We’re so glad you asked. Yes, we're a federation. It’s right there in our official name: UJA-Federation of New York.
A federation is a local community organization that brings people, nonprofits, and resources together to address shared needs. Jewish federations raise money, identify priorities, connect organizations, respond to crises, and invest in programs that help people locally, in Israel, and around the world.
We know it’s a lot. But that’s kind of the point.
Absolutely. And you should support the organizations and causes you care about. Your synagogue. A health issue that touched your family. We get it.
But no single nonprofit can see or address the full range of needs across an entire community. A federation takes the wide-angle view. We look across issues, neighborhoods, populations, and organizations to understand where needs are greatest, where resources are missing, and where a coordinated response can make the biggest difference. And when one issue becomes especially urgent, UJA can direct more resources there.
Think of it as both the bird’s-eye view and the on-the-ground view. We like views.
We don’t go it alone.
We work with hundreds of nonprofit partners locally and overseas that bring deep expertise and trusted relationships to the communities they serve. We carefully vet these organizations to make sure they use resources responsibly and effectively. UJA provides funding, strategy, research, connections, and other resources that help strengthen their work.
And when we identify a need that no single organization is equipped to address, we help create a new response. For example, we created UJA’s Community Security Initiative with our partner JCRC-NY as antisemitic threats grew more complex and Jewish institutions needed a coordinated approach to security. Today, it provides security expertise, intelligence, training, and support to thousands of Jewish institutions across the New York area.
We do our homework.
UJA’s professionals and volunteer leaders study data, commission research, consult experts, listen to our nonprofit partners, and — most importantly — talk to the people and communities directly affected.
That helps us understand not only what’s making headlines, but also what may be going unnoticed.
Because our community rarely faces just one challenge at a time. And there are also competing opportunities that can’t wait.
UJA is helping families afford food and housing while strengthening security at Jewish institutions. We’re responding to crises in Israel while also investing in Jewish education, leadership, and belonging here in New York.
We’re looking at short-term and long-term needs at the same time — addressing what’s urgent today while making sure our community is strong and prepared for tomorrow.
UJA can move quickly. Really quickly.
Because we already have strong relationships with nonprofit partners, community leaders, and experts in New York, Israel, and around the world, we don’t have to start from scratch when an emergency strikes.
We can assess what’s needed, mobilize donors, direct resources, work with government, and coordinate a response — often while the rest of us are still refreshing the news. We did it during the pandemic. When war broke out in Ukraine. Right after 10/7. And 9/11.
We know crisis well.
One gift to UJA can help an older adult afford groceries, protect a Jewish school, support a family in crisis, rebuild a community in Israel, create meaningful Jewish experiences on college campuses, and respond to an emergency that none of us saw coming. Yes, just one gift.
Think of it as one gift with a very ambitious to-do list.