Nearly $48,000 in Fall 2023 JCF Grants Awarded

The following article appeared in the December 13, 2023 issue of the Jewish Community Voice, and we have added the list of Fall 2023 JCF Grants awarded:

JCF awards $48,000 in grants to community organizations, synagogues

The Grants Committee and Board of Trustees of the Jewish Community Foundation, Inc. recently approved 29 JCF grants totaling nearly $48,000 to benefit the Southern New Jersey community. This dollar amount marks the highest dollar total provided by the JCF in one cycle, aside from a one-time $50,000 grant to support the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each fall and spring, JCF grants are provided for new and innovative programs and services to be initiated by nonprofits and synagogues serving South Jersey. The JCF’s Grants Committee, chaired by Rhona Cohen and Susan Olinsky, reviews all applications to determine which best fit the criteria, and the JCF’s Board of Trustees gives final approval. This cycle, individual grants ranged from $500 to $5,000. Additionally, JCF Board member Harv Cohen and an anonymous donor committed a total of over $2,000 to support two of the initiatives. For a list of Fall 2023 JCF grants that received approval and for details about the application process, visit jcfsnj.org/grants

Award dollars for JCF grants are made possible each year thanks to the following endowment funds (EF) that pay out a percentage of their value: Fannie & Meyer Adelman Family EF, Florence & Fred Bryen EF, Bush Refrigeration EF, Glenn Cohen Memorial EF, Keren Ami (My People’s) EF, Larry Lerner Memorial EF, Bertha & William Remer EF, Stella Schaevitz EF, Louis Silverman EF, and Norma & Leonard Zelnick EF.

Nonprofits and synagogues are encouraged to apply for the next awards cycle, from January 1, 2024, through the application deadline of Friday, March 15 at 4 p.m.

Organizations interested in submitting requests are invited to attend a complimentary Grants Workshop on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 9 a.m., either in person or via Zoom. For questions about JCF grants or to RSVP for the workshop, please contact JCF Assistant Director Mike Staff at (856) 673-2528 or mstaff@jfedsnj.org

(Pictured, above right, are participants in the Katz JCC's Martial Arts for Movement program.)

Here is the full list of approved Fall 2023 JCF Grants:

Adath Emanu-el : Yachad, Baby & Me Group

BBYO South Jersey Region : AZAA Athletic Sports League

Congregation Beth El (2) :  

       Cafe 76--Yom Haatzmaut Celebration

Jewish Diversity: UNPKD

Congregation Beth Tikvah : Guest Song Leaders

Congregation B’nai Tikvah Beth Israel : 

       Teen Youth Group Beautification Project

Congregation Kol Ami : Braid Spice Cook, A Jewish Food Series

Friends of the Cherry Hill Public

Library : Mental Health Care Matters: Learn at Your Library

Jewish Community Relations Council : ADL Never Is Now Summit

Jewish Family & Children's Service (3) :

       Monthly Music Programs for TOPS (To Our Positive Success) Program

       2nd Annual Holocaust Survivor Celebration

The JFCS/BBYO Teen Leadership Initiative

Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey (3) :

       Community Hackathon

JFed Impact Mini-Missions

Weinberg Commons - Cozi Commons

Katz JCC (3) : 

Holiday Youth and Family Programming

Martial Arts for Movement 

Movement & Motivation for Older Adults

Kellman Brown Academy (2) :

KBA Multi-Sensory Program

KBA ESL Program

Mikveh at Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El : Chair Lift Installation

Moorestown Jewish Association : MJA Hanukkah Celebration

Politz Day School : Empowering Parents to Empower their Children: The Jewish Perspective on Sexuality

Rutgers Hillel (2) :

Shabbat Hosting Lab & Well-Being Project

Gender-Inclusive Pasover Seder

Temple Beth Sholom :  Collaborative Community Garden

Temple Sinai : Crafting a Jewish Home: Shabbat Lunch and/or Dinner with the Rabbi

The Work Group : Classroom Technology Enhancement

Young Israel of Cherry Hill : 5th-8th Grade Girls Night Gym