Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund members faced with hard decisions

The Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund held its annual meeting on May 19 to determine this year’s grant recipients. As they do every year, the WAEF members in attendance had some difficult decisions to make as the 15 proposals received totaled more than $36,000 in requests. With only $8,000 available to allocate, some very worthwhile programs remain unfunded. 

The eight programs that will receive grants this year are compelling and cutting-edge initiatives that members of the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund believe will provide lasting impact and social change for women and girls throughout Rhode Island and Israel. Co-chair Deb Skolnick Einhorn said, “This year’s grant awards are tightly connected to our mission, which is a very exciting evolution as we grow financially through and with our objectives.”

The Jewish Federation Foundation holds the community’s $53 million endowment assets including the assets of the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund.  As of June 30, 2014, the fund’s value was $156,210.70. Members seek to grow the fund through recruiting new members and encouraging membership renewals every year.

As a result, over the last several years, the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund membership has been able to allocate the fund’s interest via a request for proposals process each spring, and has sought proposals for innovative programs and services that benefit Jewish women and girls and have the potential for long-term impact. Educational, civic, cultural, religious and inter-group programs are considered, as well as services in the health and social service fields. Locally, projects receiving awards include Camp JORI’s female socio-developmental counselor training, Providence Community Kollel’s mission to Israel and the Jewish Community Day School’s female student support group to counteract bullying and peer pressure. Overseas awards include Latet Atid’s microloans to encourage female entrepreneurial spirit and NITZA’s multi-risk mother and child group therapy programming.

Einhorn announced this will be her last year as co-chair. Fellow co-chair Barbara Feldstein said, “We thank you, Deb. I thank you. Your hard work, dedication, and leadership have been very much appreciated.”

JENNIFER ZWIRN is in Grants and Philanthropy at the Jewish Alliance.