Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

This page is being updated daily and contains information about the anticipated effects of COVID-19.

The rapid progression of COVID-19 and its recent upgrade to pandemic has required everyone in our community to react and respond to new information and restrictions every day. The recommended practice of social distancing is a particularly challenging requirement during these uncertain and chaotic times when so many of us turn to our Jewish communities for comfort, care, and connection.

Although we are daunted by the enormity of the threat of COVID-19, we also have deep confidence in the ability of our community to face it. Here are some initial updates, with more to follow in the coming days.

Ways to Give

The Federation has established a COVID-19 Response Fund to enable our donors and community to help meet both individual and organizational needs. Even as we assess the medium to long-range impact, we know these needs are already felt by our community organizations. Your support of this fund will enable a response to emerging community needs, with a view of the full ecosystem of Jewish organizations in the Bay Area.

You can also recommend a grant from your donor-advised fund to the Federation (Tax ID# 94-1156533). Please indicate COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund as the Grant Purpose. If you have a donor-advised fund at the Federation, click here to recommend a grant.

The Federation’s offices remain closed during shelter-in-place. Working remotely, we are still processing mail and sending out grantee checks and acknowledgment letters, but at a slower rate. Please consider making your gift electronically through wire transfer and emailing us any forms, as checks and documents mailed or faxed to our office will have further delays. For any urgent needs, please email daf@sfjcf.org.

Giving during a crisis can seem overwhelming; there are many choices to navigate. Our latest Giving Insights provides guidance on strategic funding approaches and identifies organizations that fit into several categories.

Bay Area Jewish Agencies

All of our Jewish agencies need your support at this time. The organizations below have urgent needs for based on their response to the crisis.

Local Response

Bay Area Food Banks are providing food to those who need it most during this crisis and are experiencing unique challenges, including getting food to the families of children who normally get their only or main meal at school.

Glide’s Daily Free Meals program has been adjusted to utilize takeout containers to deliver hot meals three times daily. Their walk-in center services, including shelter bed reservations, continue via a triage desk in the lobby to avoid congregating unsafely in the building.

Larkin Street Youth is combating COVID-19 and the effects on the youth they serve. They are committed to providing essential services to young people during this time.

Tipping Point COVID Fund addresses increased needs for all of their grantees across the Bay Area.

Samaritan House in San Mateo is committed to fighting poverty and lifting lives amidst the COVID-19 outbreak and will be open and providing essential services as long as circumstances permit.

Some of our communities are also organizing funds to help address the needs of low-income families facing additional hardship from this crisis, including:

  • The Oakland Students and Schools Fund through the Oakland Public Education Fund has an initial goal of $1.1 Million to ensure continuity of teaching, safe, clean spaces, and food for vulnerable families.
     
  • Redwood City Education Fund has reached its initial $200,000 goal, although as this crisis goes on we expect this need to grow significantly.

Global Response

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is supporting its partners in 19 countries to address the pandemic. In particular, they are monitoring the Cox’s Bazaar refugee camp with approximately 1 million Rohingya refugees who are extremely vulnerable.

IsraAID has initiated a Global Coronavirus Emergency Response focusing on mental health support for health care workers in China, Italy, and South Korea. They are currently also supporting urgent migrant and refugee needs in Greece and Venezuela.

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is the leading Jewish humanitarian organization, working in 70 countries to lift lives and strengthen communities. As the global Jewish 9-1-1, JDC's expertise and experience are needed now more than ever. They are addressing emerging needs and continuing to serve the tens of thousands of people who depend on them every day.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Jewish Family and Children's Services offers safe opportunities for Emergency Service Volunteers, including making phone calls to isolated homebound seniors through the Safe At Home program, and purchasing and delivering groceries, including special Passover Care Packages, to Holocaust survivors, other frail seniors, and homebound disabled adults.
     
  • Jewish Family and Community Services of the East Bay is looking for volunteers to offer phone support to vulnerable, isolated community members, most of whom are older.

The Federation has established two goals for our COVID-19 emergency response:

Goal #1: Address urgent needs of populations most acutely impacted by the crisis

Goal #2: Address short-term needs to help stabilize our Jewish ecosystem

To determine these priorities, the Federation conducted an in-depth needs assessment survey of each core ecosystem sector and the organizations within, followed by 1:1 conversations with the leadership of 34 organizations. We also consulted numerous national sources local foundations, and Federations in other communities

Grants to Support Urgent Human Service and Economic Needs for Affected Populations 

Grantmaking will expand the capacity of front-line organizations to respond immediately with essential safety-net services for priority populations including seniors, economically disadvantaged, recently unemployed, at-risk due to social isolation, or COVID-19 illness. 

Grants to meet the needs of affected Bay Area Jewish populations

Grants are funded by COVID-19 Response Fund, Jewish Women’s Fund, Jewish Teen Foundation, and endowed restricted funds.  

Organization Need Amount
Alameda County Community Food Bank  Increased distribution to incorporate new sites serving 20% of Alameda County residents, including the production of Emergency Food Bags for seniors and families, and food-service to nine school districts. $15,000
Bay Area Community Services (Oakland) First responders to thousands experiencing mental health, housing, and other crises.  One of the frontline providers for Keep Oakland Housed.  Also partnering with the cities of Hayward and Emeryville to provide rental relief. $10,000
Bay Area Jewish Healing Center Spiritual care for home-bound including elderly and infirm; positioning for increased demands for the end of life spiritual care related to COVID-19. $20,000

Berkeley Food & Housing Project

Helping with staffing and supplies to support COVID-19 response services

 $5,000

San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living

 Preparations for the surge of COVID-19 cases, transformation of beds for short-term acute care, increased staffing expense, supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE). $150,000

City and County of San Francisco COVID-19 Response

 Critical care for medically and economically vulnerable, those facing economic hardship or a housing crisis related to COVID-19, and local businesses and nonprofits in San Francisco. $20,000
Compass Family Services - Families Helping Families Fund Serving 3x the usual number of new families in Q2; distributing grocery gift cards; food pantries; provided hotel rooms for 30 families to allow Shelter-in-Place $5,000
East Oakland Youth Development Center Emergency Fund Especially for their displaced college students, assistance with travel home, housing, food, medicine, etc.  $5,000
Faithful Fools Street Ministry        Providing financial help for COVID-19 response supplies and rent support

$9,500
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano  Ramping up efforts to secure more non-perishables and expand warehouse space to meet increased demand; mobilizing staff and volunteers with attention to new health/safety protocols to assemble boxes for distribution. $15,000
HealthRight 360 Increased safety needs, personal protective equipment, and increased staffing costs at clinics in San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Contra Costa County. $20,000
Hebrew Free Loan Association Jewish Women’s Fund COVID-19 Relief Response to Hebrew Free Loan for small business grants to Bay Area women $37,800
Institute on Aging Training and equipment to allow home care aides to maintain support for isolated and home-bound seniors, compliant with CDC and Department of Public Health requirements during the COVID-19 crisis.  $20,000
Jewish Community Free Clinic - Sonoma Implementation of HIPPA-compliant telehealth system and personal protective equipment for staff in clinic. $15,000
Jewish Family and Community Services – East Bay Realignment of senior services and mental health support during shelter-in-place, increasing demand for direct financial assistance for economically vulnerable clients. $150,000
Jewish Family and Children’s Services – San Francisco Increased demand for all services to vulnerable populations, including direct financial assistance for individuals to meet urgent basic needs, food for delivery or pick up at five food pantries, support for home-bound seniors, domestic violence, and mental health counseling. $225,000
Jewish Vocational Services Preparation for a surge in unemployment services, due to massive layoffs and furloughs Bay Area-wide. $115,000
Jews of Color Field Building Initiative The Jews of Color Initiative COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund will provide direct financial support People of Color in the Bay Area Jewish community experiencing financial hardships resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Direct support to individuals will range from $250-$2500, and must be used for a) rent or mortgage payment, b) transportation to work or medical, c) utilities, d) groceries, e) medical bills, or f) burial expenses. Eligibility includes people who identify as Jewish, are employed by or otherwise affiliated with Jewish organizations. $50,000
La Luz Center Crisis Fund (Sonoma) Financial assistance; connection to local food banks; help with benefit applications (CalFresh, MediCal, unemployment) $10,000
Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa Taking JFCS-EB referrals.  Shifted from 700 dine-in meals per day to 2500 a week for to-go pickup, causing a shift in production and materials needed. $ 5,000
Peninsula Volunteers (Meals on Wheels San Mateo) Increase in 1,200 meals per week (usually over 3,000); expanded caregiver services $ 5,000
Project Open Hand Anticipating doubling of demand in Sonoma and north counties from people facing COVID-related food insecurity; activating emergency response including temporary distribution outposts in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Healdsburg. $15,000
Redwood Empire Food Bank Shift food provision model for coronavirus safety: preparation of frozen meal packs, home delivery, and meal service to 7 SROs in San Francisco, onboarding additionally registered dieticians to meet surging need for medically tailored meals for COVID-19 patients and other clients. $15,000
Repair the World Serve the Moment Initiative to mobilize Jewish young adults and college students in acts of meaningful service and learning to address the COVID-19 crisis. Bay Area community support. $20,000
The Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living To support operations in line with increased health and safety standards due to COVID for seniors in residential facilities. $25,000
RotaCare Bay Area Continuation of medical care for uninsured and economically vulnerable throughout the pandemic, including personal protective equipment for in-person visits, and telehealth services. $25,000
Samaritan House Mobile meals to home-bound seniors, free clinics in San Mateo and Redwood City, telephone counseling, and “Food Pharmacies” for community members facing food insecurity. $15,000
SF New Deal Helping keep 85 small business restaurants open, with employees employed, while also serving meals (350k so far) to needy seniors (and others) via distribution partners.  Focused on a short term goal of raising $200K to extend meal service to the SF African American Faith-Based Coalition of 18 Black congregations that they've been providing meals to since the end of March.   $20,000
San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Pop-up food pantries, extra shelf-stable food resources, home delivery for vulnerable, increase focus on food safety. $15,000
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Increased demand in food from newly unemployed and disadvantaged populations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, currently serving over 250,000 people per month. Adapting to new CDC and DPH guidelines for food safety related to COVID-19. $15,000
Shalom Bayit Increased demand for support services due to the safety needs of at-risk women sheltering-in-place coupled with revenue loss from the canceled fundraising events. $35,000
Sinai Memorial Chapel Preparation for a surge in COVID-19 funerals beginning by end of April; sliding pay scale, including no-cost funerals for the indigent. $25,000
Unity Council COVID-19 Emergency Fund (Oakland) Financial and housing assistance; help with benefit applications (CalFresh, MediCal, unemployment); food distribution $10,000
Urban Adamah Implementation of a new delivery of farm-grown produce to home-bound seniors and disabled. $25,000
Whistlestop "Expanded Services Fund" (Meals on Wheels Marin) Significant expansion of meal delivery services, including local restaurant meals and groceries. The walk-in food pantry is also available. $5,000
  TOTAL $1,172,300

Hebrew Free Loan Pooled Recoverable Grant

Donors with assets in donor-advised funds and supporting foundations managed by the Federation can make a grant recommendation, which is pooled with others into a recoverable grant for a 5-year term.

When the 5-year term ends and the funds are returned, donors can recommend grants for other charitable purposes.  

organization need amount
Hebrew Free Loan Association of San Francisco

To meet the unprecedented demand for zero-interest loans, requested by community members facing lost wages, reduced small business income, increased childcare costs, and food or housing insecurity due to the COVID-19 crisis.

To learn more, contact Tanya Shadoan, Director of Philanthropy Operations and Impact Investing.

Recoverable Grants from Donor-Advised Funds & Supporting Foundations: $4,597,500

Charitable Grants for Operating Support from DAFs & Supporting Foundations (thru 6/30): $328,948

Recoverable Grant from Federation’s Unrestricted Endowment: $1,000,000 

 
  TOTAL $5,926,448  

Grants for Urgent Human Service Needs in Israel and Global Communities

These grants complement our local emergency response, while also carrying out the legacy intentions of our donors. Grants are funded by endowed restricted funds and the Jewish Teen Foundation.

organization Need amount
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc. Providing Covid-19 Emergency Aid in Argentina $5,000
Ashoka Formed “Aging IL,” a coalition of government and municipal representatives, CEOs of businesses, and leading Israeli insurance funds mapping the current main challenges for older adults during the COVID‐19 crisis. They are collaborating to develop immediate solutions to combat loneliness, ensure access to healthcare, digital literacy, and self‐positioning. $20,000

Ahava Children and Youth Village

 Emergency plan to provide for emotional, developmental, and physical needs of 200 children staying in apartments with foster parents during COVID‐19. $20,000
Eretz‐Ir (The Brigade) Organizing a network of young volunteers to make phone calls to alleviate the loneliness of Russian senior citizens living in public housing, and providing lectures to new immigrants from the Former Soviet Union about Israeli politics and society in Corona times and beyond. $15,000
ITIM Seeks to help immigrants navigate State‐administered matters of Jewish life. Assistance Center will counsel them on holding weddings and funerals, using mikvehs, and more based on health regulations, and through work with social welfare organizations, government authorities, and the rabbinic establishment. $15,000

JDC Israel

 Will train volunteers online who will be paired with older adults to teach them to use mobile phones and computers to stay connected. $34,000

JDC Israel

 Providing basic needs services to older adults that are not currently funded by the Government of Israel, including continuing rehabilitation therapy through digital technology, delivery of supplies, essential transportation for individuals and their caregivers, and remote communication and counseling. $120,000
JDC Israel Educational and training materials to reach approximately 1 million new immigrants, caregivers, and vulnerable families in multiple languages (Russian, Amharic, and English) to address topics like handwashing and disinfection practices, digital literacy, recognizing Coronavirus symptoms, the need for social distancing, how to behave under the new guidelines, and more. $10,000
Lehetiv Hotline to provide professional counseling in 5 languages to new emigres to help them navigate the Israeli system to seek financial assistance and other essential services, as well as emotional counseling. About 400 families with the greatest needs will receive rent/bills payment assistance, food packages, help with technology, and more. $15,000
Ma'ase Center  Association Assistance for 60 Ethiopian‐Israeli families of Ma’ase participants and alumni, including food vouchers and other essential products, mentoring, mental support and guidance, and computers so they can continue their training online. $50,000

Moona ‐ A Space for Change

 At the invitation of Stanford University’s Schools of Bioengineering and Medicine, Moona is developing a highly-scalable cost‐effective prototype that will enable hundreds of small‐scale ‘cottage’ manufacturers to produce the nanofibrous porous mesh that is the central component of industry-grade N‐95 surgical masks. $15,000
Olim Beyahad Providing alumni with financial and occupational guidance, and planning support to help graduates reintegrate into the workforce after the crisis ends. We are also supporting university students and high school students in continuing their studies by connecting participants to study together. $50,000

OneDay Social Volunteering

 OneDay will mobilize its young adult community to distribute 3,000 food packages to elderly and at‐risk youth. $10,000

 PNIMA

 Accelerating the process of Aliya of the Jewish community in Ethiopia, as individuals in camps are at high risk of exposure to COVID‐19 since the virus has reached Ethiopia. $30,000

Sanad Association

 While all the schools in Israel are now teaching online, families in Arab villages in the triangle area have no digital devices or access to the internet. This funding will allow the printing of educational and health materials to be handed out to children in these villages. $10,000

The Israel Association of Community Centers (IACC)

 Developing new solutions that are aimed at maintaining the fabric of community life in the current situation, by creating programs that will take care of all parts of society and the community, especially vulnerable populations that need us the most, such as newcomers (Olim), the elderly, those with special needs, etc.  $30,000

The Israeli Civic Leadership Association (Civic Leadership)

 Forming an advocacy campaign to urge the Israeli Government to form an emergency fund for Israel’s third sector. Israel’s nonprofit sector has been damaged by delays in critical budgeting decisions due to Israel’s election crisis, and many NGOs are unable to meet the growing need for services due to COVID‐19.     $10,000

 The Jewish Agency for Israel

 Provide food for 140 immigrant households in quarantine and for 1,354 elderly from the FSU in Amigour facilities, stipends for 280 single immigrants and 140 families, 300 computers to immigrant children in absorption centers, and will purchase a three‐month supply of disinfectant. $250,000

The Jewish Agency for Israel

 Meet the basic nutrition and hygiene needs of the 8,000 vulnerable Jews living in Jewish Agency compounds in Ethiopia waiting to make Aliyah. Over the next 9 months, we aim to provide 2 extra bars of soap per month for 3,150 families to halt the spread of Coronavirus, and to provide emergency food packages to 200 older adults. $50,000
 

Yeladim Latzafon ‐ Migdal Or

 Remote emotional support, information about rights, real-time online guidance and training on various topics, the adaptation of remote functional rehabilitation, and social activities for visually impaired individuals. Throughout this crisis, we expect to manage 100 calls per week, 40 therapy groups, social activities for over 1000 participants, adaptation and implementation of remote functional rehabilitation, and a pilot for 100 service recipients.  $50,000
  TOTAL ISRAEL GRANTS $809,000

 

 

 

 

Grants to Address Needs to Stabilize Our Jewish Ecosystem

Bridge and Reopening Grants to Jewish Institutions

To support organizations impacted by lost revenue, facilitate a safe and healthy re-opening, and assist with startup costs to adjust or resume operations.  Funding to camps provides refunds to families, alternative summer programming, and/or incentives to encourage families to donate or defer/credit their camp fees. Grants are funded by the COVID-19 Response Fund and the unrestricted endowment.

Organization Amount
Camp Be’chol Lashon $15,000
Camp Ramah Northern California $75,000
Camp Tawonga $110,000
Contemporary Jewish Museum $50,000
Eden Village West $50,000
HAMAQOM/The Place $15,000
J. The Jewish News of Northern California $75,000
JCC East Bay $100,000
JCC of San Francisco $75,000
JCC of Sonoma County $50,000
JCC Maccabi Sports Camp $50,000
Jewish Film Institute $25,000
Osher Marin JCC $175,000
Oshman Family JCC $75,000
Peninsula JCC $175,000
Studio 70 $25,000
The Kitchen $25,000
Urban Adamah $25,000
URJ Camp Newman $100,000
Wilderness Torah $25,000
TOTAL $1,315,000

 

Reopening Grants for Jewish Preschools

Schools are facing enormous challenges to opening, from stringent and costly health requirements to teachers leaving, to families struggling with financial hardship. Grants will support new expenses such as cleaning and protective supplies, equipment for facility adaptations, and additional janitorial and teacher staffing. $1.125 million was raised from the Jim Joseph Foundation, Rodan Family Foundation, and the COVID-19 Response Fund.

Organization

 Amount
Bernard Osher Marin Jewish Community Center $42,520
Beth Jacob Congregation of Oakland  $23,408
Chabad Jewish Center of Oakland  $13,778
Chabad of Contra Costa  $23,810
Chai Preschool

$30,096
Congregation Beth Ami $50,160

Congregation Beth El

$38,456
Congregation Beth Emek

$20,900
Congregation Beth Israel $23,810
Congregation Beth Jacob $16,720
Congregation Beth Sholom 

$46,816
Congregation B'nai Shalom

$31,000

Congregation Netivot Shalom

$22,138
Gan Israel Preschool $28,826

Jewish Community Center - East Bay Preschool

$25,916

Jewish Community Center - San Francisco  Preschools

$150,480

Oshman Family Jewish Community Center  

$100,000

Peninsula Jewish Community Center Preschool

$66,880
Peninsula Temple Sholom $92,600

South Peninsula Hebrew Day School

$60,192
Temple Beth Abraham $30,000

Temple Beth Sholom Preschool

$28,826

Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool

$52,668
TOTAL

$1,020,000

Resilience Fund for Synagogue Communities

Through the COVID-19 Response Fund, we met the needs of the synagogue and Chabad communities through match funding for direct emergency aid and community aid projects.

Organization

 Amount
B'nai Israel Jewish Center $500
Chabad Emeryville $500
Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma $2500
Chabad of Alameda $1000
Chabad of Daly City

$2500
Chabad of El Cerrito $2750

Chabad of Fremont

$2000

Chabad of Greater South Bay

$2500
Chabad of Mill Valley $3600
Chabad of Novato $2000
Chabad of San Francisco
 

$1000
Chabad of Solano County

$2750

Chabad of Sonoma County

$1000
Congregation Beth Am $2500

Congregation Beth Israel

$1750

Congregation Chevra Thilim

$1000

Congregation Rodef Sholom

$4000

Peninsula Sinai Congregation

$500
Richmond Torah Center - Chabad $1000

Temple Beth Abraham

$500
TOTAL

$35,850

Emergency Scholarship Pools

To leverage significantly more funding to support individuals and families in financial need over the long tail of this crisis. Funds are provided by the unrestricted endowment, endowed, restricted funds, Jim Joseph Foundation, Rodan Family Foundation, and individual donors. Fundraising will continue to meet the needs to the greatest extent possible.

Day School Emergency Scholarships

DAY SCHOOL Amount

# STUDENTS SUPPORTED
Bais Menachem Yeshiva Day School
$42,929
27

The Brandeis School of San Francisco

$188,980

37

Brandeis Marin

$127,835

28

Contra Costa Jewish Day School

$110,588

 40

Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School     

 $149,457

31

Jewish Community High School of the Bay

$147,917

28

Kehillah Jewish High School

$90,132

12

Oakland Hebrew Day School

$106,670

28

South Peninsula Hebrew Day School

$95,317

30

Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School

$102,226


22
Meira Academy $13,750 5
TOTAL: $1,175,802 288

Preschool Emergency Scholarships

 

Organization Amount # STUDENTS SUPPORTED
Chai Preschool

$24,210

 8
Congregation Beth Ami $35,070 21

Congregation Beth El

$17,420

 8
Congregation Beth Emek

$14,320

 13
Congregation Beth Sholom 

$31,170

 9
Congregation B'nai Shalom

$25,300

 29

Congregation Emanu-el

$25,575

 6

Congregation Netivot Shalom

$23,500

 8

Gan Avraham Preschool

$40,740

 14

Gan Ilan Preschool

$18,743

 11

Gan Mah Tov Preschool

$34,466

 12

Gan Noe Preschool

$59,935

 21

Gan Preschool - San Rafael

$50,201

 18

Gan Shalom Preschool

$6,807

 4

Gan Yeladim Preschool - Contra Costa

$20,760

 8

Ganeinu Chabad El Cerrito Preschool

$9,500

 3

Gani Jewish Preschool - Oakland

$6,250

 4

Jewish Community Center - East Bay Preschool

$34,440

 9

Jewish Community Center - San Francisco  Preschools

$43,229

 11
Osher Marin Jewish Community Center (San Rafael & Tiburon) $57,318 14

Oshman Family Jewish Community Center  Leslie Family Preschool

$84,916

 25

Peninsula Jewish Community Center Preschool

$34,243

 8

Shalom School

$45,489

 20

South Peninsula Hebrew Day School

$27,155

 11

Temple Beth Shalom Preschool

$4,920

 2

Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool

$43,310

 12
The Gan - Alameda Jewish Preschool $9,495 5
TOTAL

828,482

 314

Jewish Overnight Camp Scholarships

To be awarded in Fall 2020

Teen Initiative Summer Program Grants

These programs aim to provide connection and belonging for teens, even in virtual settings, and support teen wellbeing and joy in these uncertain times.  

Organization Need Amount
BBYO Summer Havdalah $7,500
Camp Ramah - Galim Harga’ah: A teen Mentorship program $10,000
Camp Tawonga

Tawonga Teen Social Justice Engagement and Leadership Development Program

 $14,072
Congregation Beth Emek

Rosh Chodesh Summer Gatherings

 $875
Congregation Netivot Shalom

Teens for Teens

 $8,500
Contemporary Jewish Museum

Teens in the Art World Summer Program

 $10,000
Contra Costa Midrasha

Summer Sheva (Seven) 2020

 $12,000
Jewish Film Institute

Youth Jury Award
 

 $5,000
Jewish Youth for Community Action (JYCA)

Summer Organizing Academy

 $15,000
JCC Maccabi Camp

Teen Leadership/Virtual Sports

 $10,000
Temple Isaiah

Tizzy Art Instillation and Tzedek Internship

 $10,000
URJ Camp Newman    Teen Fest - in partnership with NFTY and local synagogues $18,000
NCSY  Summer APPortunity $10,000
Wilderness Torah       Neshama Quest   $15,000
  TOTAL $145,947

Activities Addressing Both Goals of Our COVID-19 Response

Federation Philanthropy Partners ($5,636,596 Granted)*

Our donor-advised community (donor-advised funds and supporting foundations) has stepped up to meet the sudden and drastic health and socio-economic challenges caused by the pandemic.

  • Majority of grants are going to human service organizations like Jewish Family and Children Services, SF-Marin Food Bank, and Jewish Home and Senior Living. 
  • Funders are focusing their COVID response locally with 85% of total funder designated COVID response grant dollars going to Bay Area organizations.

*An additional $2,070,220 was granted to the Federation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, and $328,948 to Hebrew Free Loan. We omitted these figures from the total above because they are already counted on this page. The total granted is $8,035,764.

Get Support

Many of our community organizations remain operational to provide assistance during this time:

  • Bay Area Jewish Healing Center is responding to this pandemic by creating spiritual care resources that can be accessed from home or phone to address the current situation.
     
  • Hebrew Free Loan: If you're having trouble making ends meet because of the effects of Coronavirus, including child care costs when schools are closed, small business losses, canceled study abroad programs, and lost wages because you can't go into work, Hebrew Free Loan may be able to help.
     
  • Jewish Family and Children's Services' staff are first responders during this pandemic emergency. If you or someone you care about needs help, please call the JFCS Bay Area Critical Help Line at 415.449.3700. Additional assistance lines:
    • Parents – call 415.359.2443
    • Families and adults – call 415.449.1212
    • Seniors and disabled care – call 415.449.3700
       
  • JFCS of the East Bay provides essential mental health and social services through every stage of life. Services include therapy for parents and children, refugee and immigrant support, home care, and services for seniors.

    JFCS has also launched a new COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Program, including a Jewish Community Safety Net Program, which offers emergency financial assistance to agency clients and to any East Bay Jew in need. They continue to provide information/navigation services, benefits enrollment assistance, food assistance (including home-delivered groceries for those who need it), mental health support, ongoing telephone support, and follow-up contact. For Jewish Community Safety Net services, contact jcsn@jfcs-eastbay.org or 510.704.7480 x716.
     
  • Shalom Bayit​​​​​ is the Bay Area’s center for domestic violence prevention and response within the Jewish community. Call 866.SHALOM.7 for free, confidential support.

Online Activities

  • View upcoming virtual events on our online community calendar. Want to list your own virtual event? Check out this calendar tutorial.
     
  • Many Bay Area congregations and communities are offering remote worship, learning and/or other activities. Visit j. The Jewish News of Northern California's Resource Guide to find the website of your favorite shul, synagogue, temple, or havurah.
     
  • California Pop-Up Virtual Camp: Join our California Jewish overnight camps for some free online fun! Starting Monday, March 16, many of our California overnight camps are volunteering to provide families and kids some much-needed fun and distraction. Join us for a taste of camp and enjoy everything from science experiments to cooking to Israeli dancing. Visit the CA Jewish Overnight Camps Facebook page throughout next week from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm PST to check out various live-streamed content. Please note, there will always be a break from 12:30 - 1:30 pm and not all scheduling blocks may be filled.
     
  • Hillel@Home: Hillel has virtual meet-ups and online gatherings that bring you together with Jewish and Jew-ish students from around the world in real-time.
     

  • IAC @Home: The Israeli-American Council brings you the most innovative content online while continuing to build a national community with Israel at heart. With activities for kids, teens, young professionals, and adults, you can stay connected to Hebrew, Israeli, and Jewish heritage, online activism, and to one another.

  • Holocaust education: The JFCS Holocaust Center is providing educational programming online to meet community needs.

  • JCCSF Online Hebrew classes: While we shelter in place, beloved JCCSF Hebrew teacher Yael Ronen will be teaching live classes online. Choose from one of four levels of mastery in day or evening language courses taught by a native speaker who provides an engaging and supportive environment.

  • Virtual Programming for Young Adults: We can still be together while practicing social distancing (or as we like to call it, “physical distancing”)! Congregation Emanu-El’s Young Adults are excited to present you with a wide variety of virtual offerings.

Health

News

Resources

We encourage you to visit JewishTogether.org, a hub of virtual community and informative resources, powered by The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).

CARES Act

On Friday, March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the largest emergency aid package in U.S. history. The CARES Act includes more than $2 trillion to help individuals and businesses struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill includes a provision for $350 billion in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. 501(c)(3) nonprofits with less than 500 employees are eligible for these loans. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, these loans are intended to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn.

To ensure that our communal institutions will be able to access these funds, we encourage you to consider applying and to take steps now to prepare for that.

For more information:

Webinars

CDC Info

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has periodic updates on COVID-19 and helpful guidance. The CDC’s advice on prevention focuses on hygiene, especially handwashing, and limiting contact with others if you are sick.

The Federation's operations will shift to best protect our employees and the community.

  • Starting Monday, March 16, most of our employees will work remotely and will continue to be available by phone and email during normal business hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
  • Our offices remain closed during shelter-in-place. Working remotely, we are still processing mail and sending out grantee checks and acknowledgment letters, but at a slower rate. Please consider making your gift electronically through wire transfer and emailing us any forms, as checks and documents mailed or faxed to our office will have further delays. For any urgent needs, please email daf@sfjcf.org.
  • Planned events over the next few months are canceled, and meetings will be conducted virtually.

Security and resilience of the Jewish community continues to be one of our key strategic priorities.

We know that each of our agency and synagogue partners is focused on these priorities for their organizations and communities and we have great respect for the manner in which they are addressing this challenge. Some key activities that took place the week of March 10 included:

  • Convening a teleconference of almost 100 local Jewish organizations to provide real-time updates, exchange ideas and information, and assess specific needs and threats likely to arise in the weeks ahead. We will continue to host these webinars on a regular basis as the situation evolves.
  • Sharing a contingency plan for the Federation’s response to COVID-19 that is easily transferable to any organization.
  • Convening with local foundations to discuss urgent and emerging funding needs in the community and how we can work together to address them.

Announcing our Initial COVID-19 Response

For the past few weeks, the Federation team and lay leaders reached out to organizational partners to understand their needs, formed a community volunteer task force to provide guidance and mobilize resources and partners, established a Response Fund, and set up an innovative opportunity with Hebrew Free Loan. On Thursday, April 2, we announced an initial $6.6 million commitment to COVID-19 response. Read our press release.

We hosted a virtual Community Briefing on Monday, April 6 where we shared additional details around our COVID-19 response and answered questions. You can watch a recording of the briefing, or view a copy of the presentation.

We will update with more information on operational changes, ways in which we are supporting the community, and opportunities to help as the situation evolves.