Investments

JVPF invests entrepreneurial resources and expertise in nonprofit organizations.

The fund has invested over $3.7 million in 58 organizations to date.

2023 Grantees (Funding Cycle XV)


Creative Community For Peace                           $75,000

CCFP combats anti-Israel, BDS and antisemitic behavior via direct education and community building within the entertainment industry. The organization uses its uniquely insider roster of executives and lay board members to inform its constituency and to impact high-profile artists for the benefit of Israel and the Jewish people. JVPF is funding the expansion of CCFP’s Vanguard Next-Gen Programming to NYC, Miami and Nashville, as well as support for the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance (BJEA).

Adamah                       $50,000

Adamah is focused on educating and mobilizing the Jewish community around the impacts of climate change. Adamah uses a combination of activism and education to bring a Jewish voice into climate change action. The organization was formed by a merger of twoJewish environmental groups (Hazon and the Pearlstone Center). JVPF is supporting Adamah’s and are looking to establish a foothold in Los Angeles (West Coast) by launching a city based program.

Nevet                              $75,000

Nevet’s mission is to feed underprivileged Israeli children to help create an equal playing field. Through donations and logistics, they set up a system to provide nutritious sandwiches to children in school. JVPF’s grant will help Nevet add new school and districts to the program and will support lower income municipalities that cannot provide funding for this program.

SparkIL      $75,000

SparkIL’s mission is to advance economic development in Israel’s periphery and multiethnic populations by arranging for zero interest loans to small businesses from social investors seeking to impact Israeli society. The platform targets lenders from Israel and around the world, particularly Young Jewish Americans, with the goal of increasing participation, involvement, and connection of young people to Israel. JVPF’s grant will support the hiring of a lender Engagement Manager who will target young people through social media marketing.

2022 Grantees (Funding Cycle XIV)


Michal Sela Forum                           $75,000

Michal Sela Forum (MSF) is dedicated to saving lives and combating domestic violence through innovation and technological solutions. The MSF emphasizes “out-of-the-box” thinking, personal entrepreneurship, responsibility, public awareness, and broad public awareness of identifying the warning signs for violence in relationships. JVPF is funding MSF’s first Chief Technology Officer position.

Our Big Kitchen L.A.                       $75,000

OBKLA combats hunger by providing meals, love, unity, and community. They are a community-run, industrial, kosher kitchen where volunteers prepare meals for distribution across Los Angeles nourishing people in need of food and volunteers in need of making a difference. OBKLA is a premier center in Los Angeles dedicated to producing volunteer-made meals for those in need, an educational center around the issues of food insecurity, social action, and the culture of Jewish food, and a community space. JVPF is funding OBKLA’s first full-time executive director position.

Chai Lifeline                              $75,000

Chai Lifeline West Coast is the regional division of Chai Lifeline, an international Jewish health support organization. Embodied in the ideals of compassion, kindness, and caring for others inherent in Jewish life, Chai Lifeline’s mission is to bring joy and hope and vital support to children, families and communities impacted by serious illness or loss. JVPF is funding the growth and expansion of Chai Lifeline’s i’Shine program by supporting the development of a fundraising plan for the program and by hiring an I-Shine coordinator who will expand the program to other states. i-Shine is an afterschool program for children whose lives have been disrupted by serious illness or the death of a sibling or parent. i-Shine creates an oasis of support where children receive the attention, positivity, and camaraderie they need to thrive. They are surrounded by other kids in similar situations who understand their struggle, as well as trained staff and high school volunteers who fill the room with energy and give each child the attention they need.

Fuenta Latina      $50,000

Fuente Latina (FL) breaks down geographical, cultural and linguistic barriers for Spanish-speaking media covering Israel, the Jewish world and the Middle East. FL empowers journalists and influencers with information and access to newsmakers to facilitate accurate coverage in real-time. JVPF is supporting Fuente Latina’s Activist Media project, which focuses on social media influencers – training them to produce content (both in terms of quality and editorial). JVPF funds would be used to build out their back-end technology, so they have a platform to service mainstream media organizations who can use the content

2021 Grantees (Funding Cycle XVIII)


RespectAbility                           $25,000

RespectAbility is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities, and that advances policies and practices that empower people with disabilities to have a better future. Our mission is to fight stigmas and advance opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.

Safe Parking L.A.                       $50,000

Safe Parking L.A. provides safe parking options for people experiencing homelessness in their vehicles. In Los Angeles County, there are over 15,700 persons living in 9100 vehicles (cars, vans, campers, and R.V.s) each night, per the L.A. County Homeless Count performed in January 2018. These vehicle dwellers represent over 25% of the population of people experiencing homelessness in LA County.

Tech Career                              $25,000

Tech- Career strives to break the employment barriers with which young Ethiopian Israelis are confronted and open a window of opportunity for socio-economic mobility, by paving the way into the competitive and lucrative high-tech industry. Our graduates acquire the skills and tools that enable them to attain high-level employment, manage professional careers with above average salaries and climb the socio-economic ladder. Tech-Career is the only organization that provides Ethiopian Israelis with a comprehensive service package of training, career preparation and job placement in high tech fields in great demand. Tech-Career graduates break the glass ceiling, make an impact on their families and community, and are the nucleus of a leadership group that is changing the image of Ethiopian Israelis in society.

Peace Players Middle East      $50,000

PeacePlayers Middle East engages over 500 Palestinian and Israeli youth each year, ages 6-25, in year-round and multi-year basketball training, conflict resolution education and leadership development activities in Israel and the West Bank, with its head office in Tel Aviv – Jaffa. Programs include: A network of joint basketball clubs that bring together children and youth, ages 6-14, for basketball and peace educational activities; Fully integrated competitive teams, composed of Arab and Jewish young women, ages 10-25, who play in the official Israeli basketball league; A leadership and capacity building program that grooms veteran participants into the coaches and leaders in the program and in their communities; A project that aims to scale PP-ME’s programs by engaging promising leader-athletes from the wider community to create pipelines to untapped communities; and, An initiative that seeks to re-engage and re-connect PP-ME’s alumni, by supporting and inspiring them to further PP-ME’s mission

2020 Grantees (Funding Cycle XVII)

Jewish Free Loan Association $45,000

Jewish Free Loan offers interest-free loans on a non-sectarian basis to individuals and families whose needs are urgent and who may not qualify through normal financial channels. Interest-free loans, instead of charity, fill an important gap in our social system by promoting self-sufficiency with dignity. The grant helped JFLA’s Covid-related Emergency Loan Fund to support individuals, families and small businesses impacted by COVID.

Jewish Family Service Los Angeles $45,000

Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles provides life-improving services that help the people of Los Angeles live with dignity and exercise self-determination. We believe in and strive for a more compassionate Los Angeles where no one has to navigate life alone. The grant helps support a child psychologist in a JFS-run domestic violence shelter, where demand for services increased significantly during COVID.

Food Forward $45,000

Food Forward is a Southern California organization on a mission to reduce food waste and increase access to healthy fruits and vegetables through food recovery. JVPF’s grant supports the Whole Food Recover Program which experienced a significant increase in demand during the first year of COVID.

Building Hope, Inc. $15,000

Build Hope, Inc (BHI) helps ensure that residents living in the city’s public housing developments receive the full social, health, educational and work opportunities to which they are entitled, and to enhance quality of life, through long-term academic and economic success. The initiative supports the City of Los Angeles’ Housing Authority to purchase a van to serve its programs for children, youth and low-income individuals living in the City’s Section 8 housing projects, services that were significantly strained during COVID.

2019 Grantees (Funding Cycle XVI)


Beit T’Shuva                              $50,000

Beit T’Shuvah is a treatment center and education institution dedicated to guiding individuals and families toward a path of living well in order to recover from addiction. Beit T’Shuvah is dedicated to using Jewish teachings, spiritual direction, psychotherapy, and the power of community to help individuals discover their passion and recover their purpose. JVPF is proud to support The Elaine Breslow Institute’s Spiritual Counseling Training Program (“SCTP”) educating Jewish religious educators and other professionals about addiction recovery and prevention. Specifically, this 18-month training program for Jewish clergy and professionals teaches them skills to counsel and support community members suffering from addiction through a Jewish lens.


Tzohar                              $50,000

Tzohar seeks to bridge the gap between secular and religious populations in Israel by strengthening the Jewish identity of secular Israelis with a transparent, apolitical agenda. It does so by providing religious services that both conform to Rabbinic law and afford secular Israelis access to Jewish life cycle experiences in an accommodating and non-judgmental manner. JVPF is proud to support the expansion of Tzohar’s program to introduce reform and competition in the sphere of kosher food supervision by funding the hiring of a business development professional to expand Tzohar’s kosher certification client base of restaurant and food service users in southern Israel.

Hand In Hand Schools                              $50,000

Hand in Hand Schools’ mission is to create a new norm of inclusiveness and cooperation among Jewish and Arab citizens, replacing the status quo of separation that results in social alienation, mistrust and fear, by continuing to create a network of integrated, bilingual and multicultural schools, and inclusive community programming. JVPF is proud to support the development of a Shared Society Educational Resource Center (“SSERC”) that will standardize and codify multicultural materials and will include: Arabic as a second language, a preschool curriculum on shared holidays (Jewish, Christian and Muslim), curriculum that explores the shred values found in the Hebrew Bible, the Koran and the New Testament and a teacher certification program at Hebrew University for Israeli public school teachers, among other elements.

2018 Grantees (Funding Cycle XV)

ChaiVillageLA                              $50,000

ChaiVillageLA is a unique communal and multi-generational system of mutual support, where village members design, implement and participate in services, resources and programming for themselves, enabling them to live healthier and more engaged lives. It is a vibrant, multi-synagogue, multi-generational community that enables congregants to age in place in their own homes by providing assistance to one another and enriching each other’s lives, as part of a self-governing village supported by Jewish values. It is the only synagogue-based village in the country today. JVPF’s investment in ChaiVillageLA will enable it to share its model with other local synagogues and provide guidance and support to those that wish to create their own unique villages.


Nochah-S.A.H.I. – Giving As a Way of Life                              $75,000

S.A.H.I. is based on a game-changing approach to rehabilitating at-risk youth. Rather than offering at-risk youth help, they ask them to help others in-need. In response, the youth form Youth Giving Units in their neighborhoods and become agents of giving and positive change in their own underserved communities, assisting hundreds of others in need. At the same time, the youth positively turn their own lives around, refraining from criminal activity, many graduating from school, enlisting in the IDF and becoming productive and caring members of society. Currently, S.A.H.I. runs 25 Youth Giving Units with over 750 at-risk youth that are active on a weekly basis in ‘good-doing’ throughout Israel. JVPF’s investment in S.A.H.I. allows them to hire a training center coordinator, to engage a consultant to open channels of government support, and to provide initial funding for digital content, thus enabling it to grow toward greater government support and funding and to increase the professionalism of the organization.

2017 Grantees (Funding Cycle XIV)

Hashomer Hachadash Youth Movement                              $45,000

Hashomer Hachadash Youth Movement was established in September 2016 with a vision to becoming one of the largest youth movements in Israel, connecting thousands of youth and people to the land, at dozens of sites throughout Israel. JVPF will partner with Hashomer Hachdash’s youth movement to enable it to become an independent entity and to expand the number of participants in various age groups and the number of “farm” site where youth will meet. With the JVPF grant HASHOMER HACHADASH YOUTH MOVEMENT will hire a Content Development and Training Manager, a key element to achieving the foregoing objectives

Gesher                              $45,000

Gesher is building a cohesive society in Israel that embraces the vibrancy, diversity and shared heritage of the Jewish people. Gesher’s expertise is in bridging the divide between religious and secular and, in recent years, it has made tremendous strides working with the Haredi community. JVPF’s matching grant is supporting a pilot project within Gesher to allow it to establish a presence in the Tel Aviv, the business center of Israel, that will serve as a hub for its cultural sensitivity training for employers. The training will prepare businesses to successfully employ and retain Haredi employees, thereby creating massive change in the Israeli employment sector and ultimately reducing poverty levels in the Haredi community.

Yotzmot Atid                              $40,000

Yotzmot Atid helps underprivileged Israeli women develop independent enterprises so they can become financially independent. It is the only framework in Israel that offers, gratis, a comprehensive set of tools, financial resources, guidance and practical and moral support to women to promote their financial independence. JVPF’s investment will support Yotzmot Atid’s micro-entrepreneurship program which provides micro-loans, as well as business training, mentoring, counseling, professional networking and other tools necessary for success. With 95% of it’s loans repaid and an 80% success rate for the micro-businesses it has helped women launch, Yotzmot Atid is providing the means by which underprivileged women and their families can become self-sustaining.

2016 Grantees (Funding Cycle XIII)

Jewish Women International                              $50,000

JWI’s Young Women’s Leadership Network brings together Jewish professional women in their 20s and 30s to grow as leaders in their workplaces, their communities and their personal lives. The YWLN connects members to a network of inspiring role models from a diversity of fields and encourages them to be great by doing good. Building on JWI’s financial literacy expertise and commitment to preventing domestic violence, YWLN monthly programs include economic security and healthy relationship offerings. JVPF’s investment in YWLN will bring the program to Los Angeles for the benefit of the young professional women in our community.


Tribe Media/Jewish Journal                              $65,000

Tribe Media/Jewish Journal has been bringing meaningful and relevant Jewish news, culture and values to individuals in Los Angeles and around the world via newspaper and website for 30 years. JVPF funding will help the Jewish Journal to reach new media consumers, as it creates dynamic, engaging and clever video and audio content that will inform and promote Jewish identity and have the ability to “live” on the JJ’s website and on social media platforms. Our investment will support the purchasing of quality production and editing equipment, the conversion of office space into a soundproof production studio, and the hiring of a digital media producer.

Giyur Ka’halacha/ITIM                              $60,000

Giyur Ka’Halacha is a network of independent rabbinical courts that is adjudicating the conversion of qualified individuals in accordance with Jewish law. With more than 150 conversions concluded to date, GKH is bringing comfort to families who the national conversion authority is not helping, is bringing committed converts into the greater community of Israel, and is exerting pressure on both the government and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to adopt more inclusive policies that are respectful of diversity in the world Jewish community.

Through its Assistance Center, ITIM educates the public regarding the formalities of Jewish life cycle events and annually assists thousands of individuals navigate the bureaucracy and overcome problems with the civil and religious establishment in leading full Jewish lives and attaining citizenship. Through its Advocacy Center, ITIM works for systemic change by proposing and guiding legislation in the Knesset, promoting regulatory reform, prosecuting civil rights legislation, and monitoring compliance of regulatory agencies and rabbinic authorities with applicable laws and regulations.

JVPF Funding will support a pilot project within ITIM to establish a regional conversion coordinator who will attract potential converts and bring them into the GKH system, leading to their conversion to Judaism. The pilot will take place in a localized geographical area with a high percentage of FSU immigrants.

2015 Grantees (Funding Cycle XII)

ETTA                              $60,000

Since 1993, ETTA has been providing services and support for Jewish adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities reach their potential. JVPF’s investment will allow ETTA to create a JOBS Program that will provide Jewish adults with disabilities a one-stop resource to assess their skills, find jobs, be matched with an employer, receive job coaching to build success, and become fully contributing members of the Los Angeles Jewish community.

JEWISH WOMENS THEATER                              $65,000

Since 2008, Jewish Women’s Theatre (JWT) has been redefining Jewish theater, one story at a time – creating new, relevant and personal Jewish content performed in unconventional and changing locations. Reviving the lost heritage of Jewish salon culture, JWT presents unique “salon style” theatrical experiences, strengthening Jewish identity and community while creating a legacy for future generations. JVPF’s investment in JWT supports a new Managing Director position allowing the organization to strategically grow and maximize reach locally and nationally. The Managing Director will take the lead on many aspects of the business, freeing the artistic director to focus on artistic vision and creative goals essential to JWT’s long-term sustainability and development.

JQ INTERNATIONAL                              $50,000

JQ International is a lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) Jewish & ally community. Creating programs and services that foster a healthy fusion of LGBTQ and Jewish identities which offer LGBTQ Jews, their friends, families, and loved ones the opportunity connect with each other while fostering a strong sense of self. At a time of significant growth for JQ International, JVPF is funding the expansion of key professional staff. Expanded professional capacity will allow JQ International’s senior leadership to focus less on administrative needs and more on strategic long-term growth.

2013 Grantees (Funding Cycle XI)

FOOD FORWARD                              $60,000

Since 2009, Food Forward has been has been gleaning local produce for regional food banks, in the process inspiring a movement of volunteers who are working to alleviate poverty and hunger in Los Angeles. JVPF’s investment in Food Forward is towards the launching of their Wholesale Produce Recovery Program in order to collect more produce and reach more markets around the world. By funding a Program Manager position for the Wholesale Produce Recovery Program, the organization can systematize the pick-up of fresh surplus produce from vendors at the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, and distribution of this needed produce to local food banks, thereby greatly magnifying Food Forward’s reach and impact for families in need. .

AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY                    $26,000

The Miller Introduction to Judaism Program at American Jewish University is a comprehensive suite of programs for Jews by Choice, interfaith couples and families, and all those who desire a deeper connection to the Jewish Tradition. JVPF is assisting The Miller Program in their development of a replicable curriculum that will both enhance the Los Angeles program and will be scalable to distribute to communities both nationally and internationally. The curriculum will include a sourcebook and teacher’s guide coupled with an online portal with an array of audio, video, and interactive resources for practicing the hands-on skills needed to feel comfortable in Jewish life.

JVPF will provide American Jewish University with up to $26,000 for the publishing and design of the new curricular materials both in print and online.

INNOVATION AFRICA                    $45,000

Innovation African brings Israeli innovation to African villages. Since their founding, they have completed 63 solar and agricultural projects in East Africa, bringing improved education, proper medical care, clean water, food and economic opportunity to over 450,000 African people and vaccines to over 100,000 children. Funds from JVPF are to be used for a new Outreach Coordinator position. The Outreach Coordinator will increase the number of relationships that Innovation Africa initiates and maintains with college campuses, synagogues and individuals.

2012 Grantees (Funding Cycle X)

BUILDERS OF JEWISH EDUCATION                              $40,000

Imagine stepping off the boat as a recently arrived immigrant into Tel Aviv in the 1930s.  What would it look like?  How would you get a visa?  What types of people would you encounter?  Instead of reading about this time in Jewish history, students can now experience it online via BJE’s immersive Virtual Israel Project.  Currently being piloted in fifth-grade classrooms, students have been captivated by the ability to learn about Israel’s history and culture other in a content-rich game-like environment, and JVPF support will allow the project to scale up and reach more students.

 

ISRAAID                    $80,000

By providing emergency and humanitarian relief to over forty countries, IsraAID has proven itself to be an effective global presence since its founding in 2001.  Designed to leverage Israeli expertise and know-how in rescue and rehabilitation, they have been effective first providers in situations ranging from the Haiti earthquake to Hurricane Sandy.  Funds from JVPF will be used to help strategically guide IsraAID in navigating through the next stage of its growth, through the hiring of the organization’s first Chief Operating Officer.

JEWISH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS L.A. – CAMP MAX STRAUS                    $65,000

Owned and operated by Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles, Camp Max Straus is a 112-acre, hidden treasure in the foothills of LA that provides programs for local underserved and at-risk children.  While full during summer and winter sessions, the camp is under-utilized the remaining of the year and would be an ideal location for corporate and organizational retreats – thus adding a sustainable source of income for the organization.  JVPF is assisting with funds to make necessary capital improvements and provide marketing assistance.

2011 Grantees (Funding Cycle IX)

PRESENTENSE GROUP                    $110,000

The PresenTense Group asks what happens when you surround energetic, creative people with a community of resources and connections? Since 2007, PresenTense has been the leading provider of engagement around early-stage Jewish social entrepreneurship programming. They have proven expertise in helping to bring innovative ideas to life, tapping the resources of young adults, experienced professionals and Jewish organizational leaders in collaboratively incubating innovation. JVPF’s investment will bring PresenTense’s Community Entrepreneur Partnership to Los Angeles in partnership with The Jewish Federation, thereby engaging over 250 community members per yearly cycle by creating an accelerator program for creative young social entrepreneurs, ages 22-40.

MAYYIM HAYYIM                    $50,000

Since 2004, Mayyim Hayyim has been making the ritual of mikveh (ritual immersion) accessible and meaningful for the full diversity of the Jewish community. Based in the greater Boston area, the organization has achieved international recognition for its ability to reclaim and reinvent one of Judaism’s most ancient rituals for contemporary spiritual use. In recent years, the organization has fielded numerous inquiries from outside communities looking for help in building their own inclusive, welcoming mikveh. JVPF’s investment will assist their Welcoming Waters project so that Mayyim Hayyim staff can consult with these additional communities and share their strategy and philosophy that has proven to be so effective

2010 Grantees (Funding Cycle VIII)

30 YEARS AFTER                    $20,000

Founded by a group of dedicated and passionate young people in 2007, 30 Years After is designed to promote involvement in American civic and Jewish communal life amongst Iranian American young adults. Focused on civic activism and Jewish communal involvement, they have already touched thousands of young adults through conferences, receptions, lectures and workshops. JVPF funding is for strategic planning as they transition from an all-volunteer run organization.

JEWCY.COM                    $50,000

As the most prominent website written by and for young Jews, Jewcy.com garners over 120,000 unique visitors per month. The online magazine launched as a private venture in 2005, and was offered to JDub in 2009 with the express goal of leveraging JDub’s expertise in providing relevant and quality Jewish content to young Jews. Covering everything from politics and religion to food and culture, Jewcy is an online magazine with something for everyone, with articles of the highest caliber that range in tone from frank to humorous. With a complete redesign and initiatives focusing on local-based content, the brains behind JDub are taking Jewcy to the next level supported by JVPF seed funding.

LEKET ISRAEL                    $79,000

As Israel’s leading hunger organization, Leket provides more than 110 tons of food per week to over 230 soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and social service organizations throughout the country. They achieve this remarkable feat by rescuing excess, nutritious food that would have otherwise been destroyed and redirected it to those in need. However, many of the Israeli nonprofits providing this food lack the basic infrastructure and capacities to meet their clients’ food needs. They lack refrigeration, adequate lighting, proper electrical systems, shelving and a range of other capacities. JVPF is helping Leket to improve the capacity of these organizations through a program that will provide free consultation and funding to make basic improvements. As a result, thousands more individuals and families in need will have access to the food they need to survive.

MOISHE HOUSE                    $79,000

When David Cygielman graduated from college in 2005, he started hosting Shabbat dinners at his home. When the crowds started to overflow the house, he realized that there was a void in terms of Jewish programming options for 20somethings. That year he created Moishe House – a place where residents receive subsidized housing in exchange for offering community events that they plan themselves on Jewish and non-Jewish topics relevant to their peers. There has been spectacular growth in the organization – in just over four years, there are over 33 locations throughout the US and in 12 other countries. JVPF funded the creation of a new COO position to manage the organization’s growth and fundraising.

2009 Grantees (Funding Cycle VII)

ACADEMIC EXCHANGE                    $25,000

American college and university campuses are often hostile environments for Israel and for the Jewish community. Academic Exchange looks to alter the campus environment by providing fully subsidized missions to Israel for outstanding American scholars drawn from the Political Science and International Relations faculties of America’s leading universities. AE intends to provide the nation’s academics with a unique first-hand experience of Israel that will better equip them to provide their students and other constituents with a deeper understanding of Israel, and in doing so, create greater sympathy for its cause. JVPF funded this project as no other organization is specifically targeting academics with such a comprehensive Israel-based experience.

FOOD FORWARD                    $25,000

Food Forward mobilizes Los Angeles volunteers to glean excess produce from orchards and backyards. Since its creation in early 2009, volunteers have harvested 75,000 pounds of donated fresh fruits and vegetables which is then given to two Los Angeles area food banks (SOVA and MEND). JVPF funds will help this new completely volunteer-run organization add the systems and tools needed to scale up their operations, expand into new markets, and feed more hungry individuals.

SHURAT HADIN (THE ISRAEL LAW CENTER)                    $25,000

Shurat HaDin (The Israel Law Center) represents American and Israeli terror victims in civil lawsuits against terror organizations and their charitable front groups, the states that sponsor terror, and financial institutions involved in financing terror. Through their litigation efforts, they have succeeded in collecting over $20 million on behalf of terror victims and have frozen over $600 million that would have otherwise been utilized by terrorist organizations. JVPF funded because of the organization’s potential for self-sufficiency over as more lawsuits are filed and funds are collected from judgments.

THE ISRAEL PROJECT                    $100,000

The Israel Project has been recognized by leaders from around the world as one of the premier sources of unbiased facts relating to the Middle East.  Their Arabic Media Project focuses on providing timely and accurate information in Arabic in order to present Israel’s side of the story to the Arab public.  Funding from JVPF will allow The Israel Project to implement a sophisticated communications plan to engage moderate Arabs including press conferences, tours and events in Arabic, and to specifically reach out to journalists and editors working in the Arab media world.

2008 Grantees (Funding Cycle VI)

THE BREED STREET SHUL PROJECT                    $112,500

The Breed Street Shul in Boyle Heights was built in 1914 Los Angeles’ original Jewish neighborhood. Saved from demolition in the 1980s by the Jewish Historical Society of Southern California, this recognized Cultural-Historical Monument is to be renovated as a multi-purpose space to serve both the Latino and Jewish communities as a historic museum, cultural space, and offices for social services. JVPF funded because of the Project’s unique potential to utilize a historic building and sustainable business plan to transform Jewish-Latino community relations in Los Angeles.

CHALLAH FOR HUNGER                    $75,000

With Challah for Hunger, students bake and sell challah on campus, with sale proceeds directed toward local and global organizations engaged in fighting hunger. Challah buyers learn about the cause and are offered a discount if they reach out to an elected official or media on the issue. The program engages college students in education, action, and advocacy while at the same time strengthening Jewish community and individual Jewish identity. JVPF funded to demonstrate the effectiveness of a low-cost, easily replicable model of engagement for young adults.

YEMIN ORDE                    $60,000

Yemin Orde Wingate Youth Village in Israel is home to more than 500 immigrants, disadvantaged and at-risk children and youth from 20 countries around the world. JVPF is providing funds targeted toward Yemin Orde’s efforts to develop both an alumni mentoring program for recent graduates and a database/website for alumni outreach and fundraising. JVPF funded because of the ability of the program to return its investment through fundraising and its future utilization as a model for other youth villages and programs in Israel.

2007 Grantees (Funding Cycle V)

ALEINU FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER                    $75,000

Aleinu, a program of Jewish Family Service, created The Safety Kid Program to educate Orthodox children about abuse issues and to help parents and institutions learn prevention techniques. Funds will be used to expand this abuse prevention program beyond the Orthodox community on a fee for service/product base. JVPF funded because of the opportunity to use a business model to expand the reach and scope of this vital program.

JEWS FOR JUDAISM                    $68,000

Jews for Judaism is the central counter-missionary, counter-cult, outreach and counseling organization protecting the Jewish community. Missionary organizations have spent millions of dollars modernizing their approaches, and JVPF provided this funding as a communal down payment on an appropriate response. Funds will be used to help modernize the organization’s operations, for piloting a new college outreach effort, and for website enhancement.

LIMMUD LA                    $30,000

Limmud LA is a volunteer-run organization designed to build Jewish community, foster learning and offer interactive programs for Jews of all ages. Funds will be used for a strategic planning process and sophisticated evaluation of their programs and impact. The funding will help make Limmud, which is new to Los Angeles, sustainable and enhance its impact after their first community-wide conference in February 2008.

NIGHT OWLS                    $100,000

The Israeli Association for Immigrant Children and the Jewish Opportunities Institute will use these funds to expand the Night Owls Project, a peer counseling and mentoring program targeting Russian youth in Israel before they become “at risk.” Night Owls operates in seven cities throughout Israel and plans to expand to eight more cities to reach thousands of Russian immigrants. JVPF is providing funding to highlight this critical, somewhat overlooked, issue and to speed the growth of this vital program.

2006 Grantees (Funding Cycle IV)

ASHREINU / JAM                    $25,000

The Jewish Awareness Movement (JAM) has had significant Jewish outreach success on college campuses by utilizing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology to organize their contact lists and keep track of the interactions with each student. JVPF funded as a model for using business strategies and technologies in the non-profit sector.

HOLY LAND DEMOCRACY PROJECT                    $75,000

Trips to Israel for Catholic high school teachers, with expectation that they return to teach their largely Latino students a weeklong curriculum about modern Israel. The program provides a unique opportunity to erase negative notions about Israel and Jews and replace them with positive knowledge and affection. JVPF funded because of the strategic manner in which this program works and because of the opportunity to grow the program dramatically.

BUILDERS OF JEWISH EDUCATION                    $100,000

Funding will be used for (1) market research focused on the families of children currently enrolled in Jewish preschools geared at significantly increasing participation in Jewish day schools, and (2) implementation of the findings of the research. JVPF funded because of the strategic leveraging opportunity to target and market to likely long- term “customers” for Jewish day schools and because of the importance of Jewish education.

JEWISH WORLD WATCH                    $65,000

JWW engages in social justice work and is a Jewish voice against genocide, initially through actively mobilizing to stop the slaughter in Darfur. Funding was for the development of a strategic plan and the implementation of the findings of the strategic plan, as well as “kit” to use in spreading JWW best practices. JVPF funded because of the organization’s important mission and ability to attract and engage synagogues and large numbers of young people.

2004 Grantees (Funding Cycle III)

ISRAEL21C                    $70,000

Through newspapers and the web, Israel 21c promotes the positive aspects of modern Israel (“beyond the conflict”), including its significant role in the development of many high-tech, bio-medical, and educational innovations. Funding was for Israel 21c to expand into television media. JVPF funded because of the potential mass impact of this expansion.

JDUB RECORDS                    $75,000

Promotes authentic Jewish musical experiences in non-traditional settings to help young Jews connect meaningfully with their heritage. JVPF funded the development of their strategic plan and expansion of their programming to the Los Angeles area. JVPF funded because of the importance of JDUB’s innovative work in reaching a hard-to-serve demographic and because of their self-sustaining business model.

2003 Grantees (Funding Cycle II)

JEWISH HOSPICE PROJECT – LA                    $30,000

Start-up funding for Jewish support services for terminally ill patients including psycho-spiritual counseling, professional training (for those who deal with the terminally ill and their families), and general education about end-of-life issues from a Jewish perspective. Funded because JVPF saw that this innovative program addressed an important gap in available services.

JVIBE                    $125,000

Start-up funding for Jewish teen magazine, published by Jewish Family & Life (JFL Media), that speaks to kids in the language of pop culture.  Includes a website and other electronic collateral material.  Funded because JVPF saw the opportunity for large-scale outreach to an important demographic group.

HAND IN HAND                    $110,000

Operates bilingual (Hebrew and Arabic) and bicultural elementary schools in Israel to impact relations between Israel’s Arab and Jewish communities. JVPF provided funding for a technology program and strategic development planning. JVPF funded because of the possible impact on the students and families involved, as well as the larger community.

JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICES – CERTIFIED NURSING PROGRAM                    $125,000

Start-up funding for employment service for home health care workers, targeting medically trained Jewish Russian and Iranian immigrants with employment challenges. JVPF funded because of the content and sustainability components of this project – the creation of a revenue stream for JVS, as well as for the clients/employees who are developing life-long skills.