Jewish Federation Of St Louis - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $22,455,329 (2022 data)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: 5-6 months for Community Impact Investments; rolling for Impact Grants
Grant Range: $1,000 - $50,000
Geographic Focus: Greater St. Louis area, with international support for Israel and worldwide Jewish communities

Contact Details

Address: 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146

Phone: 314-432-0020

Website: www.jfedstl.org

Email: For general inquiries: amiller@jfedstl.org

Pre-Application Support:

Scott Berzon, Director of Community Impact (impact grants and general inquiries)
Karen Sher, Chief Impact Officer (strategic guidance and oversight)

Overview

Founded in 1901, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis serves as the central philanthropic organization for the St. Louis Jewish community. With over 120 years of history, the Federation distributed $22.5 million in grants in 2022, supporting 55 local partners, 23 Israel and overseas partners, and 5 national partners. In 2024 alone, the Federation invested $8.7 million in more than 85 programs and community partners through Community Impact Investments, endowed funds, and foundations. The organization raised $10.55 million in its 2025 Annual Campaign, marking its strongest year since 2009. Under the leadership of CEO Danny Cohn (appointed in 2024), the Federation focuses on preserving and enhancing Jewish life locally and globally through strategic grantmaking, community engagement, and safety initiatives. The organization earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100% score, reflecting its commitment to transparency and effectiveness.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Federation Impact Grants

Amount: $5,000 - $50,000 per project
Multi-year option: Up to $50,000 over three years
Application method: Rolling basis (applications for 2025 cycle closed; reopening spring 2026)
Purpose: Support innovative, collaborative, and impactful projects addressing emerging community needs
Note: Not intended to replace existing support for vital institutions or sustain ongoing operations

Community Impact Investments

Amount: Varies (part of $8.7 million annual distribution)
Application method: Invitation only
Timeline: Applications open January 6; close February 6; decisions by July 1
Purpose: Aligned with Federation's Core Commitments and strategic priority areas
2024 distribution: Supported over 85 programs and community partners

Staenberg Family Foundation Grants

Anything Grants®: $1,000 - $5,000 (covering 50% of project costs)
Application method: Rolling basis via online portal (annual cycle runs May-June)
General Support & Event Sponsorship: Rolling basis throughout the year
Total impact: Over $54 million distributed since 2005
Eligible areas: Infrastructure, capital improvements, programs, technology, art and culture, health and medical research

Priority Areas

The Federation focuses on four Core Commitments:

Expand and strengthen an engaged, vibrant, and flourishing St. Louis Jewish community
Secure the well-being and safety of individuals within the Jewish community
Strengthen connection to Israel and the Jewish People worldwide
Develop financial and human resources and infrastructure needed by the community

Current Strategic Priorities:

Campus engagement
Social services
Israel-related programming
Inclusion initiatives
Community safety and security (invested nearly $7 million in recent years)
Early childhood initiatives
Youth and family services
Support for elderly populations

Core Values:

Dignity: Ensuring vulnerable populations have housing, food, and protective services
Meaning: Providing access to Jewish community, learning, and tradition
Purpose: Mobilizing the community to serve those in need guided by Jewish values

What They Don't Fund

Political organizations (specifically excluded by Staenberg Family Foundation)
Projects not aligned with Jewish community strengthening
General operating support through Impact Grants (designed for specific projects, not ongoing operations)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Danny Cohn, President & Chief Executive Officer

Appointed in 2024
Background: Over 18 years of experience in the Jewish nonprofit sector
Leadership philosophy: "As Federation CEO, I don't believe there's a place for my personal narrative or agenda. I think it has to be driven by community."
Key priorities: Community engagement, battling antisemitism, safety and security
On inclusivity: "We're not a member-based organization, we're not a synagogue or community center that charges dues. I have to represent the entire community, not just the sliver that other organizations serve."
On security: "In times of rising concern for safety and security, we must act. Not out of fear, but with purpose, preparation and unity."

Karen Sher, Chief Impact Officer

Over 18 years with the Federation
Oversees community impact strategy and grantmaking
Manages relationships with Israeli partners
On Impact Grants: "The grants will give organizations the flexibility to respond in real time to the community's shifting needs."

Scott Berzon, Director of Community Impact

Joined Federation in 2023
Works closely with community partners and lay leadership on grantmaking, evaluation, and strategy
Primary contact for Impact Grants inquiries
Background: Previously Director of Business Operations at Congregation Shaare Emeth

Board of Directors

Todd Siwak, Board Chair (term through December 31, 2026)

Board Officers:

Craig Rosenthal - Vice Chair At-Large
Patty Bloom - Vice Chair of Communications
Dalia Oppenheimer - Vice Chair of Community Impact
Abby Goldstein - Vice Chair Community Leadership and Engagement
Toby Warticovschi - Vice Chair of Development
Felicia Malter - Vice Chair of Finance
John Greenberg - Vice Chair of Governance & Board Engagement
Bob Newmark - Immediate Past Chair

2025 Campaign Co-Chairs:

Galia Movitz
Janie Roodman Weiss

The board includes 21 At-Large Directors and a Council of Life comprising 26 past board chairs and distinguished community leaders.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Federation Impact Grants:

Applications accepted on a rolling basis through online portal
2025 cycle is now closed; applications will reopen in spring 2026
Available to Greater St. Louis Area 501(c)(3) organizations
Both individual organizations and collaborations are eligible
Multi-year proposals accepted (up to 3 years, capped at $50,000 total)

For Community Impact Investments:

Invitation only
Applications open January 6
Applications close February 6
Decisions communicated no later than July 1

For Staenberg Family Foundation Grants:

Submit through Federation's online grant management system
Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=jfedstl
Rolling basis for General Support and Event Sponsorship
Anything Grants typically run May-June annually

Letter of Intent Process:

For organizations that have never applied before or have new ideas
Submit LOI through Federation website
Community Impact team provides feedback within 3 weeks
Team advises on alignment with Federation priorities and which funding opportunities to pursue

Decision Timeline

Impact Grants: Reviewed on rolling basis; timeline varies based on submission date

Community Impact Investments:

Application period: January 6 - February 6
Decision notification: No later than July 1
Total timeline: Approximately 5-6 months

Staenberg Anything Grants:

Annual cycle typically runs May-June
Family board reviews throughout the year

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However:

In 2022, the Federation supported 55 local partners, 23 Israel and overseas partners, and 5 national partners
In 2024, over 85 programs and community partners received funding
Impact Grants (launched 2025) awarded more than $240,000 to local nonprofit partners

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are publicly documented. Organizations are encouraged to use the Letter of Intent process to discuss ideas before formal application.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with 2024 Community Study

The Federation strongly encourages applicants to incorporate findings from the 2024 Greater St. Louis Jewish Community Study, conducted by Brandeis University and NORC at the University of Chicago. The study surveyed 1,771 households and revealed:

Geographic shifts in the community
Financial insecurity among certain households
Evolving engagement patterns

Projects that address needs identified in this study are prioritized.

Strategic Priorities

Applications should explicitly align with one or more of the Federation's Core Commitments:

Expanding and strengthening an engaged, vibrant, flourishing St. Louis Jewish community
Securing well-being and safety of community members
Strengthening connection to Israel and the Jewish People worldwide
Developing financial and human resources and infrastructure

Innovation and Collaboration

For Impact Grants specifically:

Projects should be innovative and address emerging needs
Collaborations between organizations are strongly encouraged
Applications should demonstrate how projects create a "ripple effect" in the community
Focus on projects that bring the community together

Clear Needs Assessment

Applications should:

Clearly define the community need being addressed
Demonstrate significance and urgency
Show how the project responds to real-time community needs
Avoid duplicating existing services

Staenberg Family Foundation Preferences

The Staenberg Foundation favors:

An inclusive and pluralistic approach to Jewish life
Projects that create a ripple effect
Innovative approaches in art, culture, health, medical research, and capital projects

What Not to Include

General operating support requests for Impact Grants (these are project-specific grants)
Politically partisan proposals
Projects not directly strengthening Jewish community life

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Use the 2024 Community Study: Incorporate data and findings from the Federation's comprehensive community study to demonstrate evidence-based needs assessment and strengthen your proposal's relevance
Consider collaboration: The Federation explicitly welcomes and encourages collaborative projects between organizations; partnerships may strengthen applications
Start with a Letter of Intent: If you're a first-time applicant or have a new idea, use the LOI process to get feedback within three weeks before investing time in a full application
Distinguish between grant types: Impact Grants fund innovative projects addressing emerging needs, while Community Impact Investments (invitation-only) support ongoing strategic priorities; understand which fits your work
Think beyond sustainability: Impact Grants are not designed to sustain ongoing operations but to spark new initiatives and collaborations that create community-wide impact
Align with Core Commitments: Explicitly connect your project to one or more of the four Core Commitments and demonstrate how it embodies the values of dignity, meaning, and purpose
Contact Scott Berzon early: As Director of Community Impact, Berzon can provide guidance on whether your project aligns with Federation priorities before you apply

References

Jewish Federation of St. Louis official website - www.jfedstl.org (accessed January 2026)
Federation Impact Grants page - https://www.jfedstl.org/programs/impact-grants/ (accessed January 2026)
Staenberg Family Foundation page - https://www.jfedstl.org/our-work/what-we-fund/get-funded/our-supporting-foundations/staenberg-family-foundation/ (accessed January 2026)
Board of Directors page - https://www.jfedstl.org/board-of-directors/ (accessed January 2026)
"100 days in, new Jewish Federation leader is surprised, inspired by St. Louis Jewish life" - St. Louis Jewish Light, 2024
"Big ideas get a boost: Federation launches new Impact Grants" - St. Louis Jewish Light
"Jewish St. Louis rallies: Federation raises $10.5M in its strongest year since 2009" - St. Louis Jewish Light
"Jewish Federation promotes Karen Sher to key leadership role" - St. Louis Jewish Light
"Jewish Federation of St. Louis welcomes Scott Berzon" - St. Louis Jewish Light
"Eye-opening study becomes roadmap to a stronger St. Louis Jewish community" - St. Louis Jewish Light
Charity Navigator profile for Jewish Federation of St. Louis (EIN 43-0652643)
Cause IQ profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/jewish-federation-of-st-louis,430652643/
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/430652643