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Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore

Annual Giving
$39.6M
Grant Range
$5K - $2.0M
Decision Time
3mo

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Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $39,597,499 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by programme (2-4 months typical)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $2,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Baltimore area, Israel, and international Jewish communities
  • Total Awards (2023): 513 grants
  • Donor Advised Funds: Approximately 400 funds managed

Contact Details

Main Office:

Grant Programme Contacts:

Overview

The Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore, established in 1921, operates as The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. With over $39.6 million in annual grantmaking (2023), the organisation 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 organisation addresses charitable, educational, religious, humanitarian, health, cultural, and social service needs primarily within the Jewish community, while also supporting select non-Jewish organisations 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 Centre 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 Programmes

1. Jewish Education Enhancement Projects (JEEP)

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $7,500
  • Application Method: Online application, annual deadline
  • Deadline: Applications typically due in late January
  • Focus: Projects that deepen Jewish education experiences and reach new learners
  • Administered by Jewish Educational Services (JES) on behalf of The Associated
  • Note: Organisations 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: Programmes and activities that enrich informal Jewish education in Greater Baltimore
  • Note: Applications typically open in early December for programmes 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: Letters of Inquiry typically due in mid-December
  • Full Application Deadline: Full applications typically due in mid-to-late February
  • Decisions: Funding decisions typically made in March
  • Focus: Innovative family education and engagement programmes for diverse Jewish families
  • Priority: Interfaith families, families of colour, 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) organisations with missions aligned to The Associated's values

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Jewish education and engagement (particularly emphasised in recent strategic planning)
  • Religious and Hebrew education programmes 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 organisations 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:

  • Organisations whose mission conflicts with The Associated's values
  • For JEEP grants: Organisations 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

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

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Specific Grant Programmes (Public Application Process):

  1. JEEP Grants: Submit online application at jesbaltimore.org. Applications typically due in late January. 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. Letters of Inquiry typically due in mid-December.
    • Invited applicants notified early January
    • Full applications typically due in mid-to-late February
    • Contact Lauren Klein (lklein@associated.org | 410-369-9278)

  3. Blaustein Fund for Jewish Education: Applications typically open in early December for programmes 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. Organisations 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 organisation'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 organisations. 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 organisation 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. Organisations engaged in countering antisemitism, supporting campus safety, or strengthening Jewish education align with current strategic priorities.

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

Decision Timeline

JEEP Grants:

  • Application Deadline: Typically late January
  • Decision timeframe not specified; contact Terri Rosen for timeline

Meyerhoff New Jewish Family Innovation Fund:

  • LOI Deadline: Typically mid-December
  • LOI Decision/Invitation to Apply: Early January
  • Full Application Deadline: Typically mid-to-late February
  • Funding Decisions: Typically March
  • 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 programmes. The Associated made 513 awards in 2023, distributing $39,597,499.

Reapplication Policy

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

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The Associated has explicitly prioritised 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 programmes emphasise 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 emphasised in recent strategic planning.

Inclusive Programming: The Meyerhoff Fund specifically seeks to "support innovative family education and engagement programmes" and prioritises "inclusive programming that welcomes diverse Jewish families, including those with interfaith members, people of colour, adoptees, single parents, and LGBTQ families." This reflects broader organisational 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 programmes.

Baltimore Focus with Global Connections: While The Associated supports international Jewish causes (particularly through Israel partnerships), their grantmaking emphasises 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 organisations (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Museum of Art, Living Classrooms Foundation, United Way).

For Donor Advised Fund Consideration: The Associated notes that organisations 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 organisation 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 programmes (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 programmes 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 organisations seeking substantial funding beyond the public grant programmes.

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

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

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

References

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