5 million or less. Applications open annually in August via online LOI.

Arts & Culture Community Impact Grants: $7,500 - $25,000 Grants for artists (individual or collaborative groups) whose work explores Jewish identity through various mediums including song, dance, and visual art. Ten grants of $7,500 each are typically available. Projects should creatively interpret or reinvent Jewish teachings, ritual, tradition, or Jewish life. Applications open annually in August.

Ally Challenge Grants: Variable amounts CJP's Center for Combating Antisemitism program seeds and grows grassroots, hyperlocal projects that build cross-community relationships to combat antisemitism across Greater Boston. In 2024, CCA provided $1.7 million in strategic grants to local partners focused on preventing antisemitism in public education institutions, civic spaces, workplaces, and local college campuses.

Young Adults Israel Engagement Grants: Variable amounts Supports programs engaging young adults with Israel. Applications typically due in October with decisions announced in November.

Religious School Innovation Program (RSIP) Grants: Variable amounts Supports innovation in Jewish education through religious schools. Application process includes LOI stage.

Communal Security Initiative: Variable amounts Distributed upwards of $1.5 million in grants to help protect the community, collaborating with more than 250 Jewish organizations and training thousands of individuals.

Israel Emergency Fund: Variable amounts (major grants) Provides emergency response funding to Israeli organizations. As of September 2024, deployed $41 million through 51 unique partners and 72 grants providing mental health, economic, and emergency social services. Examples include $1 million to Kibbutz Re'im and $1.8 million total to HaGal Sheli.

Community Impact Grants: Variable amounts Projects must address one or more of CJP's three Impact Areas, with funds available for Organizational Capacity Building and Community Enhancement Initiatives.

Priority Areas

CJP has defined three cross-cutting communal impact areas:

  1. Caring for Vulnerable Populations: Supporting those most in need within the Jewish community and beyond
  2. Broader and Deeper Engagement in Jewish Life: Programs that strengthen Jewish identity, learning, and community connection
  3. Healthy, Thriving, and Sustainable Community: Building organizational capacity and community infrastructure

Specific focus areas include:

  • Women and girls' wellbeing (The Miriam Fund focuses on Education, Economic Empowerment, Health, Legal Rights, and Personal Safety)
  • Jewish arts and culture
  • Combating antisemitism and promoting cross-community relationships
  • Israel engagement and emergency response
  • Religious school innovation and Jewish education
  • Community security
  • Economic empowerment and social services

What They Don't Fund

CJP's due diligence ensures all grantees are qualified charitable organizations that don't conflict with CJP's mission to strengthen Jewish life and improve the world. While specific exclusions are not comprehensively listed publicly, grants are focused on organizations serving Jewish communities or aligned with Jewish values and community building.

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Marc Baker leads CJP in its mission to inspire Jewish life and ignite positive change. He has served in this role for several years and collaborates with leaders, volunteers, and community partners to advance CJP's strategic priorities. Baker emphasizes partnership over transactional relationships, stating: "We have moved beyond the days when federations simply collect and distribute tzedakah" and that CJP's grantees are in "genuine strategic partnership together, building the community that we want." He focuses on creating "a culture of learning and growth, where people can take risks and be vulnerable" and believes in the need to "educate people about the value of communal giving, and show them that they can make a bigger difference when they choose to be part of the whole."

Senior Vice President of Philanthropy: Jennifer Weinstock

Women's Philanthropy Leadership:

  • President: Pamela Norden
  • VP of Giving: Erica Abate Recht
  • VP of Connection: Jennifer Drucker
  • VP of Leadership Development: Abigail Fierman

CJP operates with a comprehensive governance structure including a Board of Trustees, various committees (including Budget and Administration), and extensive volunteer leadership who shape strategy and community initiatives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CJP operates multiple grant programs, each with specific application methods:

Two-Stage Process (Most Programs):

  1. Letter of Intent (LOI): Initial brief application submitted online through CJP's grants portal
  2. Full Application: Invited applicants receive complete instructions and submit detailed proposals

Required Documentation:

  • IRS Letter of Determination for public charities
  • If using fiscal sponsor: letter providing full legal name, contact information, and copy of their IRS Letter of Determination
  • Financial information and organizational details
  • Program-specific requirements vary

Application Submission: Most programs use online application portals. Only LOIs submitted through the official online forms are considered. Organizations may only submit one application per program per year.

Site Visits: For some programs (like The Miriam Fund), a site visit or telephone interview by fund members is a component of the final application process.

Decision Timeline

The Miriam Fund (2025-2026 cycle):

  • LOI Deadline: August 29, 2025
  • LOI Decision Notification: November 17, 2025
  • Final Decisions: Mid-April 2026
  • Total Timeline: ~8 months from LOI to decision

Arts & Culture Community Impact Grants:

  • LOI Opens: August 6, 2025
  • Timeline: Similar multi-month process

Young Adults Israel Engagement Grants:

  • Application Deadline: October
  • Decision Announcement: November
  • Total Timeline: ~1-2 months

General Timeline: Most programs operate on 2-4 month decision cycles from LOI submission to grant announcement. Notification typically occurs via email with formal award letters following.

Success Rates

While CJP does not publish specific success rate percentages, the organization made 963 grants to organizations in FY2023 (965 awards in FY2023, 966 in FY2022, 964 in FY2021, 942 in FY2020). The substantial number of recipients indicates a relatively robust grantmaking portfolio, though specific programs like The Miriam Fund (22 organizations funded in 2024-2025) and Arts & Culture grants (10 grants of $7,500 each) are more competitive due to limited availability.

Reapplication Policy

The Miriam Fund:

  • Current third-year grantees must take one full year off before reapplying (if grantee rolls off in June 2025, they can next apply in August 2027)
  • All other past grantees (including unsuccessful applicants) are eligible to apply at the LOI stage with no waiting period
  • Following a first-year grant, organizations may be considered for renewal for up to two additional consecutive years

Arts & Culture Community Impact Grants:

  • Applicants who received funding in the previous funding year are not eligible to apply for the current funding cycle

Policies vary by program; unsuccessful applicants generally face no restrictions on reapplying in subsequent cycles.

Application Success Factors

CJP's Stated Priorities for Strong Applications

CJP seeks to incentivize and embolden grantees that strive to meet several ideals:

  • Collaboration between multiple institutions working toward shared outcomes
  • Stability, responsiveness, and continually seeking improvement
  • Intrepid and entrepreneurial approaches with agility
  • Prioritizing people and future-forward ideas aimed at a thriving and engaged Jewish community

Program-Specific Success Factors

The Miriam Fund:

  • Results-oriented projects: CJP welcomes applications that can demonstrate measurable and sustainable impact
  • Gender lens approach: Programs must clearly support the wellbeing of women and girls
  • Focus areas alignment: Projects should address Education, Economic Empowerment, Health, Legal Rights, or Personal Safety

Arts & Culture Grants:

  • Projects should "creatively interpret or reinvent Jewish teachings, ritual, tradition, or Jewish life"
  • Work should "spark questions, foster curiosity, or invite communal dialogue"
  • Can be individual artists or collaborative groups

All Programs:

  • Accessibility: All grantees must demonstrate consideration of accessibility and participation for individuals of all abilities
  • Alignment with CJP's three impact areas: Caring for Vulnerable Populations, Broader and Deeper Engagement in Jewish Life, or Healthy, Thriving, and Sustainable Community
  • Mission alignment: Projects must align with strengthening Jewish life and improving the world

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Israel Emergency Fund: $1 million to Kibbutz Re'im to house 430 displaced individuals; $1.8 million total to HaGal Sheli for emergency response project providing mental health and social services

Ally Challenge Grants: Grassroots, hyperlocal projects building cross-community relationships to combat antisemitism across Greater Boston

The Miriam Fund: 22 organizations funded in 2024-2025 with $400,000+ in grants for women's and girls' wellbeing programs

Leadership Guidance

Marc Baker emphasizes that CJP views its relationship with grantees as "genuine strategic partnership together, building the community that we want" rather than transactional. He encourages organizations to understand that every contribution matters, whether large or small, and to see themselves as part of communal giving that creates bigger collective impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Partnership mindset: CJP views grants as strategic partnerships, not transactions. Frame your application to show how you'll collaborate with CJP to build community, not just receive funding.

  • Measurable impact is essential: Particularly for programs like The Miriam Fund, demonstrate concrete, measurable, and sustainable outcomes. Include clear metrics and evaluation plans.

  • Embrace the three impact areas: Explicitly connect your project to one or more of CJP's three core areas: Caring for Vulnerable Populations, Broader and Deeper Engagement in Jewish Life, or Healthy, Thriving, and Sustainable Community.

  • Show collaboration and innovation: CJP prioritizes projects that involve collaboration between institutions and demonstrate intrepid, entrepreneurial approaches with agility. Highlight partnerships and innovative elements.

  • Start with the LOI: Most programs require a Letter of Intent first. This is your chance to make a compelling initial case. Organizations notified in early stages whether they'll be invited to submit full proposals.

  • Accessibility matters: All applications must demonstrate consideration of accessibility and participation for individuals of all abilities. Build this into your program design, not as an afterthought.

  • Multi-year potential: For The Miriam Fund, successful first-year grantees can receive up to two additional consecutive years of funding. Show sustainability and potential for growth in your initial application.

  • Geographic and mission alignment: Ensure your project serves Greater Boston, Israel, or global Jewish communities and clearly aligns with strengthening Jewish life and improving the world.

References

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