Local Impact Fund

The Local Impact Fund, a new programmatic grants fund, will allow the Federation to address important and/or unmet needs in our Greater Houston Jewish community and enable Federation funding to be more inclusive of all community organizations. The new fund is an opportunity to support initiatives that respond to community interests and needs, seed and grow impactful programs, build collaboration, and enhance the culture of the community.

The Fund’s priority areas were identified by our community through Hineni Houston, and will drive Federation’s decision making.

All programs or initiatives funded through the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s Local Impact Fund must be new (0-2 years in existence) or expanding, and serve the Jewish community. Additionally, innovation, inclusion of all Jewish practices, and collaboration between organizations will be prioritized in the grant process.

Programs shall fit within at least one of the three following priority areas:

• Inclusion: Programs that engage and support the following groups and populations. Programs may be a direct service program or create a space to learn about inclusivity focusing on at least one of the populations below.
  1. Youth and adults with special needs
  2. LGBTQIA+
  3. Interfaith families
  4. Mixed heritage and Jews of color
  5. Greater Houston neighborhoods outside the central core Jewish area
• Engagement: Fostering Jewish community and building Jewish identity, both socially and spiritually, in an innovative way. Programs must include at least one of the categories below.
  1. Elementary and middle school age children (grades K-6 and 6-8) and their families
  2. Adults across ages and stages, including seniors
  3. Inter-denominational Jewish community partnerships
  4. Community-wide initiatives or programs for the broadest audience across Greater Houston
• Education: Innovative programming for formal and informal Jewish education. Programs must include at least one of the categories below. Where applicable, programs may serve any age/stage.
  1. Congregational school programming
  2. Service learning and volunteer opportunities
  3. Combating antisemitism
  4. Building bridges between the Jewish community and non-Jewish communities

The fund will be open to any 501(c)(3) or an organization with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor that directly serves the Greater Houston Jewish community, including organizations that receive other sources of funding from the Federation.

• Funding must be tied to a particular project or program that fits the funds’ priorities and has measurable impact. All programs or initiatives must be new (0-2 years in existence) or expanding and serve the Jewish community.

• An organization may submit up to two Letters of Inquiry (LOI) per year, and, if invited to apply, may submit up to two applications per year. An applicant may submit up to four LOI’s as part of a collaborative program or project with other nonprofit organizations.

• Grants will be awarded within the range of $5,000 – $50,000. Larger grants of $25,000-$50,000 will typically be awarded to collaborative programs.

• Grantees will be required to participate in site visits and submit annual reports.

• Grants will be awarded on an annual basis, with a maximum of 3 years of funding for a particular project or program. Renewal for funding in years 2 and 3 will be based on program outcomes, community needs, proven model of financial stability or fundraising.

May 17, 2023 9-11 am

Organizations are invited to attend the in-person meeting, at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, to learn more about the fund’s requirements and have an opportunity to connect with other local organizations to form collaboration on new programs for the community. Click HERE to RSVP.

July 31, 2023

Letters of Inquiry (LOI) are due.

October 15, 2023

Full proposal due for those invited to complete the process. Prior to that date, there will be an information session.

November 2023

Grant awards will be announced.