Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Community Priorities Grant Request for Proposals (RFP)

MISSION: Cultivate Resources, connect people and collaborate across the community to live and fulfill Jewish values. 

VISION: A flourishing Jewish community where everyone feels included, supported and inspired. 

To meet the Federation’s mission and vision, it will invest in grants that support two priority areas: 

• Engaging Young Adults: Create or strengthen opportunities for Jewish young adults (ages 22-45) and their families, as well as emerging young adults (ages 18-22) to explore and connect to each other, their Judaism and/or Jewish identity and community. 
  • The intended impact of this priority is to cultivate a sense of Jewish identity so that young adults feel connected to our community, and that it continues to thrive. 
  • Achieves one or more of the following outcomes:  
    • Create new, or strengthen existing, safe spaces for Jewish young adults to build community that results in stronger pride in their Jewish identity. 
    • Create more innovative and creative opportunities for deepening Jewish knowledge, connection and engagement around rituals, history, etc. for young adults and their families. 
    • Increase training opportunities for professionals in Jewish organizations that build confidence and capacity so that the ever-changing needs of young adults, and their families, are supported. 
    • Fills a specific need within the young adult Jewish community.  
• Addressing antisemitism: Empower Jewish and non-Jewish allies to act against antisemitism (as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) through increased understanding, education, advocacy and collaboration. 
  • The intended impact of this priority is to ensure members of the greater Pittsburgh Jewish community feel empowered to live, celebrate and engage in Jewish life safely and publicly; and increase awareness of non-Jews about antisemitism to foster allyship and public support.
  • Achieves one or more of the following outcomes: 
    • Increase number of allies, or grows established coalitions, that work together to address antisemitism. 
    • Contribute to greater collaboration and communication among organizations in the Jewish and non-Jewish communities that address antisemitism. 
    • Create more advocacy for causes that support the Jewish community, including but not limited to the adoption of the IRHA definition of antisemitism in Jewish and non-Jewish spaces. 
    • Provide additional education about Jewish inclusion in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives across school levels and more education about modern antisemitism. 
    • Increase pride in being Jewish through additional trainings, capacity building and resources for Jewish community members. 
    • Improve in overall physical and psychological safety and security for Jewish communities.

FAQs 

• Why is the Federation only issuing requests for proposals for those two priorities? 
  • As part of the Federation’s recent strategic plan, we are focusing on deepening our grantmaking impact on topical issues that have arisen in the community. In the summer and fall of 2023, the Federation staff met with stakeholders about the top issues that are facing our community. There were six issues that rose to the top. Because of our existing investments in the other four areas, the decision was made to carry out a limited open request for proposals (RFP) process with just Young Adult Engagement and Addressing Antisemitism. We will continue to fund Jewish education, camps, human services, etc. through the Federation Community Campaign.  
• Who can apply? 
  • Any Jewish 501c3 organization located in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland Counties.  
• Will there be preferences given to applicants? 
  • Yes. The following preference will be given: 
    • Any organization that holds a majority of its endowment dollars with the Federation Foundation. 
    • Any application that collaborates with another organization, whether Jewish or non-Jewish.  
    • Any application for a program that is data informed, evidence-based or evidence-informed.  
    • Any application that focuses on innovation, or an innovative enhancement or expansion of an existing program.  
• Can my organization apply if it received a Community Campaign allocation or a grant from the Federation in the past? 
  • Yes. 
• How much can my organization apply for? 
  • The Federation will make grants no less than $10,000.  
• Can my organization apply for multi-year funding? 
  • Yes, but only a few of these grants will be made as we are testing this funding model. 
• Will there be other opportunities for grants? 
  • Yes. We will release dates for our 2025-2026 cycles this summer.
  • The Federation also has year-round small grant opportunities through SteelTree, micro engagement grants, Jewish Life and Learning micro grants.
• Can my organization apply for more than one grant? 
  • Yes, but only one submission per priority area.  
• Can I apply for ongoing operations?  
  • Yes, if they meet the relevant priority's intended impact.  
• I received funding in the first cycle, can I reapply?
  • Yes, but it has to be for a different project.
• I applied in the first cycle, but did not receive funding. Can I reapply?
  • Yes, but we strongly encourage you to speak to a member of the Federation staff to get their feedback and coaching on your application.
• What are some examples of projects that could get funded?
  • $20,000 for a collaborative project between three young adult serving organizations to provide holiday materials and food for young adults with young children to celebrate and learn about Jewish holidays. 
  • $15,000 to a day school to create more programming for parents of day school students to engage with each other, and the community at large, through a partnership with a non-Jewish non-profit organization. 
  • $20,000 to create a task force at a university to address the harmful impact of rising antisemitism on campus and to ensure that protection, respect and belonging extends to everyone.   
• What does a successful application look like? 
  • It will answer all the questions on the application clearly and share outcomes on how the program will move the needle on the relevant priority. 
• Who makes the decisions? 
  • There will be committees of dedicated community volunteers that will review the proposals and make recommendations to the Federation Board of Directors that will approve the grants.  
• Will I have to present my application to the committee? 
  • No, but you are welcome to have conversations with Federation staff members in advance of applying.   
  • If awarded, grantees will be asked to invite the members of the grantmaking committee to visit the program at a site visit.  
• What is the timeline for grant approval? 
  • February 24: Application portal open.
  • February 24 – March 14: Weekly office hours available for grantees to meet with Federation staff. 
  • March 30: Deadline for grant applications. 
  • March 31 – April 28: Federation staff may be in touch with applicants with questions, or potential collaboration opportunities with other applicants.
  • May 2 – May 18: Grantmaking committees review applications. 
  • May 27 – June 11: Grantmaking committees meet to make recommendations. 
  • July 10: Board makes grantmaking decisions. 
  • July 11: Applicants are notified. 
• Whom do I contact if I have questions? 
  • For general questions about the grant application - Ilene Rinn: irinn@jfedpgh.org 
  • If you are applying for "Addressing Antisemitism" grants - Lily Wein: lwein@jfedpgh.org 
  • If you are applying for "Young Adult Engagement" grants - Shelly Parver: sparver@jfedpgh.org
  • For technical support - Sarah Worthington: sworthington@jfedpgh.org