Samis Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8,000,000
• Total Assets: $108,300,000
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,400,000
• Median Grant: $20,000
• Geographic Focus: Washington State and Israel
• Application Method: Invitation only (accepts one-page letters of inquiry)

Contact Details

Address: Seattle, WA
Phone: 206-622-3363
Website: https://samisfoundation.org
EIN: 91-1641746

Key Staff:

• Connie Kanter, Chief Executive Officer
• Ariel Lapson, Senior Program Officer for Experiential Jewish Education and Director of Grants Management
• Linda Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer
• Stella Safte, Executive Assistant

Overview

The Samis Foundation was established in 1994 to reinvest the profits of Samuel Israel's real estate business. Since inception, the Foundation has awarded over $118.5 million in grants supporting more than 170 different programs, organizations, and initiatives. The Foundation's mission is to support access for Jewish youth in Washington State to high-quality intensive and immersive Jewish educational experiences and to fulfill Samuel Israel's philanthropic goals of supporting the State of Israel and worldwide disaster relief. Sam Israel, born in the Sephardic community of Rhodes in 1899, immigrated to Seattle in 1919 and appointed 18 lifetime trustees to govern the Foundation before his death in 1994. With total assets exceeding $108 million and annual grant distributions of approximately $8 million, Samis is Washington State's largest Jewish philanthropic organization. The Foundation recently adopted a data-driven strategic approach, investing in research, analytics, and program assessment to maximize impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Day School Affordability Initiative ($3,000,000 annually)

• Covers full scholarship needs for eligible Seattle-area Jewish day schools (K-12)
• Ensures families earning less than $350,000 pay no more than $18,000/year per child or 15% of AGI, whichever is lower
• Additional $1,500,000 annually for special initiatives including professional development, capacity building, Judaic and Israel curriculum, technology, and special needs support

Jewish Overnight Camps (Nearly $9,000,000 since inception)

• Opportunity grants, capital funding, and needs-based scholarships
• Supports three Washington State camps: Camp Solomon Schechter, URJ Camp Kalsman, and Sephardic Adventure Camp

Teen Israel Experiences

• $7,500 grants for students attending Alexander Muss High School in Israel, Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim, or URJ Heller High
• Automatic consideration for Washington State residents applying to approved programs
• Can be combined with Federation needs-based scholarships

Youth Enrichment and Engagement Programs (Over $1,000,000 awarded in 2022)

• Three-year grants to 21 organizations across Washington State
• Supports programs for K-8th grade students
• Includes Shabbatons, retreats, youth groups, Israel-related learning, and immersive cultural studies
• First open RFP in 27 years launched in 2021

Israel Initiatives (Over $1,000,000 annually; $10,000,000+ total to date)

• Six focus areas: archaeology, Aliyah and absorption, educational support, poverty and social mobility, widows and orphans, wildlife preservation
• Examples include: Samis Aliyah Integration Center at Nefesh B'Nefesh, Breaking Barriers for Inclusion program through Olim Be'Yachad, Sephardic archives at National Library of Israel ($1,000,000 grant)
• Emergency response grants (e.g., October 7, 2023 response)

Sephardic Heritage Programs

• PJ Library books around Sephardic themes
• Support for Sephardic schools and camps in Seattle

Priority Areas

• Jewish day schools in Washington State
• Intensive, immersive Jewish educational experiences
• Jewish overnight summer camps
• Teen Israel experiences
• Youth enrichment and engagement programming (K-8th grade focus)
• Programs that are new to Washington, collaborative, and data-driven
• Professional development for Jewish educators and youth program coordinators
• Sephardic heritage and culture
• Israeli archaeology, wildlife preservation, and social mobility programs

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside Washington State or Israel
• Congregational schools
• Programs outside K-12 demographic
• Initiatives conflicting with Foundation values
• Organizations without current 501(c)(3) determination letter and valid tax-exempt status

Governance and Leadership

Board Officers:

• David Ellenhorn, Board Chair - Partner at Ogden Murphy Wallace, specializes in corporate and real estate law; previously served on Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle board
• Judy Neuman, Vice Chair, Chair of Israel Sub-committee - Former CEO of Stroum Jewish Community Center, Wexner Fellow
• Greg Roer, Board Treasurer, Chair of Finance/Audit Committee - Principal at Sweeney Conrad, tax services expert; past president of Seattle Hebrew Academy; great-nephew of Sam Israel
• Louis Treiger, Board Secretary, Chair of Grants Committee - Practicing lawyer in Seattle for over 35 years, graduated from Yeshiva University and Harvard Law School, Wexner Fellow

Trustees:

• Victor Alhadeff, Board Member at Large - Retired entrepreneur, former President of Seattle Hebrew Academy, U.S. Army veteran
• Hart Cole and Elana Zana (recent additions)
• Rabbi Ben Hassan of the Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation (Rabbinic Trustee, appointed 2022)

Emeritus Board:

• Eddie Hasson - Sam Israel's nephew, longest serving trustee since mid-1970s, Foundation's first president for 20 years
• Lucy Pruzan - Only female lifetime board member selected by Sam Israel, serving since 1994
• Rabbi Ron-Ami Meyers - Former Rabbinic Trustee (eight years of service)
• Eli Genauer - Immediate past Board Chair, Vice Chair of Finance/Audit Committee
• Jerome Cohen - Past Board Chair, Chair of Trusteeship and Governance Committee

Leadership Quotes:

Connie Kanter, CEO: "The trustees and I are dedicated to making sure Sam's vision is always the basis of our work – that we're spending his money wisely, making good investments, and meeting the needs of our grantees."

Connie Kanter: "We are investing in and capitalizing on research, data and analytics that have emerged in recent years as program assessment expanded across the world of Jewish education and philanthropy."

Connie Kanter: "Jewish Day schools are the most impactful experience a child can have. Samis really wants to make sure that every family has the opportunity to choose the right educational experience for their child."

David D. Azose, Former Board Chair: "The strategic planning process gave us a critical opportunity to reflect on our impact to date."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Samis Foundation does not have a public application process. The Foundation considers grant requests by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Who They Invite:

• Seattle's Jewish day schools
• Organizations serving Jewish youth and teens in Washington State
• Organizations involved in the Foundation's six areas of philanthropy in Israel

Letters of Inquiry: While the Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, they do not discourage letters of inquiry. Submitted material should be no more than one page in length describing the concept or potential initiative. Review the Foundation's website thoroughly to understand their mission, vision, values, strategic funding priorities, and grantmaking process before submitting.

Occasional Open RFPs: The Foundation occasionally issues open Requests for Proposals for specific initiatives. In 2021, they launched their first open RFP in 27 years for youth enrichment and engagement programming.

Getting on Their Radar

Program Professional Outreach: The Foundation's program professionals examine the field on an ongoing basis, network with funder colleagues, consult with current partners, and reach out to practitioners to observe their work.

Networking Strategies: Jewish organizations, especially those based in Washington State, should network with past grantees. Seattle Hebrew Academy, Northwest Yeshiva High School, Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, and Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder are among the largest recent recipients.

Automatic Consideration (Teen Israel Programs): Washington State teens applying to approved Israel experience programs are automatically forwarded to Samis when programs see a WA address - no separate application needed.

Decision Timeline

The Foundation operates on an annual grants calendar with specific deadlines for each funding area. Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed but follow the annual calendar structure.

Success Rates

Success rates vary by program. For teen Israel experience scholarships administered through the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, 81% of applicants receive their full requested support.

From 2019-2023, the Foundation made 356 individual grants totaling $36,168,789, averaging approximately 70-79 grants per year.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. Given the invitation-only structure, organizations should maintain relationships with program staff and continue demonstrating strong outcomes from previous grants.

Application Success Factors

Data-Driven Approach

The Foundation shifted to a data-driven grantmaking model in its 2021 strategic plan. In 2021, Samis hired Rosov Consulting to conduct its first formal program impact evaluation survey. Programs that can demonstrate measurable impact on Jewish pride, knowledge, and engagement have a significant advantage. The Foundation's pilot study showed that programs increasing these metrics across the board received continued and expanded support.

Strategic Priorities Through 2025

The Foundation's strategic plan prioritizes: (1) Jewish Day School Education, (2) Experiential Jewish Education, (3) Peripheries of Israeli Society, and (4) Israeli Wildlife and Archeology. Alignment with these priorities is critical.

Characteristics Samis Seeks

According to their 2021 RFP guidance, Samis prioritizes programs that are:

• New to Washington State
• Collaborative (partnerships between organizations)
• Serving K-8th grade students
• Led by strong youth program professionals (Samis also funds professional development)

Honoring the Founder's Vision

CEO Connie Kanter emphasizes that grants must align with Sam Israel's original vision. Sam Israel was deeply committed to intensive Jewish education, Sephardic heritage (given his Rhodes background), and supporting the State of Israel. Proposals honoring these core values resonate with trustees.

Washington State Focus

The Foundation exclusively funds organizations in Washington State (for Jewish education) and Israel. Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable.

Partnership and Engagement

Connie Kanter states: "I really want to ask those people that learn about the Samis Foundation to engage with us in our philanthropy. We would love to partner with you." The Foundation values collaborative relationships and co-investment opportunities.

Demonstrated Financial Need

For individual scholarship programs (day school tuition, camps, Israel trips), the Foundation emphasizes needs-based support while also providing opportunity grants and incentive grants to make programs accessible.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model: Do not submit unsolicited full proposals. A concise one-page letter of inquiry is acceptable to introduce your organization.
• Data is essential: The Foundation has fully committed to evidence-based grantmaking. Be prepared to demonstrate measurable outcomes on Jewish identity, knowledge, and engagement.
• Strategic fit matters most: Align proposals with the four strategic priorities (day schools, experiential education, Israeli peripheries, Israeli wildlife/archaeology) and the six Israel focus areas (archaeology, Aliyah, education, poverty, widows/orphans, wildlife).
• Washington State or Israel only: Geographic restrictions are absolute. The Foundation does not fund programs outside these two locations.
• Build relationships proactively: Network with current grantees, attend Jewish community events in Washington State, and connect with program staff (particularly Ariel Lapson for experiential education programs).
• Honor Sam Israel's legacy: Understanding the founder's Sephardic heritage, commitment to intensive Jewish education, and devotion to Israel will help frame proposals that resonate with the board.
• Think long-term and collaborative: The Foundation prefers multi-year program grants and values partnerships between organizations. Demonstrate sustainability and collaboration.

References

• Samis Foundation official website: https://samisfoundation.org (accessed January 2026)
• Samis Foundation FAQ page: https://samisfoundation.org/faq/ (accessed January 2026)
• Samis Foundation Board & Professional Staff page: https://samisfoundation.org/board-professional-staff/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Connie Kanter Shares Samis' Mission and Philanthropic Priorities," Samis Foundation blog: https://samisfoundation.org/connie-kanter-shares-samis-mission-and-philanthropic-priorities/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Samis Foundation Announces New Strategic Plan," Samis Foundation: https://samisfoundation.org/samis-foundation-announces-bold-new-strategic-plan/ (accessed January 2026)
• "More than $1 Million in Grants Announced for Jewish Youth Enrichment and Engagement," Samis Foundation: https://samisfoundation.org/more-than-1-million-in-grants-announced-for-jewish-youth-enrichment-and-engagement/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Data-Driven Grants for WA State Jewish Schools," Samis Foundation: https://samisfoundation.org/samis-launches-data-driven-granting-initiative/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Game-Changing Tuition Support Announced for Seattle-area Jewish Day Schools," Samis Foundation: https://samisfoundation.org/game-changing-tuition-support-announced-for-seattle-area-jewish-day-schools/ (accessed January 2026)
• Samis Foundation profile, Charity Navigator: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/911641746 (accessed January 2026)
• Samis Foundation 990 reports, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/911641746 (accessed January 2026)
• Samis Foundation profile, Inside Philanthropy: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/washington-grants/samis-foundation (accessed January 2026)
• "Samis Invests in Sephardic History and Research," Niv Mag (accessed January 2026)
• Samis Foundation Initiatives in Israel page: https://samisfoundation.org/initiatives-in-israel/ (accessed January 2026)