As part of its strategic realignment and expansion of its grantmaking in Hawai‘i, the Weinberg Foundation also committed to strengthening its support of Hawai‘i’s Jewish community. Across the US, the Foundation is engaged in a range of proactive strategic initiatives in support of the Jewish community at-large. These include addressing Jewish poverty on a national scale, strengthening the Jewish nonprofit sector, and developing the next generation of leaders that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Jewish community.
What will support for the Jewish community look like in Hawai‘i? In addition to ongoing convenings of local leaders to help understand the statewide landscape, the Foundation worked with Ward Research and Jewish Community Services to conduct a seminal Jewish community needs assessment. This assessment included interviews, focus groups, and a statewide survey about housing, economic supports, food security, access to mental and physical health resources, safety from trauma and abuse, and support for kūpuna (older adults).
The Foundation is also organizing Nitzavim Hawaiʻi, a two-year cohort of local Jewish nonprofit organizations from Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island, and Maui. Nitzavim Hawaiʻi organizations will strengthen relationships, develop leadership, build organizational and collective capacity, and explore collaborations in service to the community.
The Foundation is eager to share further updates on this new initiative, including findings from the community needs assessment, in the coming months.
