Primary Strategic Focus The Jim Joseph Foundation’s strategic grantmaking is based on the following interests and beliefs:
- Strong support for excellence in the education of Jewish youth and young adults in the United States throughout critical stages of their development.
- Highly qualified Jewish educators are essential to the success of most Jewish learning experiences.
- A broad definition of educators, including day and congregational school teachers and heads of school; camp counselors and directors; pre-school teachers; family educators; parents; rabbis; youth group workers, among others.
- Increasing the number of exceptionally well trained, Jewishly literate educators who are committed to continuous learning and dedicated to the profession.
- The importance of building upon the strength of existing programs of education, in addition to encouraging innovative approaches to Jewish learning.
- Supporting efforts that develop professional, peer, and youth leadership.
The Foundation focused on ages 13 – 23 in its initial years of grantmaking, concentrating on the greater metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Washington D.C. It has since expanded its grantmaking interests to organizations supporting so-called “emerging adults,” ages 23-30. While focusing on national initiatives, the Foundation continues to look especially carefully at funding opportunities in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Related Strategic Focus The balance of approximately 40% of the Foundation’s annual grantmaking for Jewish learning is not limited to, but may include:
- Grants made in partnership with other funders enabling the Foundation to help realize its vision through leveraging its resources.
- Grants as investments in research and development that will inform the Foundation’s ongoing philanthropic practice and contribute to learning in the field.
- Grants for seed funding of novel, innovative projects furthering the Foundation’s mission.