The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $36,084,792 (2023)
Grant Range: $500 - $150,000 (depending on programme)
Geographic Focus: Greater Washington, DC area (DC, MD, Northern VA)
Application Method: Mixed (rolling basis, fixed deadlines, first-come-first-served depending on programme)

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:

Dan Afriat, Strategic Planning & Allocations Associate: dan.afriat@shalomdc.org
Jason Leonard, Data Analyst: jason.leonard@shalomdc.org

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 $36 million in 2023, the Federation operates with a clear mission: to inspire, build, and sustain vibrant Jewish life in a changing world by mobilising 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 organisations. 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 Programmes

Community Engagement Grants: $3,000 average per award

Available to local community organisations 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 programmes, 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 Organisations

Direct support to partner agencies
Leadership development
Safety and security
Communal measurement and evaluation
Helping organisations 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 organisations (Jewish Federations of North America, JDC, JAFI, Birthright Israel, HIAS, Hillel, World ORT) and overseas partners and programmes

What They Don't Fund

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

Organisations serving the Greater Washington, DC Jewish community
Programmes 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 organisations."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

Online Grant Portal: jewishfgw.smapply.io

For questions or assistance with the grant portal, contact Dan Afriat (dan.afriat@shalomdc.org) or Jason Leonard (jason.leonard@shalomdc.org)

Programme-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 programmes 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 programme): Grant status communicated within one week following submitted application

Success Rates

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

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 organisations actively involved in outreach and engagement to unaffiliated Jews in the greater Washington, DC area
Fledgling congregations and/or other organisations seeking to expand services to unaffiliated populations and/or underserved areas
Organisations with specific engagement programmes 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:

Programmes 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 Organisations, or Deepening Jewish Learning & Journeys
CEO Gil Preuss emphasises the importance of unrestricted funding and community service

Programme Requirements for Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants:

Funds must enhance programmes, not substitute for core operating budget resources
Community receiving a grant must implement their own evaluation process that references how the programme 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 programmes 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:

Programmes 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 programmes 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 programmes with varying application processes, timelines, and award amounts—research the specific programme that best fits your needs
First-come, first-served advantage: For competitive programmes like Israel Quest and Synagogue Educational Initiative Grants, submit applications as early as possible due to limited funding
Strategic alignment is critical: Ensure your programme aligns with one or more of the Federation's three strategic priorities in their Plan for Communal Vibrancy
Geographic focus: Programmes 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 organisations to apply
Contact programme officers: For programme-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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