Thanks to our generous donors, Federation and Foundation work to support, sustain, and revitalize Jewish life here at home and around the world. Your contribution is what makes everything possible, enabling us to meet the needs of people in ways no other organization can or will.
Goodness is not a single act. It’s the sum of many parts. Which is why Federation and Foundation are always at work, powering the Jewish community in ways you might not think of, in places you’d never suspect. We’re there in times of crisis, sowing the seeds of hope. We’re there to create connections and encourage philanthropy throughout our community. We’re there, acting on the Jewish traditions and values that unite us in standing up against intolerance and protecting those who are vulnerable.
Right now, thousands of people need us in a multitude of ways. Together, we are creating a safer, more just world for everyone.
THANK YOU.
Guided by the Jewish values of tzedakah (charity), chesed (loving kindness), tikkun olam (repairing the world), and klal yisrael (the unity of the Jewish people), we are dedicated to building and sustaining a vibrant and inclusive local Jewish community, and to supporting Jewish life in the East Bay, Israel, and throughout the world.
We fulfill our mission in two ways: by grantmaking to our organizational partners and providing community services to support and enhance Jewish life in the East Bay.
Federation and Foundation also directly provide a variety of community services. These services include programs and initiatives that enhance Jewish education, connect families to Jewish community, strengthen relationships with Israel, convene the community for remembrance and celebration, encourage and power philanthropy, and make Jewish life affordable.
We engage youth and families through Jewish life and learning.
We care for the vulnerable here, in Israel, and around the world.
We build Jewish community and peoplehood.
Educating the next generation – We invest in education through financial aid at Jewish day schools and programming at Berkeley Hillel, Urban Adamah, and Wilderness Torah.
Reaching out to families – Through Sprout, we connect families with young children to Jewish life in the East Bay. Our Sprout Grants encourage families to take their first step into formal organized Jewish life. We send free, Jewish books every month to children in the East Bay age six-months to eleven-years-old.
Supporting youth programs – We provide financial aid so East Bay kids and teens can form lifetime memories and friendships at Jewish summer camp. We empower teens to grow as leaders and take pride in their Jewish identity through programs provided by BBYO, midrashot (Hebrew High School), and NCSY.
Cultivating thoughtful family philanthropy – We help funders choose the best vehicles for their family giving and involve their children in their gift planning, helping to create a generation-to-generation tradition of giving.
Ann and Samba live in Richmond with their two boys, Abdu (age 4) and Youssou (age 2). Ann was born in Oakland and raised Jewish and Samba is from Senegal and was raised Muslim.
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When Liora Brosbe saw that the Houston chapter of PJ Library was requesting books for their families, she jumped into action.
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As a high school junior, Lia was looking for an opportunity to connect with Jewish friends and make the world a better place. When she found the Teen Philanthropy Board, now called the Hamsa Fund, at Contra Costa Midrasha, it was a great fit.
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Providing aid, food, and medicine – Through our support of Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay, we care for vulnerable Holocaust survivors in the East Bay. We also provide domestic violence prevention, education, and intervention programs with Shalom Bayit.
Fostering Jewish identity and enriching Jewish lives – Around the world, where Jewish expression has been suppressed, we rebuild community infrastructure, help Jews reconnect with their heritage, and empower the next generation of promising young Jewish leaders. In Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Caribbean, we help burgeoning synagogues and groundbreaking community centers. At workshops, retreats, and summer and winter camps, we support thousands of young Jews as they forge new paths for their communities.
Responding in times of crisis and opportunity – We give a lifeline for Jews and non-Jews in distress everywhere from Oakland to Haifa. Whether it’s missiles raining down on Israel’s south, a violent conflict in Ukraine, or a fire in the North Bay, we are there to help build — and rebuild — Jewish life.
The home Judi and Roger shared with their four sons in Houston had never been flooded before — neither had their street — and they were unprepared for just how quickly the effects of Hurricane Harvey would devastate their homes and lives.
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Shiran is from a working-class neighborhood in Akko, Israel. After her grandmother died tragically, she closed herself off. Mirit spent many hours with Shiran, encouraging her to join team building activities, helping her with homework, studying for tests with her, and eventually, bringing Shiran to overnight camp.
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When Vera moved to the Bay Area with her five-year-old, it wasn’t by choice; she was running from her abusive husband, who was chasing her across 3,000 miles. She had nothing, knew nobody, and had nowhere to turn to for help.
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Creating a culture of generosity – We train Jewish organizations throughout the East Bay to engage donors, steward supporters, and build a culture of giving in their communities.
Making Jewish organizations more inclusive – We bolster Jewish institutions’ accessibility to families and children with special needs, support LGBTQ professionals working in Jewish organizations through Keshet, and encourage Jews of color to engage in the community through Bechol Lashon.
Creating connections with Israel – We send East Bay young adults on a Birthright Israel trip every summer to strengthen their Jewish identities and build connections with Israel. Working with our partners from Dror Israel, we foster relationships between Jewish communities in the East Bay and in Israel.
Training Jewish educators and leaders – We provide professional development for Jewish educators, and secure the Jewish future by empowering people to take charge of their Jewish lives and be leaders for their communities.
Encouraging innovation – We help people in our community to explore earth-based Judaism, Jewish environmental justice, and create their own experimental communities and programs through Urban Adamah, Wilderness Torah, and Moishe House.
Ensuring our partners’ future through legacy giving – Through Create a Jewish Legacy, we provide East Bay Jewish organizations with the training, motivation, and support to cultivate legacy gifts from their donors. These gifts will become endowment funds, ensuring the organizations serve the community for generations to come.
As this country reckons with a newly-ascendant Nazi fringe — grimly manifested during the hate rally in Charlottesville that killed three people and left vulnerable communities reeling — East Bay residents of all faiths and backgrounds are taking a stand for the spirit of inclusion that feels increasingly under threat nationwide.Read more…
It has been a week since I got back from Israel. I’m mostly recovered from exhaustion and jetlag, so I want to take this chance to share some final thoughts.
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When Ellie moved to the East Bay, she knew she wanted to live in a Moishe House, which supports peer-led, home-based Jewish engagement for young adults.
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At Federation and Foundation, we bring together like-minded people who are invested in building a better world through the core Jewish values of compassion, justice, and learning.
We build a stronger community by helping donors make a bigger difference. Using a highly personalized approach, we match donors with tax-friendly giving vehicles that help them best support the causes that are most important to them. We manage charitable investments that maximize long-term impact. And we provide oversight of legacy gifts and endowment funds, ensuring that donors’ wishes are honored in perpetuity.
In 2017, our funders contributed $15.2 million to Foundation funds. We have about $130 million assets under management.
Donor Advised Fund – a charitable giving account with a high degree of flexibility and convenience
Supporting Foundation – a great alternative to a private family foundation, with better tax benefits and fewer constraints
Legacy Fund – a permanent source of funding created by your estate to continue your support of the causes you value, for the benefit of future generations
Endowment Fund – a permanent source of funding for a specific community need, chosen by you
Seymour “Sy” Lapporte has always understood that giving back is important. You could say it is a family thing — his grandmother would give money to hospitals during the Great Depression.
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Like all synagogues, Beverly’s congregation faces financial challenges. That’s one reason why Create a Jewish Legacy has been valuable.
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Jeff Kasowitz, co-founder of the Jewish Studio Project and recipient of the 2015 Fromer Award, has just released his first studio album, Arba’im Shanah(40 Years).
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