Shared Identity
Fostering community around shared identity, common purpose, and core values
We are laser focused on advancing opportunities for Jews of Color to be leaders in the Jewish community. A strong field of Jewish institutions and networks requires investment in forward-thinking and effective organizations and leaders. Our grantmaking is ongoing, and while we do not accept unsolicited grant applications or proposals for funding we welcome inquiries from domestic-based, domestic-focused organizations, programs or practitioners that develop, advocate for and/or advance Jews of Color within the Jewish community.
Please note we prioritize funding those organizations and efforts demonstrating experience with and capacity for Jewish racial diversity, and intentionally developing and nurturing environments in which our multiracial Jewish community can thrive.
We are excited to announce our first Grantmaking Webinar, which will be held on November 10, 2021. Learn more and register.
What Our Grantmaking Supports:
Standards of Practice
Developing, refining, and reinforcing institutional practice through a lens of justice and equity
Advancing Knowledge
Documenting and expanding our understandings of the Jews of Color community
Leadership Development
Investing in, nurturing, and amplifying Jewish leaders of Color
Supporting Policy
Cultivating an environment where Jews of Color can thrive in both policy and practice
Use the icons next to each area of grantmaking above as a key to see what area each of our grantees has fulfilled.
2021 – 2022 Grants
Supporting monthly gatherings for a JoC clergy affinity space to foster holistic wellness, solidarity, and mutual support for Kohenet Priestesses of Color
JoC series on mind-body resiliency and embodied practice concerning conversations on safety and security in Jewish communal settings
Supporting “The Workshop,” a JoC fellowship for artists and culture-makers to revitalize Jewish art and ritual by centering Jews of Color
Supporting JoC op-eds and JoC independent reporters to amplify JoC voices, leaders, and journalists at The Forward
Developing “Jewfro,” a JoC graphic novel for children featuring Jewish characters of color
Fostering a more racially equitable and just Southern Jewish community
Supporting Black JOC actors and teachers to bring more Black American plays to Jewish day schools
Supporting outreach to Jews of Color and the deaf community for “The Kindness Project,” a class and spirituality group led by the first hard of hearing African American rabbi in Illinois
Expanding LUNAR’s multimedia storytelling project to include Asian Jewish community gatherings
Hosting a Sigd celebratory and educational event in Portland, Oregon led by an Ethiopian Jewish creative director
2020 – 2021 Grants
Creating a short-form video series that highlights the unique experiences of Jewish Asian Americans
Presenting the first JoC-led egalitarian High Holy Day services
Organizing two Kwanzakkah and Juneteenth celebrations to honor Black and Jewish experiences
Providing professional coaching for an executive-level JoC leader
Healing the JoC community by offering grief support and leadership opportunities
Supporting JoC professionals and college students through the facilitation of a national JoC group, inclusive recruitment, and staff mentorship programming
Strengthening community-building amongst Jews of Color during a 2-day Shabbaton led by JoC leaders
Supporting development of racial justice efforts and strategic planning for the Manager of Racial Justice Initiatives
Offering executive functioning coaching and professional development training to a JoC leader serving as the Director of Professional Development
Providing leadership coaching and training to executive leaders who are Jewish women of color
Granting professional development, mentorship, and coaching to JoC summer camp staff members and leadership
Supporting 2-3 JoC fellows, a JoC consultant, and BIPOC mentorship in their Global Leaders Initiative
Creating an executive leadership role for a JoC rabbi as the new Director of Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This role has recently been filled by Rabbi Sandra Lawson.
Supporting leadership, business, and infrastructure development
Providing cost-of-living stipend, mentorship from leaders of color, and professional development for 2 JoC fellows in their Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Fellowship
Restructuring their high school teen curriculum, engaging a JoC consultant to review infrastructure, and hiring a JoC educator to staff a JoC teen leadership group and affinity space.
Supporting leadership developing for JoC, and providing professional development for a new JoC organizer who will lead a JoC affinity group and related programming.
Expanding their JoC, Sephardi and Mizrahi teen program, Jews Against Marginalization, supporting leadership and professional development for JoC staff, and providing mentorship for JoC teens.
Engaging a JoC consultant for a two-part Shabbat dinner and training series for JoC.
Hiring a JoC consultant to revise youth, adult, and multi-generational programming to engage and empower JoC, and building an adult JoC leadership pipeline to their staff and Board.
Leading a liberatory Passover mikveh gathering led by Jews of Color and featuring artists, poets, ceremonial leaders and more
Organizing three virtual JoC Well Circle events, empowering participants and providing them with support to build their own Well Circles
Conducting a study to determine location, programming, and modality for the first Jewish community center specifically centering Jews of Color
- JoC Teshuva Project
Developing a pilot program rooted in the Jewish practice of teshuva that mitigates racialized harm for JoCs and creates accountability and repair in their communities
Creating an online JoC cooking affinity space to exchange recipes, stories, experiences, and culinary traditions with other Jews of Color
Providing coaching for their executive leadership and advisory board
Creating and sharing educational and cultural resources that address the intersections of racism, white supremacy, and antisemitism.
Supporting JoC in pursuit of their certification in Torah and Social Justice.
2019 – 2020 Grants
Providing academic tutoring for a JOC rabbinical student
Creating a webinar on the impact of COVID-19-fueled racism on Chinese-American Jews
Expanding reach to North Carolina JOCs to connect with their JOC caucus
Producing a limited series podcast on the lived experiences of Latino Jews in the U.S.
Building a national network of havurot for Jews of Color
Identifying participation and experiences of Jews of Color in Jewish camp programs as a cornerstone for expanding and improving JoC youth inclusion
Supporting “Courageous Conversations for Change Shabbat Dinners,” community dinners fostering conversation and social change among Black and Brown Jews of Color living in the South
Hiring a JOC youth consultant to incorporate a racial justice lens into educational programming
Supporting participation in a national convening of Jews of Color involved in Jewish Outdoor Food, Farming, and Environmental Education (JOFEE)
Backing participation in JDC Entwine’s “Inside Brazil” trip, followed by JOC-facilitated programming in the U.S.
Increasing involvement of JoCs in a fellowship for young adults to integrate urban organic farming, mindfulness practice, social action training, and progressive Jewish learning and living
Producing an episode centering Modern Orthodox Jews of Color in their web series Soon By You
Advancing the inclusion of JoC queer youth in Shabbaton retreats through programmatic and institutional changes
Providing scholarships and travel subsidies for Jews of Color to enroll in a 3-year online certification program in Earth-Based Judaism, with a goal of JoC representing at least one-third of the cohort
Offering stipends for JOC educators and class fees for students
Developing a fellowship that ensures a pipeline for Jews of Color to become leaders in social justice organizing
Continuing and further diversifying a thriving Jews of Color affinity group that builds leadership capacity, community, and relationships
Supporting wellness and resiliency-building through nature-based retreats led by and for Jews of Color
Supporting a JoC Organizer and Diversity Educator to build connectivity among Jews of Color in Detroit and serving as an inclusivity educator to local congregations
2018 – 2019 Grants
connect with and network Jews of Color throughout North Carolina to the Jews of Color Caucus of Carolina Jews for Justice.
the goal was to organize an in-depth four to five meeting planning process for the Jews of Color Torah Academy (JOCTA). JOCTA is a container for Jews of Color to learn, grapple, and grow as individuals and as a community.
the project documented and archived stories from Latinx Jews in the United States, placed stories of Latinx Jews within theoretical frameworks, expanded scholarly research on Jews of Color, including Latinx Jews, and publicly share the research.
Jews of Color in the Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming, and Environmental Education (JOFEE) space were convened at the 2019 JOFEE Network Gathering to organize and collaborate specifically around shared identity and experiences as Jews of Color.
this program focused on Jews of Color Hillel professionals and students to strengthen experiences and relationships by offering support, as well as cohorting and networking Jews of Color in the community.
the project provided Jews of Color on staff at their affiliated organizations with an experienced coach.
through mentorship, focused professional development, and growth, as well as professional opportunities, advance the experience of the JewV’Nation Fellowship’s Alumni.
the goal was to strengthen the experience of Jews of Color in the Avodah network by offering support, as well as building cohorts and intentional networks for/of Jews of Color in the community.
the project will engage Midwest Jews of Color, funders, and community organizations, beginning with three focus cities and adding additional cities in the future.
2017 – 2018 Grants
a best-in-class leadership program for Jews of Color that provides training for leaders, new tools to enhance personal vision and facilitate organizational change, and the opportunity to learn with innovative and inspiring Jewish social change leaders.
a national nonprofit training and consulting organization specializing in diversity and inclusion led by Yavilah McCoy, focusing on leadership development – facilitating a cohort of Jews of Color working at the intersection of critical conversations, racial justice and working with Allies.
a national educational leader and program designer partnering with Dimensions to develop program modules supporting the training of a cohort of leaders who are Jews of Color.
led by Founder and Executive Director Jared Jackson, focusing on organizational development.
represented by Board Chair Tamara Fish, bringing together more than 100 Jews of Color for the Second National Jews of Color Convening, with a focus on deepening leadership skills and building institutional capacity.
with April Baskin, focused on a successful leadership development program for visionary Jewish leaders that includes educational seminars, cohort relationship building, individualized coaching, and intensive in-person retreats
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