Search

Jewish Women’s Foundation

We bring positive change to the lives of Jewish women and children in South Jersey and around the world by funding programs in education, self-esteem and empowerment, health, leadership and Jewish identity.

Global Connections

Jewish Women's Foundation

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of Southern New Jersey (JWF of SNJ) is a female-led committee of the Funds Development Board of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey.  JWF of SNJ partners with the Jewish Community Foundation, Inc. to bring positive change to the lives of Jewish women and children in the Southern New Jersey Jewish community and around the world.  

The JWF of SNJ is comprised of women of all ages with varied backgrounds and experiences, whose membership dues create a funding pool from which grants are awarded each year.  These women share a desire to expand and improve the lives of women and children. 

Question about JWF of SNJ? Please contact Arielle Ben-Haim

JWF seeks to support projects such as:

  • Leadership training for women
  • Shabbat boxes for families in need
  • Personal safety and well-being classes for women with special needs
  • Assistance and support services for victims of domestic violence
  • Women’s counseling services on college campuses
  • Sexual abuse awareness videos
  • Economic empowerment tools for young women at risk
  • Respite care for female caregivers
  • STEM programs for girls at Jewish day schools
  • Assistance and support services for single mothers

All applicants must be 501(c)3 organizations. Organizations from Israel or other countries must have a sponsoring American organization in order to be eligible to receive funding. 

Jewish Women’s Foundation Donna Bell
Jewish Women’s Foundation Women's Event 2022

How It Works

Annually in December, local and international non-profit organizations can submit a letter of intent to receive funding for a program that brings positive change to the lives of Jewish women and children.  In March, letters of intent are reviewed by the Grants Committee and a group will be selected to submit a full grant application in April. 

The 2025 Letter of Intent and Grant Application is now closed.

An invitation to submit a full grant application will be sent to prospective grantees. Invited candidates will need to review the grant application instructions provided to them before completing the grant application form. 

The 2025 Full Grant Application is now closed.

2025 Grant Selections

The committee selected the following programs to fund this year:

Congregation Beth El’s Healing Arts Kits Mitzvah Project: A packing event for Artists 4 Israel to prevent Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
as a result of October 7th

Congregation Beth Tikvah’s Intergenerational Women’s Leadership in the Synagogue and Other Jewish Organizations: 5-part workshop series to equip Jewish women of various generations/denominations with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become effective leaders in their synagogues and other Jewish organizations

Jewish Children’s & Family Service (JFCS) Play Therapy Professional Development: Specialized training for the mental health clinicians in the Faye Manger Counseling Department who work with children and adolescents

JFCS 3rd Annual SARAH Self Care Social: Event aims to boost self-esteem, celebrate personal successes, and support the recovery of JFCS Project SARAH clients who have experienced domestic abuse

Katz Jewish Community Center (JCC) Camp Hilltop Sensory Building: Project to create a more inclusive and supportive environment at Camp Hilltop, where all children – espeically those with sensory sensitivities – can fully participate in the camp experience 

Katz JCC Disability Services’ “Representation in the Arts: Please Stand By”: The first installment of a film series expanding on the existing program by fostering a more inclusive and accepting community by increasing awareness and representatin of young women with disabilities, particularly autism 

Katz JCC’s Parkinson’s Connection’s & Aleph Home Care’s Caring for Our Caregivers: A program in two phases – a day of rejuvination and
weekly support groups 

Congregation Sons of Israel’s Children and Women’s Safety Initiative: A comprehensive child and sexual abuse prevention policy that ensures the safety and well-being of women and children who attend the synagogue with the expertise  of Sacred Spaces, an organization specializing in preventative abuse policies within Jewish organizations 

Temple Sinai Cinnaminson’s Bringing the Joy of Shabbat to Our Jewish Community in Long Term Care Facilities: The objective is to provide the celebration of Shabbat and Jewish festivals to Jewish LTC residents who do not have the ability to participate elsewhere or within their facility but wish to maintain their Jewish customs

DROR Derech Rikki V Racheli’s Young Women’s Leadership Training Program: 15 female participants of the DROR – Nehenim B’noam Leadership training program will engage in weekly meetings to bolster leadership ability, empowerment, self esteem and communication skills

Emunah of America’s Neshot Chayil B’emunah Project: Aimed at providing therapeutic support and intervention for Israeli women whose lives have been deeply affected by the ongoing war

Fighting Online Antisemitism (FOA)’s Online Activists Bootcamp for Women: Program for Jewish women across the United States and Israel of all ages, in which they can learn how they can actively work against the rising antisemitism in creating an internal resilience front alongside fighting antisemitism on social media

Heather Kramer, Chair

Heather Kramer, Chair

I am grateful to have the opportunity to be part of JWF. As past membership, grants, and overall chair, I have been involved in donating over $170,000 dollars to 35 organizations since I joined 5 years ago. I love working with smart and charitable women of all ages to create a positive impact for Jewish women and children all across the world.

Anat Cohen, Grants Chair

Anat Cohen, Grants Chair

I have been interested in women’s philanthropy for many years so when a group of us decided to form a Jewish women’s foundation I was all in. I love working together with like minded women pooling our resources and making decisions on funding needs that speak to us. Later, hearing from our grant recipients about the outcome of the projects we have funded, I feel so proud to have made a difference.

How to Help

Become a Member

  • Make an annual commitment of $5,000 or more to the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey and/or our family of agencies. 
  • Make an additional commitment of $500 or more to JWF 
  • Must be in good financial standing to the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey 

Our Directory

Jewish Women’s Foundation

Lifetime Members

Members who make an  endowed gift with a  minimum of $10,000 to JWF

Helene Blumenfeld
Valerie Gladfelter
Sydria Schaffer, M.D.
Janine M. Sobel, M.D.
Marjorie Sobel *
Cindy Yellin

Leadership

Heather Kramer
Chair

Anat Cohen
Grants Chair

Nancy Toll Perilstein
Membership Chair 

Alison Bell-Keim
Past Chair

Janine M. Sobel, M.D.
Founding Chair 

Current Members

Roberta Abramowitz
Caroline Austin
Liz Baim
Donna Bell
Helene Blumenfeld
Ronit Boyd
Joyce Lynn Branfman
Anat Cohen
Jodi Kaufman-Cooper
Marsha Z. Dollinger
Stacy Lewin Farber
Caren Fendrick
Judy Franken
Valerie Gladfelter
Sara-ellen Greenberg
Ilene Grossman
Raechel Hammer
Amanda Kaminer
Alison Bell Keim
Heather Kramer
Andrea Levin
Rebecca Levy
Judy Love
Carol Lupo
Nancy Toll Perilstein
Judith Platt
Gerri Rudner
Shira Katz Scanlon
Sydria Schaffer, M.D.
Janine M. Sobel, M.D.
Jennifer Dubrow Weiss
Natalie Werbitt
Hon. Judy Wizmur
Cindy Yellin
Vicki Zell

Founding Members

Shelly Abramson
Janice Apple
Debby Baratz
Abby Belafsky
Donna Bell
Helene Blumenfeld
Sandy Brown
Stephanie Cahn
Anat Cohen
Peggy David
Ceil Diamond
Marsha Z. Dollinger
Anita Farber
Patricia Feinerman
Ruth Feldman
Judy Franken
Valerie Gladfelter
Amy Green
Sara-ellen Greenberg
Judy Auritt Klein*
Fran Levy
Marlene L. Levy
Judy Love
Nancy Morgenstern, Esq.
Judie Morrow
Barbara Pearlman *
Eileen Perice
Judith Platt
Fran Rebhun, D.M.D.
Dr. Mindy Goldberg Rose *
Gerri Rudner
Gerrie Rudoler
Marcy Sanders
Sydria Schaffer, M.D.
Joan Shuster *
Janine M. Sobel, M.D.
Marjorie Sobel *
Elaine Waxman
Hon. Judith Wizmur
Vicki Zell 

* Of Blessed Memory