The Weinberg Foundation has a lot of news to share! We hope you will take a few minutes to read our latest e-news. Also, we invite you to like the Weinberg Foundation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Weinberg Foundation selects newest trustee

The Weinberg Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of its newest trustee, Mr. Nimrod Goor. Mr. Goor is the first Israeli trustee in the Weinberg Foundation’s history. His appointment was approved unanimously by the Board of Trustees on July 29, 2019, and his term began immediately. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees includes five outstanding individuals, four of whom have been appointed since 2016, including Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin (Ret.) who began her term in May 2016; Paula B. Pretlow who began her term in January 2018; Gordon Berlin who began his term in January 2019; and now Nimrod Goor who has just started his term. Robert T. Kelly, Jr. currently serves as the Board Chair.

“Mr. Goor’s selection as trustee represents the culmination of a 13-year process of migrating the Foundation’s governance structure to one led by independent trustees,” stated Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Weinberg Foundation Board Chair. “Mr. Goor’s appointment not only rounds out the composition of the Board in terms of geographic diversity, it also affirms the Foundation’s long-term commitment to Israel.”

The Foundation will distribute $125 million in grants in 2019, including $12 million in Israel, focused on three priorities: enabling older adults to age in their communities with independence and quality of life; helping individuals obtain quality jobs; and meeting the needs of women and children at risk. Israel has been and will continue to be a priority community for the Weinberg Foundation. Priority communities are cities with personal ties to the life and legacy of Harry Weinberg, as well as cities where current trustees reside and provide leadership. These cities include Baltimore, Maryland, where the Foundation’s headquarters is located; Honolulu, Hawaiʿi, where the Foundation manages a real estate portfolio; Northeastern Pennsylvania; Chicago; San Francisco; New York; and rural communities.

“I am very excited and honored to join the Board of Trustees of the Weinberg Foundation,” said Mr. Goor. “I have been extremely impressed with the quality of the Board and professionals at the Foundation. During my recent visit to Baltimore, I was especially impressed with the Foundation’s commitment to assisting low-income and vulnerable individuals and families in the US and Israel. It will be a privilege to contribute to such a meaningful and impactful mission.”

The Weinberg Foundation’s five trustees are responsible for setting the policies that guide the Foundation’s grantmaking and investment programs. Mr. Goor is a founding partner at Helios Energy Investments, Israel’s largest private equity fund specializing in renewable energy power generation in Europe and Israel.

“Nimrod Goor will add significant depth to our investment committee, and his extensive experience in philanthropy in both the United States and Israel will complement the Foundation’s grant strategies,” noted Rachel Garbow Monroe, Weinberg Foundation President and CEO. “His appointment underscores the Foundation’s commitment to securing extraordinary talent at both the Board and professional levels. With Nimrod’s appointment, the Board is now in a position to provide many years of strong leadership and continuity for the Foundation.”

Prior to Helios, Mr. Goor was a Partner at Precede Technologies, which invested in the clean technology sector. He has held multiple managerial positions in various technology and aerospace companies in the US and Israel, including Model N (“MODN” NYSE), MedSim medical simulation and Banner Aerospace (“BAR” NYSE). In addition to his business activities, Mr. Goor has been engaged in various nonprofit organizations in the US and Israel, including the San Francisco Federation, AIPAC, and Hausner Jewish Community Day School in Palo Alto, California. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Gvanim Association in Sderot, Israel, as well as a Board Member at the Shalom Hartman Institute. He is also a member of the Steering Committee of The American Jewish Joint Distribution’s Lay Leadership Center in Israel. Mr. Goor served seven years with the Israeli Air Force as a combat pilot. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Tel-Aviv and California Coast University, as well as an MBA from the Harvard School of Business Administration. Mr. Goor is a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program from San Francisco. He and his wife, Dorothy Goor, are the parents of three children.

Weinberg Foundation employees announce $660,000 in grants

The Weinberg Foundation recently hosted its 12th Employee Giving Program. Started in the Foundation’s Hawaiʿi office more than 20 years ago, this grant program gives every employee of the Foundation, from the Receptionist to the Chief Investment Officer, including all administrative and professional staff (all except the President and CEO), the opportunity to make a $20,000 grant recommendation to a nonprofit in Baltimore that meets the mission of the Weinberg Foundation. The Foundation will give more than $125 million in grants this year to nonprofits dedicated to meeting the basic needs of vulnerable individuals and families experiencing poverty. Grants focus on supporting organizations in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, and Community Services.

Each employee, regardless of their job title and their daily role at the Foundation, handles every step of the grant recommendation. This includes selection of the grantee, a site visit, collection and review of financials, and preparation of the final grant recommendation. The Foundation’s President and CEO reviews each recommendation to ensure that the grant is consistent with Foundation grantmaking goals and guidelines and shares the summary list with the Foundation’s Board of Directors for formal approval.

This year’s event marks the largest single distribution in grants at an Employee Giving Program in the 12 years the program has taken place. During the course of a sometimes emotional lunch gathering, 33 employees each presented a check for $20,000 to a Maryland nonprofit of their choice—a total of $660,000 awarded in a single day. More than $3 million has been distributed since the inception of this professional development and mission-focused initiative.

“This is always a very special day for the Foundation,” said Rachel Garbow Monroe, Weinberg Foundation President and CEO. “The grants our employees make never fail to reveal deep, personal stories of challenges and triumphs. Monroe added, “The fact that our Employee Giving distribution continues to grow with each event, and giving new employees the opportunity to share in this process, only makes the day more meaningful.”

“I have attended the Foundation’s Employee Giving Program twice before and seen firsthand the overwhelming emotion this day brings. This year is my second time recommending a grant of my own,” said Angie Winston, Weinberg Foundation Custodian and Maintenance Assistant. “I am thankful to be given the chance to support an organization like Adelante Latina, which works to help students improve school performance through tutoring, summer internships, and assistance with college admissions. As a foster care provider, programs that serve vulnerable kids are especially important to me.”

“The Employee Giving Program provides a chance to participate in the grantmaking side of the Foundation that I don’t get to experience on a regular basis as a member of the Foundation’s Finance team,” said Frank Jarrell, Weinberg Foundation Accounting Manager. “The organization that I am supporting is CityWide Youth Development. As a former police officer in Baltimore, I am particularly interested in programs that provide opportunities for at-risk youth living in the City.”

During the event, each nonprofit receiving a grant spoke about the important work their organization is contributing to their community.

To view a listing of the Employee Giving grantees, as well as a description of each of the grants, click here.

Update on National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty

Jewish Funders Network (JFN) is excited to take on the role of group administrator for the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty—a community of learning and action focused on fighting poverty within the Jewish community.

Deena K. Fuchs, Executive Vice President of JFN, will serve as the primary point person, responsible for holding the group accountable to achieving goals and meeting deadlines. Deena joined JFN in June of 2019 after almost two decades at the Avi Chai Foundation, most recently as Senior Director of Strategy and Partnerships. She has deep expertise in building philanthropic partnerships (read more here), and we are excited for her leadership of this initiative.

A few other early updates since the first Affinity Group meeting in June:

• The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) is assembling a group of communities around the country that will work towards developing a standard group of questions related to poverty for future community studies.
• The Forward has taken a lead in sharing stories that can elevate the issue of Jewish poverty (list of links here).

To learn more about how the Weinberg Foundation and the Affinity Group are working to fight Jewish poverty, check out our latest blog post! We look forward to keeping you posted on the work of this group over the coming months as its structure develops.

Housing

Stable housing provides a foundation for individuals, children, and families to lead healthy and productive lives. Without housing, people are unable to focus on education, employment, health care, and meeting other basic needs.

Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services
Houston, TX
$1,000,000 capital grant to support the reconstruction of the first floor of this organization’s building, which flooded during Hurricane Harvey.
http://www.sevenacres.org/

Artspace Projects
Honolulu, HI
$500,000 capital grant to support the construction of the Ola Ka ‘llima Artspace Lofts, which will provide 84 units of affordable housing for individuals and families, with 12 units specifically set aside for those exiting homelessness.
https://www.artspace.org

Compass Family Services
San Francisco, CA
$500,000 capital grant to support the purchase and renovation of a building that will function as a service hub for homeless and at-risk families.
https://www.compass-sf.org/

Hailpern Home for the Aged of Ashkelon
Ashkelon, Israel
$500,000 capital grant to support the renovation of a skilled-nursing residence to integrate “housing clusters” that follow the Green House model—a more individualized, home-like living environment.

Point Source Youth
Chicago, New York City, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Rural Maryland, and San Francisco
$200,000 program grant to support this organization’s programming that provides youth experiencing homelessness with housing and supportive services, including Host Homes and Rapid Re-Housing.
https://www.pointsourceyouth.org/

Bridges to Housing Stability
Howard County, MD
$100,000 Small Grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides affordable housing, case management, and support services for families.
http://bridges2hs.org/

REACH
Washington County, MD
$80,000 Small Grant to support the general operations of this organization that works to prevent and end homelessness by empowering individuals and families to move toward independence and stability through compassion, education, advocacy, and resources.
https://reachofwc.org/

Health

Good health is essential to help people move and remain out of poverty. Poor physical or mental health can prevent or complicate the pursuit of education, employment, and other opportunities for economic mobility.

Greater Chicago Food Depository
Chicago, IL
$500,000 capital grant to support the renovation of this organization’s facility, in order to better meet operational and service-delivery needs.
https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/

Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands
Honolulu, HI
$500,000 capital grant to support the construction of a new health center with the goal of expanding education and access to sexual and reproductive health care.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-great-northwest-hawaiian-islands

Scranton Counseling Center
Scranton, PA
$500,000 capital grant to support the relocation and renovation of this organization that provides behavioral health services for children and adults.
http://www.scrantonscc.org/

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
$400,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides a “home-away-from-home” for seriously ill children and their families.
https://rmhcmaryland.org/

Westchester Public-Private Membership Fund – Aging Services
Baltimore, New York City, and Northeastern Pennsylvania
$250,000 program grant to support the Telehealth Intervention Program for Seniors (TIPS), which provides health monitoring services to vulnerable older adults, in addition to services that enable them to remain healthy and independent.
http://westchesterpartnership.org/

Jewish Family Service
Detroit, MI
$225,000 program grant to support the expansion of the AIMS (Ambulatory Integration of the Medical and Social) model, which addresses social determinants of health within emergency room and primary care settings.
https://www.jfsdetroit.org/

Lutheran Services in America
Throughout the United States
$225,000 program grant to support this organization’s Connect Home program, which provides case management services for older adults and their caregivers following a discharge from a skilled nursing facility, with the goal of preventing readmissions and improving overall quality of life.
https://www.lutheranservices.org/

Family Rescue
Chicago, IL
$50,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides comprehensive support services and shelter to those affected by domestic violence and to encourage prevention through community education.
https://familyrescueinc.org/

Girls Educational and Mentoring Services
New York, NY
$50,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which works to empower girls and young women, ages 12-24, who have experienced trauma and abuse.
https://www.gems-girls.org/

Shalom Tikvah
Baltimore, MD
$50,000 Small Grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides counseling, case management, and wraparound support services for Jewish families who have children experiencing mental and behavioral challenges.
https://shalomtikvah.org/

Family Crisis Resource Center
Cumberland, MD
$40,000 Small Grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides shelter, counseling, and legal services for adults and children who are escaping intimate partner violence or recovering from trauma.
http://www.familycrisisresourcecenter.org/

Jobs

Employment provides the best opportunity for personal success and financial security. Quality training programs that lead to employment enable individuals and families to achieve economic stability.

Sanctuary for Families
New York, NY
$300,000 program grant to support this organization’s Economic Empowerment program that helps those affected by domestic violence and sex trafficking achieve economic independence through job training and placement.
https://sanctuaryforfamilies.org/

Brooklyn Workforce Innovations
Brooklyn, NY
$225,000 capital grant to support the expansion of this organization to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which will increase access to industry training and better support employers’ needs.
https://bwiny.org/

RespectAbility
Throughout the United States
$200,000 program grant to support the National Leadership Jobs program, a fellowship, which trains and mentors young adults with disabilities for their first job in the integrated job market.
https://www.respectability.org/

Change
Westminster, MD
$125,000 program grant to support six new community-based support teams that will provide young adults with disabilities, who are transitioning from school to adult services, with the opportunity to receive supports where, when, and how they choose.
https://www.changeinc.cc/

Yeladim
Throughout Israel
$100,000 program grant to support this organization’s Bridge to Independence employment program that provides young adults with career-development counseling, one-on-one mentorship, and financial literacy training.

Education

Education can help break the cycle of poverty. Providing at-risk children and youth with academic opportunities helps prepare them for a stable and productive future. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations that provide or supplement a high-quality education from kindergarten through high school.

Fund for Educational Excellence
Baltimore, MD
$300,000 program grant to support MOST (Maryland Out of School Time) Network and Maryland MENTOR, which provide technical assistance and professional development opportunities to direct service providers, ensuring continued growth in the reach and quality of out-of-school time and mentoring services for underserved youth.
https://www.ffee.org/

Teach for All
Throughout Israel
$300,000 program grant to support Teach First Israel, a program that recruits and trains Israel’s top university graduates and young professionals to teach for at least two years in high-need schools and to continue to work as leaders in education.
https://teachforall.org/

Aim High for High School
San Francisco, CA
$200,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this multi-year, tuition-free, summer academic program for middle school students.
https://www.aimhigh.org/

Baltimore Corps
Baltimore, MD
$65,000 program grant to support a fellow who will work with the Office of Communications and Community Engagement at Baltimore City Public Schools.
https://www.baltimorecorps.org/

Baltimore Corps
Baltimore, MD
$65,000 program grant to support a fellow who will work with the Executive Director of the Office of New Initiatives at Baltimore City Public Schools.
https://www.baltimorecorps.org/

Fund for Educational Excellence
Baltimore, MD
$50,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which works to improve student achievement in Baltimore City Public Schools.
https://www.ffee.org/

Rocking the Boat
New York, NY
$50,000 Small Grant to support this organization’s job-skills program that offers boatbuilding, sailing, or environmental science tracks for high school juniors and seniors.
https://rockingtheboat.org/

Soccer Without Borders
Baltimore, MD
$50,000 Small Grant to support the general operations of this organization that uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under-served youth with skills to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success.
https://www.soccerwithoutborders.org/baltimore

Community Services

The Weinberg Foundation recognizes that certain service providers operate multiple programs that meet a range of basic human needs and span many of the Foundation’s funding priorities. Organizations that provide services bridging the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, and Education may be eligible for a Community Services grant. The Foundation is also engaged in select initiatives addressing Jewish poverty on a national scale, as well as strengthening the leadership of organizations that serve the Jewish community.

Associated Catholic Charities
Baltimore, MD
$350,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides comprehensive services to meet the basic needs of children and adults, including people with developmental disabilities, immigrants, and older adults.
https://www.catholiccharities-md.org/

Sixth Branch
Baltimore, MD
$100,000 Small Grant to support the general operations of this organization that leads neighborhood revitalization projects in the Broadway East, Darley Park, Johnston Square, and Oliver neighborhoods.
http://the6thbranch.org/