Grants for Jewish Nonprofits

The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation promotes social justice and human rights through its five program areas: Jewish life, strengthening Israeli democracy, health and mental health, educational opportunity, and human rights. Support is provided to organizations in the United States and abroad.

The Foundation supports organizations that promote systemic change, involve constituents in planning and decision-making, encourage volunteer and professional development and engage in ongoing program evaluation.

Human Rights Program Area

The goal of this program is to advance fundamental human rights.

The Foundation seeks to: 

• advance women’s rights 
• protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers
• support leadership development, capacity building and training across a range of issue areas

The Charles H. Revson Foundation operates grant programs in Urban Affairs, Jewish Life, Biomedical Research, and Education.

Jewish Life Grant Program

The Jewish Life program focuses on grants that contribute to the strengthening of communities and their leaders in North America and in Israel.

In North America, the Foundation supports the strengthening of emerging communities, particularly among younger Jewish Americans and between Jewish and Muslim Americans. In Israel, we support the strengthening of underserved communities, Jewish and Arab, with a focus on young Israelis.

We are interested in intentional communities – people in a face-to-face network of affinity and diversity, belonging, and meaning. These communities are activated by their leaders’ and participants’ Jewish values and engaged in sustained activity that deepens their commitment to being responsible for one another and to making a shared, positive difference in the world. Newly interpreting the traditional privileging of community in Jewish history and practice, such initiatives are a creative response to the unique circumstances of 21st-century life.

The Kars4Kids Small Grant Program is dedicated to supporting educational initiatives around the world, helping us impact more children.

Causes We Care About

We’re passionate about helping children develop into productive members of their community.

• Youth Development
• Mentorship
• Education

Our Impact

Through our small grant program, we've helped likeminded charities ensure a brighter future for children & their families.

Our Mission

We’re a national Jewish nonprofit that provides year-round educational and mentoring opportunities and support to develop youth into productive and engaged members of society. Our small grant program enables us to expand our reach to more diverse populations by lending support to local charities doing great work for the children in their communities.

How it works

Are you a 501c3 lay organization with a central focus of doing original work on behalf of America’s children? We want to hear from you. Grants typically range from $500-$2,000, depending on such factors as mission alignment and availability of funds.

Our committee considers each application seriously. Due to the large number of requests we receive, it may take up to 4 months for you to hear from us with a determination. We may not respond to your application if it does not meet our criteria for consideration. Determination is made on a case-by-case basis, depending on factors like mission alignment and availability of funds. 

NOTE: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or letters of inquiry. We prefer to develop projects in collaboration with organizations aligned with our mission and funding priorities. However, if you believe your program or project would be a good fit with the Foundation’s funding priorities, please email a brief one-page description of your program.

About 

The mission of the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation is to improve the quality of life for families and their communities through support of innovative projects and successful ongoing programs.

We are particularly interested in programs that engage individuals, families, and communities in Jewish life; support excellence and inspiration in arts and culture; and strengthen families and society.

Strengthening Families and Society

The Foundation seeks to create a vibrant and equitable society where children and families flourish, and all people are treated with respect and feel accepted and safe. Specifically, we endeavor to:

• Promote Behavioral Health Support Services, by identifying and addressing the behavioral and mental health needs of pregnant women, mothers with new babies and families with young children. This work is focused on employing strategic systems-building strategies in a variety of settings including, but not limited to:
  • schools, child care centers, health care providers and home visiting programs.
• Create a More Civil Society, by investing in and championing education that promotes equality, deepens understanding of democracy, increases social justice, and teaches people to productively engage in a civil society.
• Combat Antisemitism, by ensuring justice and fair treatment for Jewish communities and foster respect and understanding through education.

Types of Grants Available

Grants are available for general operating and project support, especially for innovative approaches and new initiatives. We are particularly interested in emphasizing long-term impact, encouraging organizational sustainability, and investing in systems-building to strengthen fields. Requests for capital and endowment grants are generally not accepted, but the Trustees may initiate such grants at their discretion.

NOTE: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or letters of inquiry. We prefer to develop projects in collaboration with organizations aligned with our mission and funding priorities. However, if you believe your program or project would be a good fit with the Foundation’s funding priorities, please email a brief one-page description of your program.

About 

The mission of the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation is to improve the quality of life for families and their communities through support of innovative projects and successful ongoing programs.

We are particularly interested in programs that engage individuals, families, and communities in Jewish life; support excellence and inspiration in arts and culture; and strengthen families and society.

Engaging Individuals, Families, and Communities in Jewish Life

The Foundation seeks to build and sustain vibrant Jewish life and connected communities which are welcoming to all and inspire Jews to explore the richness Judaism offers. We support both innovative ideas and historic institutions, and specifically, we endeavor to: 

Foster Jewish Identity, by funding innovative programs that bring together Jews in their 20s and 30s to explore their Jewish identities and form meaningful communities; and by expanding resources and opportunities that engage families with young children in Jewish life in creative and dynamic ways.

Build & Strengthen Jewish Life in Emerging Communities, by supporting programs that build internal leadership and develop programs that deepen Jewish identity in Central and Eastern Europe.

Please note that the Foundation does not fund projects in, or about, Israel.

Types of Grants Available

Grants are available for general operating and project support, especially for innovative approaches and new initiatives. We are particularly interested in emphasizing long-term impact, encouraging organizational sustainability, and investing in systems-building to strengthen fields. Requests for capital and endowment grants are generally not accepted, but the Trustees may initiate such grants at their discretion.

The Charles H. Revson Foundation operates grant programs in Urban Affairs, Jewish Life, Biomedical Research, and Education.

Education Grant Program

The Education program supports institutions and projects that seek to provide broad access to knowledge, information, and resources that sustain an informed and engaged citizenry.

Areas of focus include supporting innovation in access to digital and online materials in public libraries, bolstering the financial and editorial capacities of ethnic and community news publications, encouraging the education and participation of students as discerning readers of news media, and strengthening college and postgraduate fellows who are pursuing careers in the public interest.

About

The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), a nonprofit organization with offices in New York, Israel and Germany, secures material compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world.

Founded in 1951 by representatives of 23 major international Jewish organizations, the Claims Conference negotiates for and disburses funds to individuals and organizations and seeks the return of Jewish property stolen during the Holocaust.

Guidelines for Holocaust Research, Education & Documentation

• Projects must be about the persecution of Jews by the Nazis and/or their collaborators, or its consequences.
• The start date of the project must be at least 8 months after the application deadline.
• The grantee is responsible for securing the remaining sources of matching funding.
• Expenses are paid out on a reimbursement basis. Expenses are reimbursed provided:
• they were expended during the grant period;
• they were in the pre-approved budget; 
• they are accompanied by proof of expenditure. This includes proof of matching funds.

The Kaplun Foundation Youth Board is an initiative of the Morris J. & Betty Kaplun Foundation. The Youth Board, established in 2019, gives high school first-year college students an opportunity to learn about concepts of Jewish philanthropy, explore Jewish values, dive into grant making, and review and analyze grant proposals during a series of online board meetings over a school year. 

Each year, a new youth board develops its mission statement, issues a Request for Proposals and determines how to distribute $5,000 of the Foundation’s funds to one or more nonprofit organizations. We are thrilled to partner for the third year in a row with Honeycomb (formerly the Jewish Teen Funders Network), which developed the curriculum and facilitates the program.

2021-22 Request for Proposals

The 2021-22 Morris J. & Betty Kaplun Foundation Youth Board invites eligible nonprofit organizations to submit grant proposals that align with its mission, below. The Youth Board will award $5,000 in total, to one or more organizations doing work in the areas of education or literacy for youth.

MISSION STATEMENT

Guided by the Jewish values of lovingkindness and justice the 2021-22 Morris J. & Betty Kaplun Foundation Youth Board seeks to support organizations that promote education and literacy for youth. The board’s goal is to help young people from any background connect to and learn about community-based social justice needs, and gain access to resources and opportunities to promote career development.

Nonprofit organizations in the United States and elsewhere are encouraged to submit proposals, using the Youth Board’s online submission portal on this web page.

Roberta and Phil married in 1954 and, together, the couple became quiet philanthropists, focusing much of their charitable giving on nonprofit organizations in and around the Muskogee area. After Phil’s death in 1981, five charitable trusts were established to ensure their legacy would live on. After Roberta's death in 1985, her daughter, Miriam Freedman, continued administering the trusts.

In 2013, after overseeing the family’s foundation for more than 30 years, Miriam transferred the Kirschner Trusts to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Today, the Kirschner Trusts award grants to charitable organizations that support causes important to the family.

Funding areas

Jewish Education, Culture & Heritage

Goal:  To support Jewish organizations that provide:

• Social services, counseling and education specifically targeted to children and young adults (ages 0 - 24) of Jewish heritage.
• Public understanding related to Jewish religion and cultural heritage.

Educational & Vocational Opportunities for Children & Young Adults with Disabilities

Goal: To support organizations that provide children and young adults living with disabilities (ages 0 - 24) educational and vocational opportunities that contribute to their independence and self-sustainability.

If you plan to apply under this funding category, please note the following:

• Social services are beyond the scope of this grant program unless they specifically contribute to independent living.
• Applicants may only request program/project-based support. Requests for General Operating Support will not be considered.

Eastern Oklahoma Charitable Organizations

Goal: To support organizations that are meeting the social, economic and educational needs of their communities.