Organizations that seek to integrate the Jewish LGBT community into the wider Jewish community, a day school geared to the needs of Jewish children with learning disabilities, and initiatives for Russian-speaking Jews in the United States are among recipients of 2015-16 grants from the Natan Fund, known as Wall Street’s giving circle.
The New York-based group, which got its start among young entrepreneurs and financiers, announced on Tuesday its 46 grants, which total $1.2 million.
The recipients, “cutting-edge Jewish and Israeli nonprofit organizations and social entrepreneurs” in North America, Israel, Argentina, Austria, Sweden and the United Kingdom, include:
Eshel http://www.eshelonline.org/, which “works for the inclusion of [LGBT Jews] in the Orthodox community.”
The Shefa School, in Manhattan, a day school for students with language-based learning disabilities.
G-dcast http://www.g-dcast.com/, a new media production company “that raises worldwide Jewish literacy.”
The Kitchen http://www.thekitchensf.org/, an “independent spiritual community,” in San Francisco that combines traditional life-cycle and holiday rituals with holiday programs.
Innovation: Africa, which brings sustainable Israeli technology to African villages.
and several organizations “that strengthen the Jewish identity of Russian-speaking Jews in North America,” including “small grants for urban renewal projects in Jerusalem.”
“Empowering Russian-speaking Jews to become philanthropists is critical to sustaining the vibrancy of Jewish communities around the world,” said Ilia Salita, CEO of the Genesis Philanthropy Group, whose members allocated matching funds for initiatives centered in the Russian-speaking community. “Giving circles like Natan are an excellent way to bring emerging philanthropists into a thoughtful experience of giving.”
This year marks The Natan Fund’s 12th round of grantmaking; since 2002, it has awarded $10.8 million in grants.
