March 17, 2009

(San Francisco, CA) – In response to the current economic crisis, the Jim Joseph Foundation is committing $11 million for emergency education grants for young Jewish people in five communities over the next two years. The funding, to be administered by local Jewish federations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and in Boston and the North Shore, is to provide needs-based scholarships and tuition subsidies for children attending Jewish day and high schools, Jewish early childhood schools and programs, and Jewish residential summer camps.

The emergency grants, half of which will be distributed to the various federations almost immediately, bring to over $142 million the total grant making of the Joseph Foundation in its three short years since its inception as a private foundation.

“This is a critical economic time,” says foundation president Alvin Levitt, “and a critical response to an emergency situation. To the greatest extent possible, these grants are meant to make the difference between kids being able to afford to go to Jewish school and camp – and not going.”

Foundation leaders say the grants were made with the goal of stabilizing school and camp enrollment at a time when the falling economy has put many in jeopardy. One of the few terms and conditions placed on the grants is that these monies may not be used to facilitate and then replace similar reductions in educational funding by the various federations.

The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties will be awarded a grant of up to $1.75 million for each of the next two fiscal years for the San Francisco, East Bay, and Silicon Valley federated communities (or up to $3.5 million total); the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles will be awarded a similar grant of up to $1.25 million each year (or up to $2.5 million total); the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, DC will also be awarded a grant of up to $1.25 million each year (or also up to $2.5 million); the Combined Jewish Philanthropies will be awarded a grant of up to $1 million each year for Boston (or up to $2 million); and the Jewish Federation of the North Shore will be awarded a grant of up to $250,000 for each of the next two years for the North Shore, north of Boston (or up to $500,000 total).

Each community will make its own decisions on local allocations.

“We chose the federations to administer the grants because of their core competency and established capacity,” says Charles “Chip” Edelsberg, executive director of the Jim Joseph Foundation. “But we’ve also insisted on lay oversight committees to help us find the greatest demonstrated need in each community, those who would otherwise have to withdraw from school or camp, if not for this kind of assistance,” he said.

“These are most certainly needs-based grants,” Edelsberg continued, “over and above what these fine communities are already doing, but at a time when need appears to be at an unprecedented level.”

Foundation board members echoed Edelsberg, describing the grants as “on-mission” for the Foundation, but “atypical” of its usual grant making modus operandi. Levitt says the Jim Joseph Foundation more typically works in a very deliberate fashion as a “strategic grant maker.” “We make fewer grants, but over longer periods of time and with more money” than many other foundations do, Levitt says. “But this is a coordinated response to a well-documented emergency situation. We don’t have a crystal ball.”

Levitt also said the foundation board and professional staff sought to make their $11 million announcement something of a challenge to other foundations – particularly family foundations and individuals – to step up at a unique time. Nearly all foundations are struggling with diminished resources but are faced with greater needs, he says.

“People are scared,” proclaims Levitt.  “Private foundations have an obligation to step up – at least proportionally to their assets.  But it doesn’t have to be in Jewish education, as we’ve done,” he said.  “It could be to help the elderly – or the poor.  This is a critical time and people are in real need.  If not now, when?” he asked.

The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation, commonly known as the Jim Joseph Foundation, is committed to the legacy of its founder, Jim Joseph, z”l. The Foundation is devoted exclusively to supporting education of Jewish youth.

Jim Joseph was a dedicated Jewish philanthropist who cared passionately about the education of Jewish children, youth, and young adults.  He believed that focusing on young people was the best way to preserve a strong Jewish faith and proud heritage, thereby ensuring success of the Jewish people for the future.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors and its foundation professionals are building on the philanthropic mission that Jim Joseph pursued – to foster compelling effective learning experiences for young Jews in the United States.  In accordance with Jim Joseph’s view, the Foundation recognizes that Jewish learning takes place in a multitude of settings, including but not limited to day schools, camps, youth groups, congregations, college campuses, service learning experiences, community centers, and the like.

“This is exactly what Jim would have wanted us to do,” says Levitt, the Foundation’s president and also a long-time Jim Joseph friend and advisor.  “If we don’t do this now, these kids simply aren’t going to go to Jewish school and Jewish camp.  And that’s not acceptable.”

For more information please contact:
- Steve Rabinowitz, 202.265.3000

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