Announcing the South Peninsula IGI Awardees

We are pleased to share with you an important and new investment the Jewish Community Federation has made in the South Peninsula Jewish community. In 2011, the Federation's Board implemented a new approach to grantmaking as part of our strategic plan. Modeled on venture philanthropy, the Impact Grants Initiative (IGI) invites deep involvement by donors and grantees in the grant making process, while providing financial resources to organizations that can achieve significant impact and bring about positive change in an area of considerable challenge to the region through a robust, multi-year grant.

The IGI model has come alive locally through the inaugural South Peninsula Regional Impact Committee, which, after significant research of the area's largest challenges, dedicated this first grant round to creating a more vibrant, connected community by focusing on engaging more South Peninsula families in Jewish life. The Regional Impact Committee recently awarded a total of $500,000 over a three-year period to the following four organizations:

1. Congregations Kol Emeth and Beth Am

($106,967 over three years) Open Tent Bay Area: In partnership with local, secular birth education centers, this project will engage first-time expectant parents who would not otherwise actively pursue Jewish experiences. The project will provide high quality childbirth classes with Jewish content and will subsequently support the creation of ongoing micro-communities of new Jewish parents.

2. Hazon ($125,572 over three years)

Setting the Table South Peninsula: Jewish Food and Family Chavurot: This project will create family chavurot to engage families of children about to leave Jewish and general preschool programs. Adults and children will engage in hands-on cooking and creation of Jewish household objects, and parents will gain tools to create an authentic, compelling Jewish home environment.

3. Jewish LearningWorks ($218,250 over three years)

Kesher: This initiative will target South Peninsula families with children ages 3 - 7. A Community Concierge will help less engaged families connect to existing opportunities and create affinity groups of families with shared interests. The Kesher Family Education Fellowship will elevate the capacity of Jewish family education professionals, who will then design tailored family opportunities to fill programmatic gaps locally.

4. Friendship Circle ($34,750 over three years)

Capacity Building: Strengthening Friendship Circle's infrastructure in the areas of marketing and development to build the organization's capacity to serve and impact more Jewish families of children with special needs and teen volunteers.  

In addition to these regional impact grants, in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, JCF also granted over $1.2 million to Jewish organizations and programs working exclusively in the South Peninsula.