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Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Annual Giving
$80.3M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $80,253,526 (2023)
  • Number of Awards: 324 grants (2023)
  • Decision Time: 3 months (September-December for Incubator Grants)
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $15,000 (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: Miami-Dade County, Florida
  • Founded: 1938

Contact Details

Main Office:

Grant Program Contacts:

Additional Office:

  • South Dade Office: Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center, 11155 S.W. 112 Avenue, Miami, FL 33176 | 305.595.5151

Overview

Founded in 1938 in response to Kristallnacht, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation has served as a unifying force for Jewish community-building and philanthropy for more than 85 years. The organization mobilizes human and financial resources to care for those in need, strengthen Jewish life, and advance the unity, values, and shared purpose of the Jewish people in Miami, in Israel, and around the world. In 2023, the Federation distributed over $80 million in grants through 324 awards. As Miami's Jewish population has grown and diversified—welcoming communities from Cuba, Latin America, France, the former Soviet Union, and beyond—the Federation has evolved accordingly, helping to plan and support schools, Jewish community centers, agencies, and synagogues throughout the region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Jewish Incubator Grants

  • Amount: $2,500 - $10,000
  • Purpose: Supports organizations, synagogues, agencies, and schools to develop innovative and/or impactful programs, services, projects, and technologies that support and enrich Miami's Jewish community
  • Application Method: Online via Submittable platform, annual cycle
  • Typical Timeline: Applications due September, review September-November, awardees notified December, funds awarded January

Women's Impact Initiative Grants

  • Amount: $5,000 - $15,000
  • Purpose: Funds from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Annual Campaign to support initiatives that inspire and empower self-identifying Jewish women and girls and improve the local community through programs that achieve social, economic, religious, and political equality through a gender lens
  • Application Method: Online via Submittable platform

Israel Engagement & Education Grants

  • Amount: Not specified
  • Purpose: New funding opportunity for organizations that design and implement innovative programs in the fields of Israel engagement and Israel education—cultural and educational initiatives in Miami that create understanding, build bridges, and nurture lifelong engagement with Israel
  • Application Method: Online via Submittable platform

Priority Areas

The Federation's funding priorities align with their strategic objectives:

A Safety Net for the Vulnerable

  • Programs and services that support individuals and families in need within the Jewish community

Educating and Advancing Jewish Identity

  • Programs that deepen Jewish knowledge, attract participation in Jewish life, and strengthen identity through formal and informal education

Building Our Community

  • Programs and services that promote a unified, inclusive community that embodies service, belonging, and advocacy

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-local travel
  • Scholarships or individual subsidies
  • Capital projects
  • Requests exceeding 50% of the total program cost (programs must reflect shared investment and sustainability)

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership (2024-2025):

  • Board Chair: Lily Serviansky (installed May 2024)
  • President and CEO: Scott Kaufman (Interim, began July 1, 2024). Kaufman previously led the Jewish Federation of Detroit for 10 years.
  • General Campaign Chair: Mojdeh Khaghan Danial

Previous Leadership:

  • Outgoing Board Chair: Ariel Bentata
  • President and CEO Emeritus: Jacob Solomon (served as chief professional officer from 1992 to 2024)

The Federation's Officers, Board of Directors, Life Trustees, and Council of Jewish Organization members are installed annually at their Annual Meeting, which celebrated its 86th year in 2024.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Submittable.com platform at https://gmjf.submittable.com/submit. Applicants must create an account and are guided through the application form online.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (or fiscal sponsorship)
  • Must serve the Jewish community in Miami-Dade County
  • Each organization may submit one application per grant opportunity
  • Organizations may apply to multiple grant opportunities as long as each application is for a different project

Application Components: Applications typically require detailed information about the proposed program, alignment with Federation priorities, budget, and sustainability plan.

Decision Timeline

Jewish Incubator Grants Timeline (example):

  • September: Grant applications due
  • September - November: Applications reviewed
  • December: Awardees notified
  • January: Funds awarded and grant year begins

Each grant program operates on its own timeline; check the Federation website or contact the programs team for specific deadlines.

Success Rates

The Federation made 324 awards in 2023, 298 awards in 2022, and 239 awards in 2021, showing a growing grant-making program. Specific success rates (percentage of applications funded) are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply annually to grant programs. Multiple requests from an organization in a single grant cycle will not be accepted for at least some programs, but organizations can apply to different grant opportunities simultaneously if each application supports a different project.

Application Success Factors

Innovation is Key The Federation defines innovation as "bold, creative, and strategic thinking about how we engage, support, and inspire Miami's Jewish community." Successful applications demonstrate fresh approaches to community challenges.

Alignment with Strategic Priorities Programs must clearly align with at least one of the Federation's funding priorities: creating a safety net for the vulnerable, educating and advancing Jewish identity, or building community through programs that promote unity, inclusion, service, belonging, and advocacy.

Shared Investment and Sustainability The Federation will not fund requests exceeding 50% of total program cost. Applications should demonstrate:

  • Other funding sources or in-kind contributions
  • A plan for program sustainability beyond the grant period
  • Community investment in the project's success

Specific and Measurable Impact Review funded projects to understand what the Federation values. Recent recipients have included:

  • Programs serving unique populations (LGBTQ+ individuals in the Orthodox community through Eshel)
  • Disability-inclusive initiatives (Friendship Circle Community Orchestra)
  • Programs addressing serious needs (Children's Bereavement Center grief support, Chai Lifeline's I-Shine for families impacted by illness)
  • Educational innovation (CAJE's Jewish Day School Robotics Program, Temple Sinai's gamified Jewish learning)
  • Programs increasing accessibility (Temple Israel's AccessTI, University of Miami Hillel's Mezuzot distribution)
  • Health and preventive care (Yodeah's genetic testing outreach)

Community Connection Successful grants demonstrate deep understanding of the Miami Jewish community's needs and how the proposed program will strengthen connections within that community.

Contact Before Applying The Federation describes itself as accessible and transparent, and invites organizations to contact the programs team (786.866.8498) before applying. This suggests that pre-application conversations are welcome and may strengthen applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Think innovation: The Federation explicitly seeks "bold, creative, and strategic thinking"—don't just propose more of the same
  • Show shared investment: Your program budget must demonstrate at least 50% funding from other sources; the Federation wants to support, not fully fund, initiatives
  • Align clearly with priorities: Explicitly connect your program to one or more of their three strategic objectives (safety net, Jewish identity, or building community)
  • Contact them first: The Federation welcomes pre-application inquiries at 786.866.8498—use this to test your idea and get guidance
  • One shot per program: You can only submit one application per grant opportunity, so choose your strongest project
  • Plan for the timeline: For Incubator Grants, the full process from application to funding takes about 4 months (September-January)
  • Study past winners: Review the funded projects listed on their website to understand what types of innovation and impact resonate with reviewers

References

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