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Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Inc

Annual Giving
$8.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
4mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,426,968 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (3-9 months)
  • Grant Range: $700 - $20,000 (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: South Palm Beach County, Israel, and worldwide Jewish communities

Contact Details

Main Office: 9901 Donna Klein Blvd Boca Raton, FL 33428 Phone: (561) 852-3100 Website: https://jewishboca.org

Grant Program Contacts:

Overview

The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County has served the community for over 40 years, strategically engaging donors, supporters, and community partners in addressing current and future needs of the Jewish people locally, in Israel, and worldwide. With an annual giving of approximately $8.4 million distributed across 20 grant awards in recent years, the Federation supports over 80 partner organizations including Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services, Levis JCC, Donna Klein Jewish Academy, Hillel Day School, and various national and international organizations. The organization earned a Four-Star rating (97%) from Charity Navigator, demonstrating strong financial health and accountability. The Federation operates through multiple divisions including the Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation and the Jewish Women's Foundation, each with distinct funding priorities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Program Funding Council (PFC) Allocations

  • Annual allocation process for established partner organizations
  • Focus areas: Safety Net Services, Jewish Life & Learning, Community Outreach, Jewish Day School Education
  • Application: Contact Jessica Hirsh at JessicaH@bocafed.org or (561) 852-3159
  • Rolling basis with annual review cycle

Jewish Women's Foundation Grants: $700 - $20,000

  • Maximum grant: $20,000 per application
  • Total annual giving: $175,200 (with cumulative 21-year total of $1,950,000)
  • Application method: Two-stage process (Letter of Intent, then full proposal)
  • Geographic focus: South Palm Beach County, Israel, and underserved populations worldwide

Community Security Grant: Up to $10,000

  • Maximum: $10,000 per application
  • Purpose: Security projects and initiatives for Jewish institutions
  • Requirements: Threat/Vulnerability/Risk Assessment, SCN core training participation
  • Contact: Jessica Rykus at (561) 852-3105 or visit https://jewishboca.org/security/

One Happy Camper Grants: $700 - $1,000

  • $700 for 12-18 consecutive days at Jewish overnight camp
  • $1,000 for 19+ consecutive days
  • For first-time campers only
  • Administered through Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation

Educational Scholarships

  • Various scholarship programs including undergraduate, Gap Year in Israel, Israel Experience, and graduate/medical school scholarships
  • Limited number available for South Palm Beach County residents
  • Online application required with varying deadlines

Priority Areas

Jewish Women's Foundation Focus Areas:

  • Financial Security/Safety Net Services
  • Health and Abuse Prevention
  • Education/Leadership Development
  • Mental Health and Wellness
  • Jewish Engagement and Community Building

Program Funding Council Priorities:

  • Emergency assistance for vulnerable populations
  • Support for elderly, adults and children with special needs, and Holocaust survivors
  • Counseling services
  • Jewish day school education
  • Community outreach

Israel & Overseas Task Force:

  • Basic human needs assistance
  • Supporting at-risk populations
  • Strengthening Jewish identity
  • Promoting Aliyah
  • Advancing Israeli society

What They Don't Fund

Jewish Women's Foundation explicitly excludes:

  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities
  • Loans or debt refinancing
  • Sponsorships or advertising
  • Existing staff salaries or operational costs already funded
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status (for domestic applicants)

Governance and Leadership

Board Officers (2025-2026):

  • Jill Rose - Chair
  • Bruce Dan - Vice Chair, Campaign
  • Arthur Goldberg - Vice Chair, Facilities
  • David Pratt - Vice Chair, FRD
  • Mark Schaum - Vice Chair, JJCF
  • Shelly Snyder - Vice Chair, Women's Philanthropy
  • Karen Dern - Vice Chair, Program Funding Council
  • April Leavy - Vice Chair, Israel & Overseas
  • Barry N. Winograd - Treasurer
  • Debra Halperin - Assistant Treasurer
  • Albert W. Gortz - Secretary
  • Rich Steinberg - Assistant Secretary
  • Larry Feldman - Immediate Past Chair

Senior Leadership:

  • Igor Alterman - President and CEO (recently appointed from Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, where he led record-breaking campaigns and digital transformation)
  • Marla Weiss Egers - Executive Vice President
  • Aimee Kaye - Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Jennifer Koenig - Chief Development Officer
  • Karen Milloy-Gobrecht - Chief Financial Officer
  • Dana Vizner - Chief Planning Officer
  • Lottie Nilsen - Vice President, Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation
  • Ida Novack - Vice President, Campaign

Directors Emeritus:

  • Edward I. Burns
  • Shirley Solomon

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Program Funding Council Allocations: Organizations interested in applying to the Program Funding Council should contact Jessica Hirsh at JessicaH@bocafed.org or (561) 852-3159. The PFC reviews applications annually through task forces, which then make allocation recommendations to the Federation's Board of Directors.

Jewish Women's Foundation (Two-Stage Process):

  1. Letter of Intent (LOI) - Opens July 1, due late August (5:00 PM EST)
  2. Full Grant Proposal - By invitation only, due mid-December

Requirements:

  • 501(c)(3) documentation (for domestic organizations)
  • Board of Directors list
  • Mission statement
  • Program budget
  • Most recent audit
  • Organizational materials

Note: Domestic organizations can submit multiple LOIs; international organizations limited to one LOI per year.

Community Security Grants: Visit https://jewishboca.org/security/ for application instructions or contact Jessica Rykus at (561) 852-3105. Applications reviewed by community members familiar with security challenges. Funding provided promptly upon approval.

Educational Programs: Applications completed online through the Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation portal. Contact Lottie Nilsen at (561) 852-3109 or lottien@bocafed.org for specific scholarship deadlines and requirements.

Decision Timeline

Jewish Women's Foundation:

  • LOI notifications: Late October
  • Final grant notifications: Early March (following year)
  • First fund installment: September (following year)
  • Total process: Approximately 14 months from LOI to funding

Program Funding Council:

  • Annual review cycle
  • Task forces review proposals and make recommendations
  • Board of Directors approves final allocations
  • Specific timeline not publicly disclosed

Community Security Grants:

  • Rolling review process
  • Funding provided "promptly" after approval
  • Estimated timeline: Not publicly specified

Success Rates

The Federation made 20 awards in 2024 and 2023, with historical data showing 21 awards in 2022 and 2021, 29 awards in 2019 and 2018, and 12 awards in 2017. Total number of applications received is not publicly disclosed, so success rate percentages cannot be calculated.

The Jewish Women's Foundation has granted over $1.95 million to more than 62 organizations over 21 years, averaging approximately 3 grants per year.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in available materials. Contact program-specific coordinators for guidance on reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

For Jewish Women's Foundation Applicants:

  • Measurable results required - Applications must demonstrate how outcomes will be measured and evaluated
  • Clear alignment with priorities - Strong proposals directly address one or more of the five priority areas (Financial Security, Health and Abuse Prevention, Education/Leadership Development, Mental Health and Wellness, Jewish Engagement and Community Building)
  • Geographic focus matters - Programs serving South Palm Beach County, Israel, or underserved populations worldwide receive priority consideration
  • Budget clarity - Detailed program budgets showing how grant funds will be specifically used (not for existing salaries or general operations)

For Program Funding Council Applications:

  • Established relationships - The Federation supports over 80 partner organizations, suggesting preference for organizations with demonstrated track records
  • Community needs alignment - Proposals should address identified community needs in vulnerable populations (elderly, special needs, Holocaust survivors)
  • Multi-year partnerships - Historical data shows consistent number of awards annually to similar organizations, indicating ongoing funding relationships

For Community Security Grants:

  • Commitment to training - Willingness to complete Threat, Vulnerability, and Risk Assessment and participate in SCN core trainings
  • Active participation - Engagement with JFSPBC Community Security Council activities and meetings required
  • Clear security enhancement - Projects must demonstrably improve security profile for Jewish audiences

General Success Factors:

  • Jewish community connection - All programs must serve Jewish populations or advance Jewish values and community wellbeing
  • Financial transparency - Strong financial documentation and audit trails (as evidenced by Federation's own Four-Star Charity Navigator rating)
  • Local or Israel focus - Geographic priority given to South Palm Beach County and Israel

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multiple pathways exist - Different grant programs serve different needs; identify which program(s) best match your organization before applying
  • Relationships matter significantly - With only 20 annual PFC awards and over 80 partner organizations, preference goes to established partners; new organizations should focus on JWF or Security grants as entry points
  • Two-stage JWF process allows refinement - Use the LOI stage to test your concept; successful LOIs can be strengthened before full proposal
  • Security grants offer quick funding - The security program provides relatively fast decisions and funding compared to other programs
  • Measurable outcomes are non-negotiable - Particularly for JWF grants, ability to demonstrate and measure impact is critical
  • Contact program officers early - Each program has dedicated staff; reach out before applying to ensure fit and understand current priorities
  • Annual giving is substantial but concentrated - $8.4 million across 20 awards means average grants around $400,000, though this includes major institutional partners; individual grants for new applicants likely much smaller

References

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