Jewish Foundation of Memphis

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $21 million (2023)
• Assets Managed: $110+ million (as of 2022)
• Success Rate: 99.9% (for donor-advised fund recommendations)
• Grant Range: Varies by program; B'nai Tzedek Co-Op: $10,000 total; Lemsky Israel grants: $1,000-$4,000
• Geographic Focus: Memphis, TN area (local and national grants)
• Grantees: 600+ charities annually
• Grant Distribution: 63% to Memphis Jewish organizations, 37% to broader community

Contact Details

Jewish Foundation of Memphis

• Address: 6560 Poplar Avenue, Suite B, Memphis, TN 38138
• Phone: 901-374-0400
• General Contact: Sheri Gadberry, Senior Philanthropic Officer
• Email: sgadberry@jcpmemphis.org
• Website: jewishfoundationofmemphis.org

Program-Specific Contacts:

• Foundation Programs: Sarah VanderWalde at svanderwalde@jcpmemphis.org
• Teen Philanthropy (B'nai Tzedek): cschrier@jcpmemphis.org
• Lemsky Endowment Fund: Lorraine Wolf at lwolf@jcpmemphis.org or Carrie Richardson at 901-767-7100

Overview

Founded on September 7, 1995 (originally chartered as Jewish Community Development, Inc.), the Jewish Foundation of Memphis serves as the primary philanthropic resource for Jewish families and the broader Memphis community. With assets exceeding $110 million and having distributed $96.5 million between June 1995 and June 2022, the Foundation ranked as the third largest grantmaker in Memphis in 2023, distributing more than $21 million in charitable grants. Under the leadership of President and CEO Laura Linder, who has led the organization since 2001, the Foundation's mission is threefold: encourage charitable giving, support partner agency endowment development, and build and sustain a vibrant Jewish community. The Foundation operates through donor-advised funds, special interest funds, and several specific grant programs, with 63% of grants supporting Memphis Jewish organizations and 37% benefiting the broader Memphis community, including organizations like St. Jude Children's Hospital, Church Health Center, and the University of Memphis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Donor-Advised Funds (Primary Grant Mechanism)

• Minimum to establish: $5,000
• Grant recommendations processed on the 1st and 15th of each month
• Recommendations can be made online through Donor Portal
• No specified minimum grant amount from fund
• Application method: Rolling basis for fund holders

B'nai Tzedek Co-Op Fund

• Total available: $10,000 annually
• For Memphis Jewish non-profit organizations
• Each agency can submit up to 3 separate applications
• Application period: February 1-28 (typically)
• Teen-led grant review process with interviews in April and allocations meeting in mid-April
• Applications accepted through online portal

Lemsky Endowment Fund - Teen Israel Experience Grant

• Grant amount: Up to $3,000
• Eligibility: Jewish students grades 9-12 with Memphis permanent address
• Covers summer programs, high school semester in Israel
• Limited needs-based scholarships: $1,000 additional
• Application method: Rolling basis via GrantInterface

Lemsky Endowment Fund - Next Stop Israel (Young Adults)

• Grant amount: Up to $4,000 (or $1,000 if previously received Teen Israel grant)
• Eligibility: Post-high school Jewish residents of Memphis, ages up to 32
• Covers gap-year, semester, or summer Israel programs
• Does not cover travel or associated costs
• Application method: Rolling basis via GrantInterface

Lemsky Endowment Fund - Adult Israel Travel Subsidy

• Grant amount: Up to $1,500 for coach flight tickets
• Eligibility: First-time Memphis Jewish adults over age 32
• Requires volunteering at a Federation event

Special Interest/Designated Endowment Funds

• Create permanent endowment for specific agencies or programs
• Annual distributions from invested principal
• Support Memphis Jewish institutions with long-term funding

Priority Areas

Jewish Community Organizations (63% of grants):

• Jewish educational institutions (Bornblum Solomon Schechter School, Margolin Hebrew Academy)
• Synagogues (Baron Hirsch Congregation, Beth Sholom Congregation, Temple Israel)
• Jewish community services (Memphis Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab)
• Jewish student engagement (Hillels of Memphis)
• Israel engagement and education

Broader Memphis Community (37% of grants):

• Healthcare (St. Jude Children's Hospital, LeBonheur Children's Hospital, Church Health Center)
• Social services (MIFA, Mid-South Food Bank, Dorothy Day House)
• Education (University of Memphis, Rhodes College, Memphis University School)
• Animal welfare (Streetdog Foundation)
• Other qualified 501(c)(3) organizations

What They Don't Fund

• The Foundation primarily operates through donor-advised funds, so restrictions vary by individual fund
• Grants must go to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations or equivalent
• For B'nai Tzedek Co-Op grants: Only Memphis Jewish non-profit organizations are eligible
• For Lemsky grants: Must support Israel engagement or Jewish Memphis

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

• Laura Linder, President and CEO of Jewish Community Partners (parent organization) - Has led the Jewish Foundation of Memphis since 2001 and became President & CEO in 2015 during the operating consolidation with Memphis Jewish Federation

Board Leadership:

• Jason Salomon (past Board Chair, served from 2022; estate planning attorney with Harkavy Shainberg Kaplan PLC)
• Anthony Morrison (outgoing Board Chair as of 2022)

Staff:

• Sheri Gadberry, Senior Philanthropic Officer
• Larry Schaffer, Senior Philanthropic Advisor
• Sarah VanderWalde, Director of Foundation Programs

Founding Leaders:

• Steve Graber and Ronald Harkavy spearheaded the Foundation's creation in 1995

Leadership Quotes:

Laura Linder on their approach: "We help them give where they want to give."

On community collaboration: "JCP brings the entirety of the community together to address the big issues facing our Memphis Jewish community. We are the only organization that is able to do this – and this role will continue to grow as we address issues related to security, our aging population, training the next generation of leaders and donors and overall sustainability of our local Jewish community."

On the donor-focused approach: "We are now able to take a much more holistic approach to our work with donors – ultimately for the benefit of our Jewish community!"

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Donor-Advised Funds:

1. Complete fund application
2. Email to Sheri Gadberry at sgadberry@jcpmemphis.org
3. Minimum initial gift: $5,000
4. Once established, make grant recommendations online through Donor Portal anytime

For B'nai Tzedek Co-Op Grants:

1. Application opens February 1
2. Application closes February 28
3. Submit online application (up to 3 separate requests per agency)
4. Must be a Memphis Jewish non-profit 501(c)(3) organization
5. Contact: cschrier@jcpmemphis.org for questions

For Lemsky Endowment Fund Grants:

1. Applications accepted on a rolling basis
2. Apply online through GrantInterface at jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund
3. Contact: Lorraine Wolf at lwolf@jcpmemphis.org for information

Decision Timeline

Donor-Advised Fund Recommendations:

• Processed on the 1st and 15th of each month
• 99.9% of all grant recommendations are approved
• Quick turnaround from recommendation to grant disbursement

B'nai Tzedek Co-Op Grants:

• Application period: February 1-28
• Zoom interviews: April
• Allocations meeting: Mid-April (typically April 13)
• Grant Reception: May 1
• Timeline: Approximately 2-3 months from application to award

Lemsky Endowment Fund:

• Rolling basis - processed as applications are received
• Timeline not specified but likely within 4-6 weeks

Success Rates

Donor-Advised Funds: 99.9% of grant recommendations are approved by the board (per Memphis Magazine)

B'nai Tzedek Co-Op Grants: Success rate not published, but $10,000 distributed annually among multiple Memphis Jewish organizations

Reapplication Policy

Donor-Advised Funds: Fund holders can make grant recommendations as often as they like

B'nai Tzedek Co-Op Grants: Organizations can apply annually; up to 3 separate grant requests per application cycle

Lemsky Endowment Fund: Rolling applications accepted; individuals can apply once per grant type (Teen Israel Experience or Next Stop Israel)

Dormant Fund Policy: If a donor-advised fund has no gift or grant activity for 3 years, the Foundation will attempt to contact the fund advisor. If no response within 60 days, a grant of 5% of the fund value will be made to support a priority need of one or more partner agencies.

Application Success Factors

For Donor-Advised Funds:

• The Foundation takes a highly donor-centered approach, approving 99.9% of recommendations
• Grants must go to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations
• The Foundation handles all paperwork, processing grants, sending checks and award letters, and preparing quarterly statements
• Laura Linder emphasizes: "We help them give where they want to give"

For B'nai Tzedek Co-Op Grants: Teen evaluators rank applications based on these specific criteria:

• Consistency with Jewish values - How well the project aligns with core Jewish principles
• Creativity - Innovative approaches to addressing community needs
• Clarity - Clear, well-articulated proposals
• Community need - Whether the project addresses a genuine gap or need in Memphis
• Impact - Whether the project will meaningfully change the lives of those it serves

For Lemsky Endowment Fund:

• Must support Israel engagement or have clear connection to strengthening Memphis-Israel bonds
• For teen/young adult grants: Must participate in recognized Israel experience programs
• Applications evaluated on program quality and applicant's commitment to Jewish community

General Strategic Insights:

• The Foundation values cross-community impact beyond just Jewish organizations (37% of grants go to broader Memphis community)
• Emphasis on long-term sustainability through endowment building
• Strong focus on intergenerational giving and engaging younger donors
• Professional, well-organized applications with clear budgets and outcomes
• Building relationships with Foundation staff is encouraged - they position themselves as partners in philanthropy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Donor-driven model: The Foundation primarily operates through donor-advised funds with a 99.9% approval rate, meaning building relationships with individual donors may be more strategic than applying to the Foundation directly
• Limited public grant programs: Only B'nai Tzedek Co-Op ($10,000 total annually for Memphis Jewish organizations) and Lemsky Endowment Fund (for Israel programs) have public application processes
• Teen perspective matters: For B'nai Tzedek grants, remember that teens ages 13-18 are making funding decisions - applications should be clear, compelling, and demonstrate both Jewish values and community impact
• Broad grantee base: With 600+ charities supported annually, both Jewish and secular organizations can benefit, though 63% goes to Memphis Jewish organizations
• Israel connection: Strong emphasis on Israel engagement through the Lemsky Endowment Fund - if your organization has Israel-related programming, this is a key funding opportunity
• Rolling opportunities: Lemsky grants accepted year-round, providing flexibility for organizations planning Israel programming
• Relationship-focused: Contact program directors (Sarah VanderWalde, Sheri Gadberry) early to discuss fit and get guidance - the Foundation positions itself as a partner in philanthropy, not just a funder

References

1. Jewish Foundation of Memphis Official Website - jewishfoundationofmemphis.org (Accessed January 2026)
2. "About Us - Jewish Foundation of Memphis" - https://jewishfoundationofmemphis.org/about-us/ (Accessed January 2026)
3. "Donor Advised Funds - Jewish Foundation of Memphis" - https://jewishfoundationofmemphis.org/donor-advised-funds/ (Accessed January 2026)
4. "B'nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy - Jewish Foundation of Memphis" - https://jewishfoundationofmemphis.org/teen-philanthropy/ (Accessed January 2026)
5. Jewish Community Partners - "Lemsky Endowment Fund" - https://www.jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund (Accessed January 2026)
6. Jewish Community Partners - "Foundation Partner Agencies" - https://www.jcpmemphis.org/foundation-partner-agencies (Accessed January 2026)
7. Memphis Magazine - "Toward the Good: The Jewish Foundation" - https://memphismagazine.com/features/toward-the-good/ (Accessed January 2026)
8. Jewish Scene Magazine - "Up Close with Laura Linder" - https://jewishscenemagazine.com/up-close-with-laura-linder/ (Accessed January 2026)
9. GuideStar Profile - Jewish Foundation of Memphis (EIN 62-1618399) - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/62-1618399 (Accessed January 2026)
10. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Jewish Foundation Of Memphis - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/621618399 (Accessed January 2026)
11. Cause IQ - "Jewish Foundation of Memphis" - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/jewish-foundation-of-memphis,621618399/ (Accessed January 2026)
12. Jewish Community Partners - "Memphis Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Memphis Announce Grant Opportunities" - https://jcpconnect.org/memphis-jewish-federation-and-jewish-foundation-of-memphis-announces-grant-opportunities/ (Accessed January 2026)
13. Jewish Community Partners Blog - "Jewish Foundation of Memphis Celebrates 30 Years of Impact" - https://jcpconnect.blog/2025/04/03/jewish-foundation-of-memphis-celebrates-30-years-of-impact/ (Accessed January 2026)
14. Jewish Foundation of Memphis - "Operating Procedures for Donor-Advised Funds" (July 1, 2022) - https://jewishfoundationofmemphis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Operating_Procedures_for_Donor-Advised_funds-03.23.pdf (Accessed January 2026)