Spring 2024 Grant Opportunities

2024 Spring Grant Opportunities

Combatting Antisemitism & Supporting Employee Wellness

Purpose 

Jewish organizations, professionals, and grassroots community organizers are facing our community’s toughest moment yet. The work they do has never been more vital, or more challenging.

Organizations are working overtime as a bulwark against rising antisemitism and professionals are struggling beneath the weight of all they carry. Even during non-crisis times, it’s hard to be a Jewish communal professional: they care deeply, hold so much for those they serve, and are accustomed to putting their needs secondary. Add October 7 and its aftermath, the intense pressure in the Bay Area, and shifting emergency priorities, and these challenges can feel overwhelming. The dedicated professionals who make our community thrive – especially in the face of adversity – deserve care, rejuvenation, and investment.

The Federation is pleased to offer two grant opportunities to Jewish organizations working in the Bay Area to help them meet this moment, plus funding to support grassroots individuals.

Grants for Organizations

  • Mini Grants to Support Employee Wellness: to boost their professionals’ physical, mental, and emotional wellness. We trust organizations to decide what interventions are best so that their professionals can feel held, supported, and cared for in this challenging moment. Our goal is for these mini grants to help alleviate feelings of burnout, increase feelings of joy and resilience, and empower professionals to achieve a better balance between work and rest. It’s our vision that professionals can thrive, all while building our thriving Bay Area Jewish community.

  • Grants to Combat Antisemitism: to support the efforts of Jewish organizations fighting the diverse manifestations of antisemitism in the Bay Area. Our goal is to boost existing programs and projects, and to take some of the financial burden off organizations as they seek to continue this essential work in the face of a challenging local fundraising environment.

Support for Individuals

Funds to Combat Antisemitism: to support the efforts of grassroots Jewish community organizers fighting the diverse manifestations of antisemitism in the Bay Area. We know many local individuals and coalitions of community members are paying out of pocket to do this vital work: our goal is to empower their efforts and take some of the financial burden off.

Scope and Parameters

Mini Grants to Support Employee Wellness: We will award grants of up to $7,500 to pursue wellness interventions for organizations’ entire Bay Area staff teams – from the most junior employee to the most senior leaders. This could include: meditation app subscriptions, subsidized professional coaching, team retreats, gym passes, wellness stipends, self-care boxes, an employee care closet, listening circle facilitators, special meals, surprise & delights for staff, and more. We ask that you pursue things that your organization hasn’t budgeted for otherwise. Similarly, funds can’t be used on workplace upgrades. Grant sizes will be scaled to the number of Bay Area staff:

  • Organizations with under 10 Bay Area staff: up to $2,500
  • Organizations with 10-50 Bay Area staff: up to $5,000
  • Organizations with more than 50 Bay Area staff: up to $7,500

Grants to Combat Antisemitism: What has your organization done in response to rising antisemitism? We’re looking to support existing efforts, rather than the creation of new initiatives. This could include programming, advocacy work, grassroots community organizing, education, Holocaust education, bridge building, interfaith work, dialogue across difference, and civic engagement. We’re curious to hear what you’re working on, what you’re hoping to accomplish, and how you might see impact grow with additional financial support, beyond what you’ve budgeted for.

We know that there are individuals and coalitions doing grassroots community organizing work combatting antisemitism – if you’re interested in support for your efforts, we’re considering applications from individuals in a different portal.

Eligibility & Criteria 

Applicants must

  • Be a registered 501(c)3 non-profit or organization with fiscal sponsorship working in the Federation Service Area (local branches of national organizations welcome to apply)
    • Individuals doing grassroots work (outside of organizations) can apply via this form
  • Actively serve the Bay Area Jewish community
  • Align with the Federation’s mission and funding policy on Israel-related programming 

We’ll evaluate applications, looking for

Alignment with goals:

  • Mini Grants to Support Employee Wellness: How intervention(s) will boost wellness, thriving, joy, and resilience and meet the needs of all local staff, not just a subset
  • Grants to Combat Antisemitism: How additional support will amplify existing efforts to fight antisemitism and your organization’s mission
  • Applicant’s capacity and commitment to manage the proposed projects
  • Financial viability of the proposed projects
  • Prioritizing organizations that are under higher stress and with fewer resources

Application 

To make these funds as accessible as possible, we’re keeping the applications short. For Mini Grants to Support Employee Wellness, we will not be asking for a report – although informal anecdotes and feedback are welcome. For Combatting Antisemitism Grants, we will ask for a report. 

Organizations can apply for one or both grants through the same application.  

ORGANIZATION APPLICATION

Timeline

  • Application released: May 21, 2024
  • Applications closed: June 30, 2024
  • Applicants notified: July 31, 2024
  • Grant term: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Contact Information

The Federation’s Community Impact team is available to thought partner and help you develop your ideas. If you’d like to book some time with us, or if you have any questions, please email Amanda Cohen, Director of Young Adult Engagement.