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The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Inc

Annual Giving
$23.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M
Decision Time
1w

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $23,390,339 (2023)
  • Total Awards: 335 grants (2023)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $150,000 (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Washington, DC area (DC, MD, Northern VA)
  • Application Method: Mixed (rolling basis, fixed deadlines, first-come-first-served depending on program)

Contact Details

Address: 6101 Executive Blvd, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Phone: 301-230-7200

Fax: 301-560-6548

TTY: 301-230-7260

Website: www.shalomdc.org

Grant Portal: jewishfgw.smapply.io

Grant Support Contacts:

Security Grant Support: security@shalomdc.org or 301-230-7287

Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants: Rabbi Sarah Tasman at sarah.tasman@shalomdc.org

Overview

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington has been serving the Jewish community since its founding, evolving to become a leading convener and connector for the Greater Washington Jewish community. With annual giving of over $23 million in 2023, the Federation operates with a clear mission: to inspire, build, and sustain vibrant Jewish life in a changing world by mobilizing the community in common purpose, intentional innovation, and effective action. Their vision is "an open, connected, and vibrant Jewish community that cares for each other, fosters Jewish learning and journeys, embraces Jewish peoplehood and Israel, and acts as a force for good in the world." The Federation provides direct funding to 40 core local agencies and supports an additional 57 local agencies across DC, MD, and Northern VA, serving as the largest single donor to more than half of these organizations. Under CEO Gil Preuss's leadership since 2017, the Federation has strengthened its role as a sought-after thought partner for Jewish and communal agencies, synagogues, and institutions locally, nationally, and globally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Engagement Grants: $3,000 average per award

  • Available to local community organizations to support new ways of promoting Jewish engagement and increased involvement in Jewish life through strengthening capacity and/or innovative programming and publicity
  • Application method: Rolling basis

Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants: $500 - $2,500

  • Individual school applications: $500, $1,000, or $1,500
  • Two or more schools (collaborative applications): $2,000 or $2,500
  • Funds must enhance programs, not substitute for core operating budget resources
  • Application method: Rolling basis, early submission strongly encouraged

Israel Quest (Teen Israel Travel Grants): Varies

  • Financial support for eligible teen Israel travel experiences
  • Application method: First-come, first-served; apply at least one month before trip provider's final payment deadline
  • Grants awarded based on availability; early application critical to secure funding

Security Grant Support: Up to $150,000

  • Applications historically open towards the end of February with 2-4 week application windows
  • In 2022, Federation delivered over $1 million in security services across the Jewish community

Special Initiative Grants: Varies

  • In 2022, an $800,000 investment included a series of one-year grants to 21 groups actively building a collective Israeli society
  • Donors granted $743,501 to help displaced Afghans following the fall of Kabul in 2022

Priority Areas (Plan for Communal Vibrancy)

The Federation's "Plan for Communal Vibrancy" defines three key strategic priorities for a two to four-year period:

1. Meeting Individual & Family Needs

  • Food insecurity
  • Housing/financial insecurity
  • Job training and placement
  • Mental health and domestic abuse support
  • COVID-19 exacerbated challenges for community members facing adversity, with unprecedented levels of financial and food insecurity

2. Ensuring the Success and Resilience of Jewish Communal Organizations

  • Direct support to partner agencies
  • Leadership development
  • Safety and security
  • Communal measurement and evaluation
  • Helping organizations not only withstand challenges but reach their potential

3. Deepening Jewish Learning & Journeys

  • Significant investment in scholarships and financial aid for Jewish early childhood education, day schools, and summer camps
  • Since summer 2021, an investment of more than $1 million in Jewish summer camping has resulted in 2x the number of camps partnering with Federation
  • Funding innovation and experimentation
  • Addressing pandemic-induced financial barriers to Jewish life

Geographic Focus: Greater Washington, DC area (DC, MD, Northern VA), with additional funding to national organizations (Jewish Federations of North America, JDC, JAFI, Birthright Israel, HIAS, Hillel, World ORT) and overseas partners and programs

What They Don't Fund

Specific funding exclusions were not detailed in publicly available sources. However, eligibility criteria indicate focus on:

  • Organizations serving the Greater Washington, DC Jewish community
  • Programs promoting Jewish engagement and outreach to unaffiliated Jews
  • Charitable rollovers from IRAs may not be put into Donor Advised Funds

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Gil Preuss, PhD (since 2017)

Board of Trustees: Ann Bennett, Adam Berman, Jeffrey Distenfeld, Isabel (Liz) Dunst, Vicki Fishman, Meg Flax, Robin Hettleman Weinberg, Michele (Cookie) Hymer Blitz, Ellen Kagen Waghelstein, Drew Karr, Jocelyn Krifcher, Stuart Kurlander, Jonathan Lerner, Shary Levitt, Gil Preuss, Ph.D., Deborah (Debby) Ratner Salzberg, Todd Rich, Jonathan Schilit, Daniel Simpkins, David Sloan, Daniel Solomon, Mindy Strelitz, Shira Stutman, and Stefan Tucker

Trustees Emeriti: Joel Breslau, Steve Jacobson, and Alan L. Meltzer

Executive Team:

  • Sara Brenner, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Foundation
  • Elisa Deener-Agus, Chief of Staff
  • Keren M. Waranch, Chief Development Officer

Leadership Quote from CEO Gil Preuss:

  • "[Unrestricted funding] plays an important part in our core ability to serve this community."
  • "Few offerings are as impactful of an entry point for people's life-long Jewish journeys as camp."
  • "The goals [of JTP] are exactly what we should be striving for, which is to make the Washington, D.C., region the best place for people who want to work at Jewish organizations."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington operates through multiple grant programs with varying application processes:

Online Grant Portal: jewishfgw.smapply.io

Program-Specific Applications:

  • Security Grants: Contact security@shalomdc.org or call 301-230-7287
  • Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants: Contact Rabbi Sarah Tasman at sarah.tasman@shalomdc.org for forms and submission process
  • Israel Quest (Teen Travel Grants): Apply through the grant portal; submit at least one month before trip provider's final payment deadline

Core Agency Funding: The Federation provides direct funding to 40 local agencies whose priorities and needs align with the Federation mission. This appears to be through established partnerships rather than open applications.

Donor Advised Funds: The Jewish Community Foundation manages allocations made by donor-advised funds, whereby donors recommend specific programs or services to support.

Decision Timeline

  • Israel Quest Grants: Applications approved on rolling basis; once approved and liability waiver submitted, Federation sends grant directly to trip provider
  • Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants: Applications reviewed on rolling basis; early submissions strongly encouraged due to limited funding
  • Security Grants: Historically open towards end of February with 2-4 week application windows; decision timeline not publicly specified
  • Swords of Iron Grants (2023-2024 program): Grant status communicated within one week following submitted application

Success Rates

Specific success rates and competitiveness data were not available in publicly accessible sources. However:

  • In 2023, the Federation made 335 grants totaling $23,390,339
  • Funding is described as "limited" for several programs, with early submission strongly encouraged
  • Israel Quest grants are "limited and awarded first come, first served"

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants were not detailed in publicly available sources.

Eligibility Requirements

501(c)(3) Status: Preferred but not required

Eligible Applicants:

  • Independent organizations actively involved in outreach and engagement to unaffiliated Jews in the greater Washington, DC area
  • Fledgling congregations and/or other organizations seeking to expand services to unaffiliated populations and/or underserved areas
  • Organizations with specific engagement programs promoting Jewish life and learning

Geographic Requirement: Greater Washington, DC area (DC, MD, Northern VA)

Application Success Factors

While specific application success guidance from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington was limited in publicly available sources, the following funder-specific factors emerged from research:

Alignment with Strategic Priorities:

  • Programs should align with at least one of the three key priorities in the Plan for Communal Vibrancy: Meeting Individual & Family Needs, Ensuring the Success and Resilience of Jewish Communal Organizations, or Deepening Jewish Learning & Journeys
  • CEO Gil Preuss emphasizes the importance of unrestricted funding and community service

Program Requirements for Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants:

  • Funds must enhance programs, not substitute for core operating budget resources
  • Community receiving a grant must implement their own evaluation process that references how the program met its goals and impact on learners
  • Congregations are encouraged to collaborate and apply together to address shared needs
  • Consideration given to grants addressing professional development experiences or encouraging partnership and innovation

Timing Matters:

  • For programs with limited funding (Israel Quest, Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants), early submission is critical
  • Israel Quest applications should be submitted at least one month before trip provider's final payment deadline to avoid late fees

Focus on Jewish Engagement:

  • Programs should promote Jewish engagement and increased involvement in Jewish life
  • Support for outreach to unaffiliated Jews in the Greater Washington, DC area
  • Innovation and experimentation are valued

Evaluation and Impact:

  • Applications should demonstrate how programs will be evaluated
  • Clear articulation of goals and expected impact on participants/learners

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multi-faceted funder: The Federation operates multiple distinct grant programs with varying application processes, timelines, and award amounts—research the specific program that best fits your needs
  • First-come, first-served advantage: For competitive programs like Israel Quest and Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants, submit applications as early as possible due to limited funding
  • Strategic alignment is critical: Ensure your program aligns with one or more of the Federation's three strategic priorities in their Plan for Communal Vibrancy
  • Geographic focus: Programs must serve the Greater Washington, DC area Jewish community (DC, MD, Northern VA)
  • Collaboration encouraged: For synagogue educational initiatives, collaborative applications from multiple congregations receive higher funding amounts and are explicitly encouraged
  • 501(c)(3) preferred but flexible: While 501(c)(3) status is preferred, it is not a strict requirement, allowing fledgling organizations to apply
  • Contact program officers: For program-specific questions, the Federation encourages reaching out to designated contacts (Dan Afriat for general grant portal questions, Rabbi Sarah Tasman for synagogue grants, security team for security grants)

References

All sources accessed December 2024.

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