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Since 2003, JWF has awarded over $2 million in grants to organizations that are actively making positive social change for self-identified women and girls in our community.
We appreciate your interest in applying for a grant from the Jewish Women's Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh. Before you proceed, please familiarize yourself with the following guidelines which may impact your eligibility. For questions or further clarification, please contact us.
Funding Priority and Grant Guidelines
FUNDING PRIORITY
JWF is interested in funding organizations that positively impact the lives of self-identified women and girls through a social change lens. Applicants must be able to describe how their organization is:
- Working toward long-term outcomes of social change in one or more of the following areas: Economic Empowerment, Education, Health, Legal Rights, and/or Personal Safety.
- Addressing one or more “Shifts of Social Change” described in the chart below.
| Indicator of Social Change |
Definition |
Typical Strategies/Activities |
Example |
| Shifts in definition |
An issue or idea is given new meaning. The community or society sees the issue differently as a result of your work. |
Research, documentation of actual experiences, articulating concepts through writing and/or presentations. |
Rape is understood as an act of violence with legal and civil consequences, not a sexual transgression. |
| Shifts in behavior |
People are behaving differently (and for the better) in the community or larger society, usually building a sense of personal empowerment. Includes shifts in behavioral health. |
Immediate support for individuals and families in need and/or for organizations serving immediate needs. |
An unhoused woman is provided supports and services (e.g. job coaching/counseling; financial literacy training; assistance with housing; mental health support) to become economically independent and empowered. |
| Shifts in engagement |
More people are engaged in an idea of action as a result of your work. Ideally, enough people get involved that they are noticed, voices are heard, and a “tipping point” is reached. |
Community-based organizing and public education; media campaigns; networking; supporting a group to find a collective strength or identity. |
A news report about gender inequality appears on the national news. Concerned citizens contact the organization to determine what they can do to help. |
| Shifts in policies |
Organizational, local, regional, state, national, or international policy or practice has changed to better serve social change ideals. |
Public policy reform, education and interaction with policy and system-level decision-makers. |
As a result of the work, an organization’s policy changes to allow for greater participation of women. |
| Current position maintained |
Earlier progress on issues is maintained in the face of opposition. |
Strengthen organizations and leaders and their ability to withstand backlash and resistance to change. |
Funding for breast cancer research is saved from budget cuts. |
GRANTS
Programmatic Grant: Up to $10,000
Programmatic Grants are intended to fund new or ongoing programs and are tied to specific program-based outcomes.
Operating Grant: Up to $10,000
General unrestricted operating grants provide support of an organization’s overall activities, including operating expenses and overhead. They are NOT program specific. They are intended to build capacity and strengthen the effectiveness of the organization.
Impact Programmatic Grants: Greater than $10,000 and up to $25,000
Available for Jewish community organizations and agencies only.
Jewish community organizations interested in submitting an Impact Grant application should first contact the Foundation.
NOTE: Organizations will be considered for funding on a year-to-year basis. Previous funding will not guarantee continued funding or preclude future funding.
| GRANT PERIOD: January 1 through December 31 |
| DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: TBA |
| ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: |
| Applicants Must: |
- Be an organization with their own 501(c)(3) tax status or with a fiscal agent who is a 501(c)(3).
- Operational Grants: Operate in Allegheny County, PA; or for Jewish community applications, throughout the state of Pennsylvania (priority will be given to Allegheny County, PA programs)
- Programmatic/Impact Grants: Facilitate the proposed program in Allegheny County, PA; or for Jewish community applications, throughout the state of Pennsylvania (priority will be given to Allegheny County, PA programs
- Support JWF’s mission and vision and address one or more of the “Shifts of Social Change” described in the chart above.
- Carefully review the application guidelines and be certain that the proposal aligns with JWF’s scope and priorities
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JWF Does Not Fund: |
- Capital campaigns
- Endowment funds
- Scholarships
- Political campaigns
- Hardware/ software or other similar forms of technology infrastructure
- Requests in which funds will be re-granted to other organizations
- Events, the proceeds thereof, that benefit other organizations
- Debt retirement or deficit funding
- Projects that typically are the responsibility of federal, state or local government
- Book publications (unless being published for sale to raise funds)
- Individuals
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| Click here for Grant Application Instructions |
DECISION MAKING
The trustees of the Foundation are the decision makers in all aspects of the grantmaking process. Through a collaborative process, trustees review the proposals and make the decision of which proposals will be funded by the Foundation and the level of funding the projects will receive. Proposals are evaluated on the following criteria: Mission Alignment/Social Change Impact, Methodology (for Programmatic Grants), Organizational Capacity, and Financial Health and Sustainability.
Note: JWF has limited discretionary funds and frequently receives requests for more funds than we have to grant. Therefore, there may be many exemplary applications that receive no funding. In these instances, we encourage organizations to request feedback on the decision.
QUESTIONS:
We encourage applicants to contact us before application preparation to address questions and receive guidance. |
Judy Cohen, Executive Director
jcohen@jwfpgh.org
Stevie Sheridan. Program Associate
ssheridan@jwfpgh.org |
View Funded Projects • Grant Application Instructions
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