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Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore

Annual Giving
$28.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $2.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $28,943,387 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (2-4 months typical)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $2,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Baltimore area, Israel, and international Jewish communities
  • Total Awards (2023): 45 grants from main entity; 513 from associated entities
  • Donor Advised Funds: Approximately 400 funds managed

Contact Details

Main Office:

Grant Program Contacts:

Overview

The Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore, established in 1921, operates as The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. With over $28.9 million in annual grantmaking (2023), the organization strengthens and nurtures Jewish life by engaging and supporting community partners in Greater Baltimore, Israel, and around the world. The federation oversees approximately 400 donor advised funds and foundations, making it one of the most significant philanthropic entities supporting the Baltimore Jewish community.

The organization addresses charitable, educational, religious, humanitarian, health, cultural, and social service needs primarily within the Jewish community, while also supporting select non-Jewish organizations in education, health, arts, and culture throughout central Maryland. Following the events of October 7, 2023, The Associated has made countering antisemitism and hate a strategic priority, launching the Center for Countering Antisemitism and Hate to coordinate efforts across the community, with particular focus on supporting K-12 students and college campuses.

Andrew Cushnir became President and CEO in April 2024, bringing 20 years of Jewish Federation experience from his previous role as executive vice president and chief development officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Jewish Education Enhancement Projects (JEEP)

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $7,500
  • Application Method: Online application, annual deadline
  • Deadline: January 23, 2026
  • Focus: Projects that deepen Jewish education experiences and reach new learners
  • Administered by Jewish Educational Services (JES) on behalf of The Associated
  • Note: Organizations receiving an Associated allocation are ineligible

2. The Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Fund for the Enrichment of Jewish Education

  • Grant Range: Not specified
  • Application Method: Online application, annual cycle
  • Focus: Programs and activities that enrich informal Jewish education in Greater Baltimore
  • Note: Applications typically open in early December for programs beginning the following July

3. Meyerhoff New Jewish Family Innovation Fund

  • Grant Range: Not specified
  • Application Method: Two-step process (LOI then full application)
  • LOI Deadline: December 19, 2025
  • Full Application Deadline: February 20, 2026
  • Decisions: March 2026
  • Focus: Innovative family education and engagement programs for diverse Jewish families
  • Priority: Interfaith families, families of color, adoptees, single parents, LGBTQ families
  • Established: 2019 by Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds

4. Donor Advised Fund Grants

  • Grant Range: Varies widely ($5,000 - $2,000,000+)
  • Application Method: No public application process; grants recommended by fund advisors
  • The Associated manages approximately 400 donor advised funds
  • Grants must support 501(c)(3) organizations with missions aligned to The Associated's values

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Jewish education and engagement (particularly emphasized in recent strategic planning)
  • Religious and Hebrew education programs in Baltimore
  • Caring for those in need within the Jewish community
  • Jewish community services and social welfare
  • Israel partnerships (Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership and Baltimore-Odessa Partnership)
  • Supporting Jewish communities internationally

Secondary Focus:

  • Non-Jewish education, health, and arts/culture organizations in central Maryland
  • Countering antisemitism and hate (major strategic priority post-October 7, 2023)
  • Campus safety and Hillel support at local universities
  • Environmental initiatives

Recent Grant Recipients Include:

  • Baltimore Hebrew Institute (BHI)
  • Baltimore Jewish Council (BJC)
  • Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM)
  • CHANA (Jewish response to abuse)
  • Five local Hillels (Goucher, Johns Hopkins, Towson, UMBC, University of Maryland)
  • Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School
  • Krieger Schecter Day School
  • Maryland Family Network
  • Living Classrooms Foundation
  • United Way of Central Maryland
  • Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
  • Baltimore Museum of Art
  • Jewish Federations of North America
  • U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, but the general framework indicates:

  • Organizations whose mission conflicts with The Associated's values
  • For JEEP grants: Organizations already receiving an Associated allocation
  • Projects outside their geographic focus areas (Baltimore, Israel, and international Jewish communities)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

  • Andrew Cushnir, President and CEO (began April 2024) - Former executive vice president and chief development officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles with 20 years of Jewish Federation experience. Succeeded Marc B. Terrill, who served as president for over 20 years.

Board Structure:

  • Governed by a Board of Governors
  • Dan Hirschhorn serves as a Governor and member of the Investment Management Committee

Organizational Culture: Cushnir's appointment reflected The Associated's commitment to experienced federation leadership during a critical time for the Jewish community. The organization combines professional staff expertise with volunteer leader guidance.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Specific Grant Programs (Public Application Process):

  1. JEEP Grants: Submit online application at jesbaltimore.org by January 23, 2026. Contact Terri Rosen (tnrosen@jesbaltimore.org | 410-735-5008) with questions.

  2. Meyerhoff New Jewish Family Innovation Fund:

    • Submit Letter of Inquiry online at forms.associated.org/view.php?id=180536 by December 19, 2025
    • Invited applicants notified early January 2026
    • Full applications due February 20, 2026
    • Contact Lauren Klein (lklein@associated.org | 410-369-9278)

  3. Blaustein Fund for Jewish Education: Applications typically open in early December for programs beginning the following July. Contact Lauren Klein (lklein@associated.org | 410-369-9278) for current cycle information.

For Donor Advised Fund Grants (No Public Application Process):

The Associated does not accept unsolicited proposals for grants from its approximately 400 donor advised funds. These grants are recommended by individual fund advisors through The Associated's DonorSphere online portal or via paper forms submitted to grant@associated.org. Organizations cannot apply directly but must be known to and selected by individual fund advisors.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following strategies are specific to The Associated's documented approach:

  • Build relationships with individual donors: Since The Associated manages 400 donor advised funds, connecting with individual philanthropists in the Baltimore Jewish community is essential. The organization's structure means individual donors have significant influence over grantmaking decisions.

  • Engage with The Associated's partner agencies: The Associated maintains formal partnerships with numerous Baltimore Jewish organizations. Being part of this ecosystem can increase visibility. Review their partner agencies at associated.org/about-us/partner-agencies/.

  • Contact development staff directly: Jackie Yahr (jyahr@associated.org | 410-369-9248) manages donor advised fund relationships. While you cannot submit unsolicited proposals, introducing your organization and expressing interest in connecting with appropriate fund advisors may be helpful.

  • Participate in Associated-sponsored initiatives: The Associated convenes the Jewish community around priority issues. Organizations engaged in countering antisemitism, supporting campus safety, or strengthening Jewish education align with current strategic priorities.

  • Consider applying to public grant programs first: Success with JEEP, Blaustein, or Meyerhoff grants can raise your organization's profile with The Associated's broader donor network.

Decision Timeline

JEEP Grants:

  • Application Deadline: January 23, 2026
  • Decision timeframe not specified; contact Terri Rosen for timeline

Meyerhoff New Jewish Family Innovation Fund:

  • LOI Deadline: December 19, 2025
  • LOI Decision/Invitation to Apply: Early January 2026
  • Full Application Deadline: February 20, 2026
  • Funding Decisions: March 2026
  • Total timeline: Approximately 3 months from initial LOI

Blaustein Fund:

  • Applications open: Early December
  • Decisions communicated: By June of the following year
  • Total timeline: Approximately 6 months

Donor Advised Fund Grants:

  • No standard timeline; varies by individual fund advisor
  • Grants can be processed throughout the year on a rolling basis

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed for any grant programs. The Associated made 45 awards from its main entity and 513 total awards from associated entities in 2023, distributing $28,943,387.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly documented. For specific grant programs, contact the program administrators directly:

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The Associated has explicitly prioritized countering antisemitism and hate following October 7, 2023. Projects that address campus safety, K-12 student support, Jewish empowerment, or bridge-building between communities align with current strategic direction.

Jewish Education and Engagement: Andrew Cushnir's appointment statement and multiple grant programs emphasize Jewish education as central to The Associated's mission. According to research on The Associated's focus areas, "Jewish Education and Engagement" has been particularly emphasized in recent strategic planning.

Inclusive Programming: The Meyerhoff Fund specifically seeks to "support innovative family education and engagement programs" and prioritizes "inclusive programming that welcomes diverse Jewish families, including those with interfaith members, people of color, adoptees, single parents, and LGBTQ families." This reflects broader organizational values around welcoming all Jewish families.

Innovation and Expansion: JEEP grants require projects to accomplish at least one of these goals: increase the number of people engaged in Jewish educational experiences, bring in new learners by reaching a wider target audience, enhance experience quality, or expand programming volume. The emphasis is on growth and innovation rather than sustaining existing programs.

Baltimore Focus with Global Connections: While The Associated supports international Jewish causes (particularly through Israel partnerships), their grantmaking emphasizes local Baltimore impact. Projects connecting Baltimore's Jewish community to Israel or international Jewish communities receive support (e.g., Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership, Baltimore-Odessa Partnership).

Examples of Funded Work: Recent grantees demonstrate the range: from core Jewish institutions (Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, Krieger Schecter Day School, local Hillels) to Jewish community services (CHANA for abuse response, Jewish Museum of Maryland for history preservation) to secular Baltimore organizations (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Museum of Art, Living Classrooms Foundation, United Way).

For Donor Advised Fund Consideration: The Associated notes that organizations seeking grants from donor advised funds "will likely have to network with the federation's leadership or the donors who advise over 400 funds that the organization oversees." Building relationships with individual philanthropists in Baltimore's Jewish community is essential.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multiple pathways to funding: The Associated offers both public grant programs (JEEP, Meyerhoff, Blaustein) with clear application processes and donor advised fund grants requiring relationship-building with individual donors.

  • Current strategic priority is combating antisemitism: Following October 7, 2023, The Associated has made countering antisemitism and hate a major focus, particularly supporting K-12 students and college campuses. Proposals addressing these issues align with leadership priorities.

  • Jewish education remains central: With multiple dedicated programs and Andrew Cushnir's emphasis on Jewish engagement, educational programming—particularly innovative or inclusive approaches—receives strong support.

  • Relationship-driven for major grants: With 400 donor advised funds representing significant grantmaking capacity, networking with Baltimore Jewish philanthropists is essential for organizations seeking substantial funding beyond the public grant programs.

  • Inclusive values: The Meyerhoff Fund's explicit prioritization of interfaith families, LGBTQ families, families of color, and other diverse family structures indicates organizational commitment to welcoming all expressions of Jewish life.

  • Baltimore-Israel connections: The organization maintains formal partnerships with Ashkelon and Odessa, suggesting opportunities for programs connecting Baltimore's Jewish community with Israel and international Jewish communities.

  • Non-Jewish organizations can receive support: While primarily focused on Jewish causes, The Associated does support non-Jewish education, health, arts, and culture organizations in central Maryland, as evidenced by grants to Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Museum of Art, and United Way.

References

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