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Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles

Annual Giving
$35.8M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.0M

Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $35,752,594 (2023)
  • Number of Awards: 149 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Los Angeles, Israel, and over 70 countries worldwide
  • Founded: 1911
  • EIN: 95-1643388

Contact Details

Main Office

  • Address: 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048
  • Phone: (323) 761-8200
  • General Inquiries: (323) 761-8000
  • Website: https://www.jewishla.org

Woodland Hills Office

  • Address: 19710 Ventura Blvd., Suite 105, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
  • Phone: (818) 668-2330

Department-Specific Contacts

Overview

Founded in 1911, the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles has served the Greater Los Angeles Jewish community for over 110 years. The Federation distributed $35,752,594 in grants during 2023, making 149 awards to organizations serving Jewish communities locally, in Israel, and internationally. The organization operates on a budget of $56 million (2022 figures) and works closely with the Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles, which manages over $1.08 billion in assets and distributes an additional $135+ million annually through donor-advised and other funds.

Based on Jewish values, the Federation convenes and leads the community and leverages its resources to assure the continuity of the Jewish people, support a secure State of Israel, care for Jews in need both locally and abroad, and mobilize on issues of concern to the local community through partnerships with local, national, and international organizations. Under the leadership of President & CEO Rabbi Noah Farkas, who assumed the role in January 2022, the Federation has emphasized three guiding values: trust, leadership, and diversity, with particular focus on mental health, fighting antisemitism, Israel engagement, and programs exploring Jewish diversity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

ChangeMaker Challenge

  • Grant Amount: Up to $5,000
  • Focus: Innovative ideas that make Los Angeles a better place, in the spirit of Tikkun Olam
  • Eligibility: 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(3)-sponsored organizations
  • Additional Value: Winners participate in approximately 5 monthly capacity building group trainings (approximately $4,000 value in coaching and support)
  • Contact: MYork@JewishLA.org

Incentive Grants for Jewish Teen Programs

  • Grant Amount: $100
  • Focus: Supporting teens in grades 7-12 to participate in short-term immersive Jewish programs like youth group Shabbatons and Jewish service learning trips
  • Requirement: Program cost must be less than $500

Security Grants

  • Grant Range: $14,000 - $25,000
  • Focus: Security resources for Jewish nonprofits and community organizations

Agency Allocations The Federation provides funding to 60-70% Jewish organizations and approximately 30-40% secular organizations in the Los Angeles community, focusing on critical community needs identified through their strategic planning process.

Priority Areas

Ensuring the Jewish Future

  • Day-school tuition assistance
  • Camp scholarship programs (including One Happy Camper initiative)
  • PJ Library Los Angeles Community (sending Jewish-content children's books and music to families monthly)
  • Jewish education and identity programs
  • NextGen Engagement Initiative for young Jewish adults

Caring for Jews in Need

  • The Ezra Network (enables Jewish families in need to access social workers and supportive services at synagogue clusters)
  • Emergency grants to individuals and families facing economic hardship
  • Care for Holocaust survivors
  • Services for developmentally disabled individuals
  • Food security programs for food-insecure Angelenos
  • Homelessness prevention

Engaging in our Community

  • Campaign for Civil Discourse (training Jewish leaders to facilitate difficult conversations)
  • Community service days for young adults
  • Building bridges between Jewish and other Los Angeles communities
  • Leadership development programs
  • Combating antisemitism and hate

Israel and International Support

  • Building relationships with organizations in Israel
  • Israel emergency response (including trauma services, financial assistance for families near Gaza)
  • Support for a secure State of Israel
  • Care for Jews in need in over 70 countries worldwide

What They Don't Fund

Specific funding exclusions are not publicly documented. The Federation primarily focuses on organizations and programs that align with their three strategic initiatives: Ensuring the Jewish Future, Caring for Jews in Need, and Engaging in the Community. While 60-70% of funding goes to Jewish organizations, they do support secular organizations addressing broader Los Angeles community needs.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Rabbi Noah Farkas - President & Chief Executive Officer Rabbi Farkas joined the Federation in January 2022 after serving as clergy at Valley Beth Shalom from 2008 to 2021. He guides the organization using three core values: trust, leadership, and diversity. Regarding the Federation's mission, Farkas stated: "Helping someone from falling into homelessness, bringing that Jewish child to Jewish education, fighting against antisemitism, supporting a protected and flourishing State of Israel." He has emphasized: "We are the only organization in Los Angeles whose interest encompasses everyone." Farkas is developing a more transparent model of how federation money is raised and invested in partners, ensuring donors understand their impact.

Alisa Finsten - Chief Operating Officer

Becky Sobelman-Stern - Chief Impact Officer Oversees the Federation's programmatic activities in Los Angeles, Israel, and internationally.

Benjamin Engel - Chief Development Officer Brings over two decades of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, and campaign strategy.

Maggie Williams - Chief Financial Officer

Rob Goldenberg - Chief Creative Officer

Carol Koransky - Special Advisor to President & CEO

Board Leadership (2025)

Officers:

  • Orna Wolens - Chair of the Board
  • Daniel Gryczman - Vice Chair, Strategic Planning and Distribution (chairs the committee responsible for grant allocation decisions)
  • Heidi Monkarsh - Vice Chair, Community Leadership and Outreach (also serves on Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee)
  • Allison Rosenthal - Vice Chair, Strategic Relations
  • Lynn Bider - Vice Chair, General Campaign Co-Chair
  • Jordan Bender - Vice Chair, General Campaign Co-Chair
  • Steven Fishman - Treasurer
  • Jill Namm - Secretary
  • Albert Praw - Immediate Past Chair
  • Julie Platt - Immediate Past Chair of JFNA and former Board Chair

The Board includes 49 additional directors and 10 board observers. The Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee, led by Daniel Gryczman, plays the central role in resource allocation decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles does not have a fully open, public application process for all grants. Grant allocations are primarily determined through the Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee, which conducts community needs assessments and strategic planning to identify funding priorities and partner organizations.

For Specific Programs: Organizations interested in applying for grants must register as a Grant Applicant. Organizations that have not previously received Federation funding require approval by staff to complete the registration process. A Federation Grantmaking Portal exists for this purpose.

ChangeMaker Challenge: Organizations can apply for the ChangeMaker Challenge when applications are open. Check the Federation website or contact MYork@JewishLA.org for current cycle information.

General Community Allocations: In typical years, there is a general community grant process in which the board chooses one issue of concern to the entire community and provides funding for worthy organizations that provide services in that area. However, this is not an always-open application process.

Getting on Their Radar

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles primarily works through established relationships and community partnerships. The Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee conducts community needs assessments to identify gaps and opportunities. Organizations seeking partnership should:

  • Engage with the Community: Participate in Jewish community events and initiatives where Federation leadership and board members are active
  • Build Relationships: Connect with Federation staff through department-specific contacts listed on their website
  • Demonstrate Alignment: Show clear connection to one or more of the Federation's three strategic initiatives
  • Partner Organizations: The Federation works with a network of established Jewish and secular organizations; connections through existing partners can be valuable

Board members serve on various community organizations and bring knowledge of community needs to the Strategic Planning and Distribution process. Daniel Gryczman chairs the Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee, and Heidi Monkarsh also serves on this committee.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. The Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee meets regularly to review funding priorities and allocations. Given the 149 grants made in 2023, the Federation appears to operate on both annual allocation cycles and responsive funding for urgent community needs (such as emergency response to disasters or crises).

Success Rates

Success rate data and application statistics are not publicly available. The Federation made 149 awards in 2023 totaling $35,752,594, with a related entity (Jewish Community Foundation) making an additional 1,172 awards totaling $135,631,017.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Many Federation partner organizations receive ongoing annual support as part of the community allocation process.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

Rabbi Noah Farkas has identified four priority areas: mental health, fighting antisemitism, Israel engagement, and programs exploring Jewish diversity. Organizations addressing these priorities are likely to receive favorable consideration.

Demonstration of Community Impact

The Federation focuses on measurable community impact. Example: Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA), a recent grant recipient, engaged 13,263 volunteers in preparing and distributing 71,391 meals via 33 partner organizations in 2023. This level of detailed impact reporting demonstrates the type of outcomes the Federation values.

Bridge Building

The Federation has a strong interest in programs that build bridges between disparate communities. The ChangeMaker Challenge specifically highlights "Building Bridges — supporting initiatives that focus on building bridges among disparate communities" as a priority area.

Transparency and Trust

Rabbi Farkas emphasizes transparency in how Federation money is raised and invested. Organizations that can clearly articulate their use of funds and demonstrate trustworthy stewardship are more likely to succeed.

Addressing Los Angeles Community Needs

While the Federation has a Jewish focus, 30-40% of institutional funding goes to secular organizations addressing broader Los Angeles community needs, particularly in areas like food insecurity, homelessness prevention, and services for vulnerable populations.

Innovation and Leadership Development

The Federation values innovative approaches and leadership development. Programs like the ChangeMaker Challenge specifically seek innovative ideas, and leadership development is one of Rabbi Farkas's three guiding values.

Collaboration Over Competition

The Federation emphasizes collaborative approaches. Rabbi Farkas stated, "We are the only organization in Los Angeles whose interest encompasses everyone," suggesting preference for organizations that work collaboratively across the community rather than in silos.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Relationship-based funding model: The Federation primarily works through established partnerships and Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee decisions rather than open calls for proposals. Building relationships with Federation staff and board members is essential.

  • Strategic alignment is critical: Align proposals with one or more of the three strategic initiatives (Ensuring the Jewish Future, Caring for Jews in Need, Engaging in the Community) and the four priority areas identified by Rabbi Farkas (mental health, fighting antisemitism, Israel engagement, and Jewish diversity).

  • Bridge-building resonates: Programs that connect the Jewish community with other Los Angeles communities or foster collaboration receive favorable consideration, as evidenced by the ChangeMaker Challenge priorities.

  • Demonstrate measurable impact: Provide specific metrics and outcomes (volunteers engaged, people served, meals distributed, etc.) to show tangible community benefit.

  • Consider the ChangeMaker Challenge: For smaller, innovative projects up to $5,000, the ChangeMaker Challenge offers an accessible entry point with the added benefit of capacity-building support.

  • Transparency matters: Be prepared to clearly articulate how funds will be used and demonstrate strong organizational stewardship, as the current CEO prioritizes transparency in resource allocation.

  • Geographic focus counts: The Federation serves three geographic areas - Los Angeles, Israel, and international Jewish communities - so clearly state which geographic area(s) your work addresses.

References

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