The Jewish Funders Network, a service organization for philanthropists, announced today the launch of a “Jewish Social Change Matching Fund” that will offer $1 million to Jewish social change organizations and projects.
The pool will match either first-time or increased gifts by new or existing JFN members to organizations that meet a range of eligibility criteria. Priority will be given to groups with annual operating budgets of under $5 million who are doing ongoing projects instead of one-time efforts.
The potential for support seems bigger than other matching opportunities for social justice organizations, said Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, the director of North American programs for T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.
Gifts of between $15,000 and $50,000 will be matched at a ratio of one to one, while gifts greater than that will receive a $50,000 match as well.
“Sometimes really good justice work falls outside the specific funding priorities of existing mechanisms for whatever reason, and the Fund will enable the donors who are funding that work to see their support magnified,” Rabbi Kahn-Troster said.
The funds will be awarded in two rounds; the first application deadline is Nov. 6 and the second is April 28.
JFN is offering the fund in partnership with the Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation, the Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Naomi & Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, the Dorot Foundation, the Walter & Elise Haas Fund and the Righteous Persons Foundation.
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