Grantmaking

Each year, contributions from hundreds of donors enable the Jewish Community Foundation to award grants to a variety of organizations making a difference in Greater Phoenix and in Israel. Starting with the 2022 grant cycle, the Foundation and the Jewish Federation are conducting a single, unified grant cycle for our community.

Grant recipients include a diverse group of organizations and programs dedicated to providing invaluable services to the Jewish community and others in need.

Since 2002, the Jewish Community Foundation distributed more than $77,000,000 in grants to Jewish and non-Jewish organizations — locally, nationally, and internationally.

Through the Foundation’s competitive grantmaking programs – the Fund for Jewish Philanthropy and the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund – we play a crucial role in the community, providing grants for programs and services that may not come to fruition without our support.

Download Information for Prospective Applicants for complete details.

Competitive Grants

The Foundation’s primary focus is supporting those organizations and programs serving the Greater Phoenix Jewish community, including but not limited to community centers, religious and educational institutions, and social service providers. Grants are also made to organizations benefiting Israel and other Jewish communities nationally and abroad. Learn more about competitive grants awarded in recent JCF grant cycles.

We will consider local letters of intent in the following categories:

New or existing programs – designed to address unmet needs in the Jewish community. Preference will be given to innovative programs that offer a unique approach to enhancing the Jewish community. To qualify for funding, existing programs must be highly functioning and address otherwise unmet community needs.

One-time endeavors – offer the Jewish community both immediate benefits and the potential for long-term enrichment (e.g. seminars, community-wide events, informational exhibits).

Program expansion – from well-established programs will be considered if the request reflects a significant new component to the project.

Capacity building – defined as improving the overall performance, effectiveness, and financial sustainability of local Jewish organizations.

Find out how to apply for a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation.

Typical Grant Range

We do not have established minimum and maximum grant amounts. However, typical grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. Although grants above $20,000 are awarded, larger allocations are generally reserved for programs that will become an ongoing part of an organization’s work. Requests of $25,000 or more require permission from the Foundation at least three weeks before submitting a Letter of Intent.

Our Funding Priorities

Read the Information for Prospective Applicants for complete details.

We encourage collaboration between local Jewish organizations and prioritizes funds for the following:

• Jewish learning – formal and informal education experiences for people of all ages.
• Interfaith responses to community needs and issues, designed to strengthen community relations and foster collaboration.
• Outreach – engagement of the broader Jewish community.
• Research projects that improve the quality of Jewish life.
• Social service needs, including but not limited to health, welfare, and education.
• Strengthening and increasing exposure to Jewish culture.
• Resettlement aid and assistance services to Jewish refugees.

Israel Grants

Due to the extraordinary needs of our local community brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not consider unsolicited letters of intent or grant applications from Israel in the current grant cycle.

If you are uncertain about your eligibility, please contact Sheryl Quen at squen@jcfphoenix.org.