OVERVIEW: The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation, also known as the Jim Joseph Foundation, makes grants for the support and development of high quality Jewish learning experiences.
IP TAKE: The sole focus of the Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation centers on excellence in Jewish education towards which this funder invests millions each year in cultural, educational and religious programming for Jewish communities around the U.S.
Grantseekers that provide religious and/or cultural education to Jewish children, teens or young adults, as well as those involved in teacher development, are likely to catch this funder’s attention. Giving is national in scope, with a slight preference for the Bay Area.
While the Joseph Foundation is not accessible, grantseekers may send one-page letters of inquiry to the foundation via mail. Information about staff and board members is also available at the foundation’s website. It’s a supportive and approachable foundation, so reach out with questions.
PROFILE: Established in 2006, the Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation (commonly known as the Jim Joseph Foundation) is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Jim Joseph was a dedicated Jewish philanthropist who cared passionately about the education of Jewish children, youth and young adults. He was also the founder and president of a real estate development company. The foundation aims to “foster compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews.” Strategic priorities for the foundation involve powerful Jewish learning experiences, supporting exceptional Jewish leaders and educators and research and development for the future of Jewish learning. All foundation giving revolves around the Jewish faith and education.
Grants for Jewish Causes and Education
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation’s grantmaking combines its deep commitment to Judaism with specific goals for improving and enhancing Jewish learning opportunities for young people. The foundation’s giving centers specifically on strengthening and growing “powerful Jewish learning experiences,” development and training of “leaders and educators who are attuned to the needs of young people today” and “research and development for the future of Jewish learning.” Grantmaking spans religious education, Jewish schools, rabbinical training, cultural enrichment and higher education programs in Jewish studies and history. One recent grantee, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, used funding to run programs that train teachers and counselors to teach children in various religious and cultural programs at schools, synagogues and other Jewish community organizations. Another grantee, Upstart, received several millions in multiyear support to develop “a full-service incubator and accelerator intermediary serving Jewish social entrepreneurs and innovators as they launch experimental new organizations and initiatives for the Jewish community.” The foundation has also made recent grants to Jewish women’s organization At the Well, Jewish education studies at George Washington University, the Jewish Studio Project, which celebrates the creative expression of Jewish spirituality, and Hillel International, which supports Jewish life at colleges and universities worldwide.
Important Grant Details:
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation gave away about $75 million in grants in a recent year. Its average grant size was about $25,000, but recent grants have topped $3 million in cases of large-scale, multiyear initiatives for Jewish education. Grantmaking is entirely focused on Jewish causes, and most grantees work nationally with Jewish communities across the U.S. A few grantees are U.S.-based organizations that work in Israel. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s searchable grants database.
Although the Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding, grantseekers may submit one-page letters of inquiry by mail. Email addresses for some of the foundation’s staff members are available at the foundation’s team page. General inquiries may be submitted to the foundation via its contact page.
PEOPLE:
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