2021 Listening Sessions

In advance of JWF’s 2021 Grant Cycle, we hosted two listening sessions. Our goal was to understand the needs of both individuals and organizations in our community, with the hope that our grantmaking will respond to these issues.

In our first session, we were pleased to welcome Steve Ingber (Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit), David Contorer (Hebrew Free Loan), and Katie Brisson (Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan) to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted organizations supporting our community. We discussed what to expect as we recover from the pandemic, the importance of supporting nonprofit capacity and infrastructure, and how we can partner with other funders to increase our impact. View the recording here. (Passcode: 3P@zX48N)

In our second session, Rabbi Ariana Silverman (Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue), Cheryl Bergman (Michigan Women’s Commission), Cheryl Berlin (Hebrew Free Loan), and Susan Gertner (National Council of Jewish Women, MI) joined us to discuss the needs of women. We discussed how the pandemic has shined a light on pre-existing issues for women, including economic security, domestic violence, and mental well-being. View the recording here. (Passcode: #SnH08?c)

We look forward to incorporating these lessons into our next grants cycle! Check back on June 1 for our official 2021 grant guidelines.