After pausing operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit has resumed its grantmaking, awarding over $220,000.
The grants span projects in health, education, senior services, and social justice, advancing gender equity in all facets of the Jewish community, and include an unprecedented $100,000 to the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit’s Covid Response Fund in an acknowledgement of the disproportionate burden that the pandemic has had on women. “The breadth of grants empowers women in every arena of Detroit’s Jewish community,” said Debra Singer, JWF Chair.
Through collective philanthropy, JWF Trustees work together to manage their endowment and provide funding that enhances the lives of Jewish women and girls. “Our trustees are actively engaged in all stages of the grantmaking process,” said Mara Moss, JWF Associate Chair. “JWF allows us to learn about philanthropy and become more involved in our community.”
Since 2000, the JWF has awarded more than $4 million in grants and special allocations for projects in Michigan and Israel. The JWF empowers women as leaders, advocates, and philanthropists.
2020 GRANTS: $222,700
Alzheimer’s Association: $9,500 to recruit and train Jewish volunteers to support caregivers for dementia patients.
Detroit Jews for Justice: $7,200 to strengthen the efficacy, resilience, and longevity of DJJ staff through leadership development and coaching.
Flint Jewish Federation: $10,000 in renewed funding to expand educational, social, nutritional, and transportation services for aging Russian-speaking Jews.
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit: $20,000 to provide early childhood educators and assistance stipends for mandated training, retaining these women in the workforce.
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit: $20,000 towards the School Inclusion Program, which provides an aide for children with learning, social, and emotional needs.
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit: $100,000 towards the COVID response fund, supporting agencies and individuals in pandemic relief efforts.
Jewish Senior Life: $19,600 to update Meer Apartments’ art room, hire an art therapist, and improve the visiting artist program.
Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County: $11,500 to establish a new initiative involving suicide prevention in Washtenaw County’s Jewish community.
L’dor V’dor Northern Michigan Consortium: $7,500 in renewed funding to support distance learning for bat mitzvah students in Northern Michigan and support the Consortium’s annual women and girls retreat.
Michigan State University Hillel: $10,000 as a challenge grant to continue the “Nefesh” wellness project and expand the program to a sixth campus
University of Michigan Hillel: $7,400 to support college-aged Jewish women in creating Jewish experiences on campus.
For information about the Jewish Women’s Foundation, visit www.jwfdetroit.org or contact Sigal Hemy, Director, at hemy@jfmd.org.