JCF Kicks off 2026 Spring Grants Awards

The following is a reprint of an announcement published in the January 7, 2026 issue of the Jewish Community Voice, titled, "JCF Kicks off 2026 Spring Grants Awards":

The Jewish Community Foundation, Inc. has announced the kickoff of its 2026 Spring JCF Grants Cycle, with the deadline to apply set for Friday, Mar. 20 at 4 p.m.

Over $50,000 is anticipated to be awarded by the JCF, thanks to endowment funds established by generous donors to support our vibrant community each year.

Overseeing the process is the JCF’s Grants Committee, chaired by Rhona Cohen and Susan Olinsky, and the committee encourages nonprofits and synagogues that serve Southern New Jersey residents to apply for funding for new programs and services.

This funding cycle has several exciting and important developments in store:

• First, the JCF has launched a new online application portal, thanks to financial and administrative assistance from the Raymond & Gertrude R. Saltzman Foundation. This portal is a big step forward in the goal of streamlining the entire process for applicants, JCF administration, and application reviewers alike. Applicants will create their own login account and can easily draft and save the application, upload documents, and more.

• Second, the JCF’s Board of Trustees and Grants Committee are excited to launch the Beacon Engagement & Participation Endowment Fund, which will provide additional grant dollars to selected grantees for this and subsequent awards cycles going forward. Eligible grantees will be Jewish organizations that conceive of and create programs and activities that will appeal to people across all ages and denominational or unaffiliated backgrounds and draw them into direct participation with Jewish life in South Jersey. More details will be announced in the coming weeks about this exciting funding opportunity.

• And third, additional grant dollars from generous community funders are anticipated to be available for grantees, along the lines of the approximately $30,000 that was provided as part of the Fall 2025 JCF Grants Cycle (Note: Final additional grant dollar amounts may vary).

More details about JCF Grants can be found at jcfsnj.org/grants, and prospective applicants are encouraged to attend a complimentary, hybrid Grants Workshop on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 9 a.m. Workshop RSVPs are required to JCF Assistant Director Mike Staff, and to learn more about starting your own JCF Grants endowment fund, email mstaff@jfedsnj.org or call (856) 673-2528.