UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK REPORT OF GRANTS AWARDED: 2014 – 2015 AWARDED: REPORT OF GRANTS YORK OF NEW UJA-FEDERATION The world’s largest local philanthropy, UJA-Federation of New York cares for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, connects people to their Jewish communities, and responds to crises — in New York, in Israel, and around the world. Main Office Regional Offices New York Long Island 130 East 59th Street 6900 Jericho Turnpike New York, NY 10022 Suite 302 212.980.1000 Syosset, NY 11791 516.762.5800 Overseas Office Israel Westchester 48 King George Street 701 Westchester Avenue Jerusalem, Israel 91071 Suite 203E 011.972.2.620.2053 White Plains, NY 10604 914.761.5100 Northern Westchester 27 Radio Circle Drive Mt. Kisco, NY 10549 914.666.9650 www.ujafedny.org COMBAT POVERTY, PROMOTE DIGNITY FOSTER HEALTH AND WELL-BEING CARE FOR THE ELDERLY SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS REPORT OF GRANTS AWARDED: STRENGTHEN ISRAELI SOCIETY 2014 - 2015 CONNECT JEWS WORLDWIDE DEEPEN JEWISH IDENTITY SEED INNOVATION CREATE AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .........................................................................................................................2 Jewish Communal Network Commission (JCNC) Executive Summary ................................................................................................. 3 Commission Membership List.................................................................................. 4 Fiscal 2015 Grants .................................................................................................... 6 Caring Commission (Caring) Executive Summary ................................................................................................15 Commission Membership List.................................................................................16 Fiscal 2015 Grants ...................................................................................................18 Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal (COJIR) Executive Summary ................................................................................................32 Commission Membership List.................................................................................33 Fiscal 2015 Grants ...................................................................................................35 Commission on the Jewish People (COJP) Executive Summary ................................................................................................45 Commission Membership List.................................................................................46 Fiscal 2015 Grants ...................................................................................................48 SYNERGY: UJA-Federation of New York and Synagogues Together Executive Summary ................................................................................................57 Commission Membership List.................................................................................58 Fiscal 2015 Grants ...................................................................................................59 National and International Executive Summary ................................................................................................60 Fiscal 2015 Grants ...................................................................................................61 Responding to Crisis Executive Summary ................................................................................................62 Fiscal 2015 Grants ...................................................................................................63 Venture Groups and Special Projects Executive Summary ................................................................................................65 Fiscal 2015 Grants ...................................................................................................66 Cross-Divisional Committees Executive Summary ................................................................................................75 Cross-Divisional Committees List ...........................................................................76 Fiscal 2015 Grants ...................................................................................................77 Fiscal 2015 Grants by Agency: Summary ...........................................................................78 Fiscal 2015 Grants by Agency: Full Listing… .............................................................………86 Named Endowments and Spending Funds ...................................................................... 131 1 INTRODUCTION “The Report of Strategic Directions and Grants” is a comprehensive record of all funds allocated during the 2014 – 15 fiscal year. In total, UJA-Federation of New York distributed $147,695,323 in core, unrestricted grants to a network of nearly 100 nonprofits, and nearly 1,138 strategic, targeted grants to grassroots organizations, day schools, and other eligible nonprofit organizations. Every grant is made through the lens of our mission to care for people in need, strengthen Jewish communities, and inspire a passion for Jewish life and learning. We aim to build a modern day kehilah, a community rich in Jewish identity and steeped in Jewish values. Our annual grantmaking is how values translate into action, supporting proven solutions and forward-thinking initiatives to meet emerging needs in New York, in Israel, and in more than 70 countries around the world. What Guides Our Work Every year, our planning department, made up of teams of volunteers and staff, grapple with tough questions, engage in research, learn from experts in the field, and ultimately decide how to allocate resources for maximum impact. In 2015, our funding was concentrated on five distinct areas of priority: • Supporting and strengthening UJA-Federation’s network of agencies so they are best positioned to build inspired, caring, connected communities that exemplify collective responsibility and ignite Jewish journeys. • Strengthening our Jewish community by deepening and interweaving relationships among agencies, synagogues, day schools, and grassroots Jewish organizations. • Continuing to provide critical services at the institutions where Jews gather — schools, synagogues, community centers — so that all Jews feel the embrace of the community. • Working with Israelis to strengthen Israel as an inclusive and diverse Jewish state. • Igniting and nurturing the Jewish journeys of teens, young adults, and beginning Jewish families through powerful and transformative Jewish experiences. How We Plan This past year, we focused on launching the first phase of a groundbreaking volunteer initiative, cultivating programs in Israel to build a more vibrant and inclusive Jewish state, and upgrading the agencies’ ability to be well-managed and well-governed. We’ve also introduced a new, internal department that has laid the groundwork for improved data collection, analysis, and assessment. An evaluation model has been developed specifically for UJA-Federation’s grantmaking process, with improved strategies and tools to streamline and standardize our ability to measure each grant’s ability to address the goals, objectives, and priorities set for the year. Bold thinking, planning, implementation, and evaluation guide us always. As we continue to learn from our grantees, and from new data from the field, we continually refine our approach so as to have the greatest impact where and when it’s needed most. It’s with pride and gratitude that we share this report, a reflection of our commitment to the highest degree of fiscal transparency and integrity. 2 JEWISH COMMUNAL NETWORK COMMISSION (JCNC) The Jewish Communal Network Commission champions excellence in UJA-Federation’s network of nearly 100 beneficiary agencies, helping those agencies become stronger, more resilient, and dynamic. To maximize agency impact, JCNC allocates the majority of its funds through core operating support — unrestricted funding that allows agencies to invest in key operational areas beyond programming — and a smaller pool for targeted capacity-building grants, and also provides pro bono consultative services. JCNC is responsible for the oversight of our network agencies to ensure financial stability and effective governance. Fulfilling the promise of a network, we connect member agencies to one another so they can share knowledge and leverage philanthropic dollars. As an additional community resource, JCNC connects individuals with services through the online and telephone J-1-1 Information and Referral Service. During the past year, we focused on developing a new model for assessing our network agencies’ impact, updated our Accountability Guidelines for the network, and launched our 21st Century Technology Initiative for JCCs. Efforts are currently underway to create new criteria and processes that will determine agency affiliation with UJA-Federation. Highlights of This Year’s Priorities and Impact: Priority 1: Improve Network Effectiveness By allocating targeted capacity-building grants to network agencies, JCNC aimed to enhance financial and operational management as well as technology and digital capabilities. This year, we launched the commission’s signature 21st Century Technology Initiative for JCCs. Ten JCCs benefitted from strategic technology planning and were awarded grants for projects, such as new servers and operating systems, installing