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 celebrates 30th anniversary in 2020

In 1959, Harry Weinberg created The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to help meet the needs of low-income and vulnerable people. However, the Foundation as we know it today has existed since 1990, when Harry Weinberg died, a year after his beloved wife, Jeanette, passed away.

To honor and celebrate 30 years, the Foundation will begin adding the 30th anniversary logo (pictured above) to all of its materials in 2020.

In addition, the Foundation is planning an extra special Biennial Community Gathering—a celebration of the Foundation’s work, as well as its wonderful grantees and partners—and asks that you please hold the date for Wednesday, November 18, 2020.

More details to come in the months ahead!

Weinberg Foundation hosts Baltimore Small Grants Convening

• Facilitate relationships among emerging nonprofits serving Baltimore in order to foster collaboration, partnerships, and resource-sharing
• Share best practices related to fundraising, program evaluation, partnerships, and marketing/communications
• Cultivate a pipeline of effective organizations to drive change in Baltimore

One grantee shared, “I was keenly aware what an honor it was to receive a Weinberg grant, but I never realized how much more I would get than just funding. Today's sessions were so incredibly informative and helpful, and I was able to meet some great people to begin building relationships with.”

Weinberg Foundation celebrates new chapter in Israel

In addition to aligning with the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, and Education, grant requests for Israel must fit one of three priorities: aging in community, jobs, and women at risk and their children. To work more effectively in these areas, the Foundation partnered with Jewish Funders Network (JFN) and the National Insurance Institute (NII) to host three convenings, over separate days, coinciding with the Weinberg team’s week-long visit. All three convenings included funders, professionals, and government leaders who shared lessons learned about achievements, challenges and trends, as well as opportunities for future initiatives.

The jobs convening focused on employment for Israeli-Arabs, Haredi (ultra-orthodox) Jews, and other minority populations through the lens of employers. The second convening on women at risk and their children featured 12 leaders in the field, including representatives of foundations, direct service providers, advocacy organizations, and local and national government, as well as the Arab, Bedouin, Ethiopian, and ultra-orthodox communities. This convening was conducted in Hebrew, with simultaneous translation—amazing! The final convening included approximately 50 leaders from older adult day care centers, government officials, and partners from the Claims Conference—an organization that supports Holocaust survivors—to explore progress and challenges in the field.

Finally, the Foundation hosted its first Community Gathering in Israel—an opportunity for grantees and other stakeholders to meet Nimrod Goor, the Foundation’s newest and first Israeli trustee, as well as Rachel Garbow Monroe and the other members of the Weinberg Foundation team in attendance. 

Hawaiʻi employees award $260,000 in grants to nonprofits

The Hawaiʻi office started the Employee Giving Program more than 20 years ago, and on December 10, 13 eligible employees participated in the 47th edition of the event. Each of the 13 employees directed a $20,000 grant to the nonprofit of their choice— consistent with the Foundation’s mission and grantmaking guidelines—with $260,000 in grants awarded in this single day.

Each employee handles every step of the grant process, from completing a site visit, to collecting and reviewing financials, to preparing the final grant recommendation. If the recommendation meets the Foundation’s grantmaking goals and guidelines, it is then shared with the board of directors for formal approval. In total, more than $7 million has been granted to Hawaiʻi nonprofits since the program was launched.

On Wednesday, December 11, the Weinberg Foundation’s Hawaiʻi office hosted its first ever Jewish Leadership Convening. More than 50 leaders representing Hawai’i’s Jewish community attended the discussion, which was led by Rachel Garbow Monroe, Weinberg Foundation President and CEO; Corbett Kalama, Executive Vice President-Chief Operating Officer – Hawaiʻi Office; and Mark Gurvis, Executive Vice President, The Jewish Federations of North America. The goal of the Convening is to better acquaint the community with the work of the Foundation and—most importantly—to help the Foundation better identify needs within, and opportunities to serve, the Jewish community in Hawaiʿi. The Foundation and other key stakeholders are now deciding next steps. More to come!  

Finally, immediately following the Jewish Leadership Convening, the Foundation hosted its annual Mahalo community event. Nearly 200 friends of the Foundation attended this celebration of the Foundation’s work, as well as its wonderful grantees and partners. The Foundation will distribute 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.

Foundation conducts statewide perception survey in Hawaiʻi to maximize impact

Preliminary analysis shows the Foundation is widely recognized for its positive impact in  Hawaiʻi. In particular, participants commented on the Foundation’s creativity in advancing critical real estate transactions, its willingness to step up to support communities in times of need, and the significant amount of capital grants awarded to several organizations statewide. 

However, participants also noted that while the Foundation enjoys strong name recognition, the public—in general—would benefit from greater understanding of the Foundation’s mission, its focus areas, and its priority populations. Respondents also indicated that the Foundation should do more to tell its story and enhance transparency.

The survey was conducted in two parts: an online survey to 1,425 participants, as well as in-depth interviews with 38 of Hawaiʻi’s most influential thought leaders. Audiences included foundations and philanthropists; nonprofits; real estate professionals; government, business, community, and Jewish leaders; and the general public.

The Foundation plans to use responses from this statewide survey to shape operational and communications decisions regarding its work in Hawaiʻi, as it did two years ago after conducting a perception survey of its mainland work. This feedback will enable the Foundation to more effectively support and partner with Hawaiʻi’s nonprofit community.

Wishing everyone safe and happy holidays!

From all of us at The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, thank you for your support and all that you do to make our community stronger.

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.

Breaking Ground
Bronx, NY
$1,500,000 capital grant to support the construction of The Betances, a supportive housing community for older adults, including those who have experienced chronic homelessness.
https://breakingground.org/

Homes for America
Sandy Springs, MD
$600,000 capital grant to support the construction of Friends House, an affordable housing community for older adults.
http://www.homesforamerica.org/

First Place for Youth
Oakland, CA
$500,000 program grant to support this organization’s model, which provides foster youth who were previously in foster care, ages 18-24, with a safe, stable home, as well as individualized support to help them finish high school, enroll in college, develop professional skills, and obtain employment.
https://www.firstplaceforyouth.org/

LYTE Collective
Chicago, IL
$450,000 capital grant to support the creation of the LYTE Lounge, a community center for youth experiencing homelessness.
https://www.lytecollective.org/

Tenufa Bakehila
Throughout Israel
$400,000 capital grant to support the expansion of this organization’s home modifications and wraparound support services for older adults.
https://www.tenufa.org/

Larkin Street Youth Services
San Francisco, CA
$350,000 program grant to support the Rising Up Campaign, a public-private partnership between the City of San Francisco, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners with the goal of reducing youth homelessness.
https://larkinstreetyouth.org/

Habitat for Humanity International – Honolulu
Honolulu, HI
$200,000 capital grant to support the construction of 10 affordable family homes, eight of which are located in rural communities on Oahu.
https://www.honoluluhabitat.org

Self-Help Housing Corporation of Hawaiʻi
Waianae, HI
$115,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides housing development, financial counseling, and homeownership education for families in rural communities.
https://www.selfhelphousingspotlight.org/

The Women’s Housing Coalition
Baltimore, MD
$75,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which works to break the cycle of homelessness for women and children by providing affordable housing and supportive services with the goal of promoting social and financial independence.
https://www.womenshousing.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.

Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
Nanakuli, HI
$300,000 program grant to support the expansion of behavioral health and primary care services as part of this organization’s school-based health program at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School.  
https://www.wcchc.com/

Society of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Latham, NY
$200,000 capital grant to support the construction of a new PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) Center, which will provide comprehensive health care services for chronically ill older adults with the goal of helping them remain independent.
https://www.csjalbany.org/

Older Adults Technology Services
Denver, CO
$180,000 capital grant to support the renovation of a building into a Senior Planet Exploration Center, which will provide free access to technology, as well as a curriculum for training older adults with the goal of improving their health and wellness, financial security, and social engagement.
https://seniorplanet.org/colorado/

Hillel – The Right to Choose
Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv, Israel
$160,000 program grant to support case management, counseling, employment coaching, and housing services for ultra-Orthodox women who are leaving their community.
https://www.hillel.org.il/en/

Hispanic Center of Lehigh Valley
Bethlehem, PA
$150,000 capital grant to support the final phase of renovations at two of this organization’s facilities: a senior center, which helps older adults age in community and the Fowler Community Wellness Center, which provides increased access to health care.
https://www.hclv.org/

HealthCare Access Maryland
Baltimore, MD
$100,000 program grant to support a program that works to improve staff capacity to deliver services in the areas of case management, connections to health insurance, homeless outreach, and housing placement.
https://www.healthcareaccessmaryland.org/

Melabev
Jerusalem, Israel
$100,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides case management, therapeutic activities, and other services for older adults with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, as well as respite and support for family caregivers.
https://www.melabev.org.il/en/front-page/

Asylee Women Enterprise
Baltimore, MD
$50,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides comprehensive services to asylum seekers as they navigate the immigration legal process, rebuild their lives, and heal from past trauma.
http://www.asyleewomen.org/

Intercultural Counseling Connection
Throughout Maryland
$60,000 Small Grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides culturally and linguistically responsive mental health services for asylum seekers, refugees, and other immigrants who have experienced trauma.
http://www.interculturalcounseling.org/  

Waikiki Community Center
Honolulu, HI
$30,000 Small Grant to support this organization’s senior case coordination program, which connects older adults experiencing poverty to housing, public benefits, and other services.
https://www.waikikicommunitycenter.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.

AlSanabel
Hura, Israel
$1,000,000 capital grant to support the construction of a new facility to house the expansion of the Hura Catering Project, which trains and employs Bedouin women.

Jane Addams Resource Corporation
Baltimore, MD and Chicago, IL
$520,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides job-training and placement services in the manufacturing sector for Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinists and welders.
https://www.jane-addams.org/

Upwardly Global
New York, NY
$500,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides job-search and placement services for highly skilled unemployed or underemployed immigrants and refugees.
https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/

South Baltimore Learning Center
Baltimore, MD
$400,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides literacy, job training and placement, and higher education services for adults.
https://southbaltimorelearns.org/

Vehicles for Change
Baltimore, MD
$370,000 capital grant to support the renovation of a full-service automotive facility and garage, creating a facility that will continue to provide auto maintenance services for the public while also housing a training program to help ex-offenders, youth, and veterans become mechanics and service writers.
https://www.vehiclesforchange.org/

Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare
Baltimore, MD
$330,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which helps underemployed and unemployed healthcare workers identify career pathways that lead to economic independence.
http://www.baltimorealliance.org/

Saint Joseph’s Center
Scranton, PA
$300,000 program grant to support a career ladder program for professionals who provide direct care of people with disabilities, ensuring they have access to living wages, benefits, and career growth.
https://www.stjosephscenter.org/

STRIVE International
New York, NY
$250,000 program grant to support this organization’s career pathways program, which provides comprehensive job training and career development services for unemployed and underemployed individuals in the Harlem community.
https://strive.org/

Co-Impact: The Partnership for a Breakthrough in Arab Employment
Throughout Israel
$200,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which seeks to help companies hire more Arab Israelis and improve their experience in the workforce.
https://www.co-impact.org.il/collective-impact

Grace Institute
New York, NY
$200,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which offers two job-training programs for women seeking to re-enter the workforce.
https://graceinstitute.org/

Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities
Bronx, NY
$200,000 program grant to support the Bridges from School to Work program, which helps to facilitate the transition of young adults with disabilities from school to work.
http://www.bridgestowork.org/

South Baltimore Learning Center
Baltimore, MD
$180,000 capital grant to support the renovation of the headquarters (a historic building) of this organization, which provides literacy and life-skills training, as well as other career preparation services for adults.
https://southbaltimorelearns.org/

Avratech
Bnei Brak and Jerusalem, Israel
$150,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides an 18-month job-training program for Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) men seeking a career in the software development field.
http://www.avratech.org.il/

ITWorks
Throughout Israel
$130,000 program grant to support a vocational-training program, including soft-skills building and job-placement services for single mothers.
http://itworks.org.il/

Economic Empowerment for Women
Haifa, Israel
$110,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides Israeli women with the confidence, skills, and support needed to run a small business resulting in economic independence.
https://www.womensown.org/

Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse
Chicago, IL
$100,000 program grant to support this organization’s job-training program, which uses deconstruction (the careful dismantling of building materials for reuse, recycling, and waste reduction) to provide job training for people with barriers to employment.
https://www.evanstonrebuildingwarehouse.org/

Workforce Professionals Training Institute
New York, NY
$75,000 program grant to support the New York City Workforce Systems Leadership Program, a leadership development training program designed to create a corps of leaders who will use their skills, experiences, and networks to respond to the changing workforce development landscape, drive innovative practices, and improve service delivery for residents seeking employment and career advancement.
https://workforceprofessionals.org/

Inspiration Corporation
Chicago, IL
$40,000 capital grant to support building improvements at this organization’s training restaurant, Inspiration Kitchens.
http://www.inspirationcorp.org/

Corporation for a Skilled Workforce
Ann Arbor, MI
$25,000 program grant to support the Workforce Benchmarking Network, which works to improve outcomes for job seekers by ensuring the availability of quality data and by using that data to create more effective programs.
https://skilledwork.org/

Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute
Kahuku, HI
$30,000 Small Grant to support Punahele Projects, a program that provides work-based learning opportunities for public high school students.
https://www.hiphi.org/

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.

Hetrick-Martin Institute
New York, NY
$150,000 program grant to support this organization’s after-school programming, which provides college and career preparedness for LGBTQ youth, ages 13-24.
https://hmi.org/

Chicago Youth Programs
Chicago, IL
$100,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization that works to improve the health and life opportunities of at-risk youth using a comprehensive approach focused on developing capabilities.
https://chicagoyouthprograms.org/

First Graduate
San Francisco, CA
$100,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which strives to help students become the first in their families to graduate from college, ready for the workforce.
https://firstgraduate.org/

BUILD
Chicago, IL
$80,000 program grant to support this organization’s out-of-school time program, which provides a range of services, including academic tutoring, life-skills workshops, health and wellness groups, and arts enrichment, for more than 200 youth annually with the goal of preventing gang involvement and other at-risk behavior.
https://www.buildchicago.org/

St. Francis Neighborhood Center
Baltimore, MD
$80,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which works to end generational poverty through programs that blend academic learning with enriching activities to improve self-esteem and strengthen connections to the community.
https://www.stfranciscenter.org/

McGlynn Learning Center
Wilkes Barre, PA
$50,000 Small Grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides educational, cultural, and academic outreach programs for children and their families.
https://www.mcglynncenter.org/index.html

Wide Angle Youth Media
Baltimore, MD
$35,000 Small Grant to support the construction of a new media lab, which will provide space to expand program offerings for high school students and older youth.
https://www.wideanglemedia.org/

Community Services

The Foundation recognizes that certain service providers operate multiple programs that meet a range of needs and therefore incorporate many of the Foundation’s focus areas. Organizations that provide services bridging the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, and Education may be eligible for a Community Services grant. The Foundation also is engaged in selected initiatives addressing Jewish poverty on a national scale, as well as strengthening the leadership of nonprofits that will serve the Jewish community moving forward.

Baltimore Community Foundation
Baltimore, MD
$1,000,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which works to improve the quality of life for City residents through grantmaking, strategic investments, and partnerships.
https://www.bcf.org/

Jewish Funders Network
New York, NY
$500,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which works to advance the quality and impact of Jewish philanthropy, and to support the National Affinity Group on Jewish Poverty, a nationwide collaborative effort dedicated to addressing the issue of poverty within the Jewish community throughout the US.
https://www.jfunders.org/

PRC (Positive Resource Center)
San Francisco, CA
$350,000 capital grant to support the creation of an integrated services center and headquarters for this organization, which is focused on eliminating social barriers to health and community.
https://prcsf.org/

Baltimore Corps
Baltimore, MD
$175,000 program grant to support the placement of three fellows at local government agencies, including the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, and the Office of the Baltimore County Executive.
https://www.baltimorecorps.org/

Jewish Family Services of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania
$100,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which works to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families through counseling, advocacy, and education programming.
https://jfsnepa.org/

Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation
San Francisco, CA
$100,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization, which provides affordable housing, after-school and health and wellness programs, and older adult services for residents.
https://www.tndc.org/