Zeff Kesher Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,406,000 (2023)
• Total Assets: $35,174,218 (2024)
• Grant Range: Varies by program
• Geographic Focus: Colorado and Israel connections
• Application Method: No public application process
• Number of Awards: 10 grants in 2023, 14 grants in 2022

Contact Details

Address: 555 Circle Drive, Denver, CO 80206

Note: This is a private foundation that does not maintain a public website or published contact information. The foundation operates primarily through invitation and trustee discretion.

Overview

Founded in 2015 by Diana Zeff Anderson following the death of her mother, Joyce Zeff, the Zeff Kesher Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation dedicated to building connections (kesher means "connection" in Hebrew) between Colorado's Jewish community and Israel. With assets exceeding $35 million as of 2024, the foundation has grown significantly from its initial $3.8 million in 2013. The foundation operates as a family foundation with Diana Anderson serving as President, along with her children Adam Yehoshua Wolfson and Elan Hadar Wolfson serving as Vice Presidents. The foundation dedicates over 91% of its expenses to charitable disbursements, demonstrating a strong commitment to its mission. Diana Zeff Anderson was honored with the Golda Meir Award by JEWISHcolorado in 2023 for her extraordinary leadership and community involvement.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published application processes. Instead, grantmaking is directed through trustee discretion toward specific strategic priorities.

Known Major Grants:

• $1.5 million to JEWISHcolorado for the Israel & Overseas Center (the single largest annual gift in JEWISHcolorado's 75-year history)
• Lead funding for JEWISHcolorado's adult and teen Israeli emissary programs (shaliach and shinshinim)
• Support for bringing ShinShinim (Israeli gap-year emissaries) to small Jewish communities across the United States through Zeff Family Foundations

Priority Areas

Israel-Diaspora Connections: The foundation's primary focus is creating "people-to-people connections" between American Jews and Israeli Jews through cultural exchange programs, emissary programs, and innovative philanthropic platforms.

Israeli Emissary Programs: Strong emphasis on supporting both adult shlichim (emissaries) and teenage shinshinim who serve in Jewish communities, particularly in Colorado and smaller Jewish communities nationwide.

Next-Generation Engagement: Programs designed to engage younger generations in Israel connections, such as G2 and 248 programs through the Israel & Overseas Center.

Innovative Connection Platforms: Support for organizations like SparkIL, a peer-to-peer lending platform that allows Diaspora Jews to support Israeli small businesses, including vulnerable populations.

What They Don't Fund

Based on the foundation's focused mission, they appear to fund exclusively within the realm of Israel-diaspora Jewish connections. Organizations outside this specific focus area would not align with their mission.

Governance and Leadership

Diana Zeff Anderson - President/Director

Diana is the driving force behind the foundation's mission. She lived, worked, and raised four children in Israel for 24 years (1981-2005) and speaks fluent Hebrew. Her personal experience of bridging American and Israeli Jewish life informs the foundation's work. She serves on numerous boards including:

• Jewish Agency for Israel Board of Governors (Chair of the Shlichut committee)
• AIPAC National Council (Chair of local Executive Council)
• Shalom Hartman Board of Directors
• SparkIL Board Member

Key Quote: "The beauty of philanthropy is you get more than you give... the work I do in the Jewish community is about the impact I can make and not about me. I don't do the work to be thanked. I am thanked when I see the impact."

Adam Yehoshua Wolfson - Vice President/Director

Son of Diana Zeff Anderson, representing the next generation of family leadership.

Elan Hadar Wolfson - Vice President/Director

Son of Diana Zeff Anderson, representing the next generation of family leadership.

Leadership Philosophy: Diana emphasizes collaborative, inclusive decision-making and believes that "big organizations need to exist so that everyone at every level—including smaller donors—can participate in Jewish life."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, the Zeff Kesher Foundation operates through trustee discretion and strategic partnerships. Grants are typically awarded to organizations that align closely with the foundation's mission of building Israel-diaspora connections, often through pre-existing relationships and board connections.

The foundation appears to identify grantees through:

• Leadership involvement on organizational boards
• Strategic partnerships with major Jewish community organizations
• Family foundation collaborative initiatives
• Direct relationships with Jewish Agency for Israel and similar institutions

Getting on Their Radar

Diana Zeff Anderson's Board Involvement: The most documented pathway to foundation funding appears to be through organizations where Diana Zeff Anderson serves in leadership roles, particularly:

• JEWISHcolorado (former Board Chair)
• Jewish Agency for Israel (Board of Governors, Chair of Shlichut committee)
• SparkIL (Board Member)
• Shalom Hartman Institute (Board Member)

Zeff Family Foundation Collaborations: The Zeff family operates multiple foundations that collaborate on specific initiatives. For example, they collectively funded ShinShinim programs in 10 small Jewish communities across the United States. Organizations working on Israel-diaspora connection initiatives, particularly those involving the Jewish Agency for Israel, may find opportunities for support.

Focus on Innovation: The foundation has shown interest in innovative platforms for connection, such as SparkIL's peer-to-peer lending model, suggesting that novel approaches to Israel-diaspora engagement may attract attention.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Connection Over Transaction: Diana Zeff Anderson emphasizes authentic cultural exchange rather than one-directional support. As she states, she wants people to say, "I am dying to go to Israel. I just can't wait to get there" - indicating preference for programs that inspire genuine connection and excitement about Israel.

Inclusive Participation Models: The foundation values "big organizations that enable broad participation" where "everyone at every level—including smaller donors—can participate in Jewish life," suggesting preference for scalable programs with multiple entry points.

Next-Generation Focus: With children serving as Vice Presidents and support for programs targeting younger Jews, the foundation prioritizes initiatives that will sustain Israel-diaspora connections across generations.

People-to-People Emphasis: The foundation specifically supports programs bringing Israelis to diaspora communities (shlichim, shinshinim) rather than abstract or arms-length support, indicating preference for programs with direct human connection.

Addressing Ambivalence: Diana has stated her concern about "growing ambivalence among Jews in the diaspora about the state of Israel," suggesting that programs addressing this challenge through positive engagement would align with foundation interests.

Strategic Impact: With over 91% of expenses going to charitable disbursements and selective grantmaking (only 10 grants in 2023), the foundation appears to focus on high-impact strategic investments rather than numerous small grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application: This is not an accessible funder for organizations without pre-existing connections to the Zeff family or Diana Anderson's network of organizations
• Highly Focused Mission: Only organizations working specifically on Colorado-Israel or broader U.S.-Israel Jewish community connections would be considered
• Strategic Partnerships: The foundation works through major institutional partners (Jewish Agency for Israel, JEWISHcolorado) rather than numerous individual organizations
• Relationship-Driven: Board involvement and personal relationships appear to be the primary pathway to funding
• Innovation Welcome: The foundation has shown openness to innovative approaches (SparkIL) alongside traditional emissary programs
• Family Foundation Structure: With family members in leadership roles, this operates with typical private foundation discretion rather than formal grant cycles
• Impact Over Volume: Making only 10 grants annually despite significant assets indicates highly selective, high-impact grantmaking philosophy

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Zeff Kesher Foundation (EIN 46-1444858), https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/461444858 (accessed January 2026)
• JEWISHcolorado: "JEWISHcolorado Announces Launch of New Israel Center," https://www.jewishcolorado.org/jewishcolorado-announces-launch-of-new-israel-center/ (accessed January 2026)
• JEWISHcolorado: "A conversation with Diana Zeff Anderson, Golda Meir Award recipient," https://www.jewishcolorado.org/a-conversation-with-diana-zeff-anderson-golda-meir-award-recipient/ (accessed January 2026)
• eJewishPhilanthropy: "Finding an accessible vehicle for Israel-Diaspora connection," https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/finding-an-accessible-vehicle-for-israel-diaspora-connection/ (accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl: "Zeff Kesher Foundation 990 Report," https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/kesher-foundation (accessed January 2026)
• JEWISHcolorado: "2023 CHOICES showcases Women's Philanthropy and Golda Award," https://www.jewishcolorado.org/2023-choices-showcases-womens-philanthropy-and-golda-award/ (accessed January 2026)