Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund seeks applications to fund innovative programs

The Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund membership seeks proposals for the upcoming fiscal year, July 2015-June 2016, 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 will be considered, as will services in the health and social services fields.

This year, the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund (WAEF) will make total grants of approximately $7,000 to be distributed by June 30, 2015.

Over the last decade, the WAEF has awarded 72 local and overseas grants, totaling close to $70,000, to a wide array of programs and service providers. All Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and overseas Jewish organizations, agencies and synagogues whose mission falls within the purview of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island may submit grant requests.

“Since we are interested in programs that focus on women and girls, we have been more proactive about connecting with the grant applicants directly to ensure the programs and services fit our core mission. Most recently, we funded a smaller pool of programs in order to have a greater impact on them,” said Deborah Skolnick Einhorn, co-chair of the WAEF.

Past programs that have received funding include Camp JORI’s counselor training on female social development, academic and therapeutic service support at Beit Ruth Hostel for At-Risk Girls, and Haifa Rape Crisis Center’s support group for survivors of sexual abuse. 

The 100 members of the WAEF are entitled to participate in the annual allocations process. WAEF membership requires a minimum membership fee of $1,000, payable over three years.

“We hope more women will be able to join the WAEF this year, or decide to renew their memberships, so we may have an even greater influence on funding programs and services. Every year the fund grows, and we are able to allocate more funding to those programs seeking our support,” said Barbara Feldstein, co-chair of the WAEF.

The WAEF request for proposals will be sent to local synagogues and Jewish agencies as well as Jewish organizations that have received funding from the Women’s Alliance in past years. Grant requests must be received by Friday, March 13. Funding recipients are identified at the WAEF annual meeting, which will be at the Jewish Alliance on May 19, and will be notified in late May 2015.

For more information about the WAEF grants available this year, contact Jennifer Zwirn at 401-421-4111, or jzwirn@jewishallianceri.org.