About Our Grants

Applying for a Grant

UJA-Federation of New York awards grants to work toward our mission of caring for those in need, strengthening the Jewish people, and inspiring a passion for Jewish life and learning. Our mission is broad, and we carefully assess how our grants can be used most effectively. In consultation with key stakeholders — including volunteer leadership, agency professionals, and others in the community — UJA-Federation develops strategic goals and directions.

Based on these directions, a task force or committee associated with one of our four grantmaking commissions will develop a grantmaking program. We take varied approaches to our work, including supporting a network of agencies as well as funding direct services, model development, research, conferences, and evaluation.

Typically, a committee will issue a request for proposals, or RFP, and interested agencies are invited to submit applications. In other cases, the task force may invite specific agencies and organizations they believe are best suited to apply. The task forces and committees then review the applications and make recommendations based on their respective set of criteria. Once the governing body of the commission, usually the cabinet, approves these recommendations, they are passed on to the Board of Directors for their approval.

Our Grantmaking Process

If your submission falls within one of our areas of interest, your proposal will be reviewed by the relevant task force. You should be aware that our funds are limited in relation to the large number of worthwhile proposals we typically receive. Task forces look for new ideas and effective organizations that can help advance work in a particular area, as well as for evidence that the organizations are likely to succeed in their project.

Grants are typically made for one year in alignment with our fiscal year, July 1st through June 30th. Most programs allow agencies to request at least two years of renewal funding, although it depends entirely on the discretion of a particular task force. Given the variety of issues that we address, you should be aware that each area may have particular application requirements. Applicants can expect to receive a response within six weeks, but the process can take longer depending on its complexity.

What We Fund and Don’t Fund

Grant recipients must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. They should be charitable, educational, or scientific, as defined under the appropriate provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations. In addition to ensuring appropriate use of our grant funds, we have extensive procedures for making and monitoring grants.

UJA-Federation is recognized as a public charity, with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. To preserve this special status, UJA-Federation is subject to strict prohibitions against participation in political activities, and is precluded from supporting or opposing any candidate for elective public office. UJA-Federation must avoid even the appearance of engaging in partisan politics; any breach of this prohibition can have severe consequences for the organization, including loss of tax-exempt status.