American Academy for Jewish
The American Academy for Jewish Research is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is classified as a private foundation. It supports Jewish Studies scholarship through graduate research funding, workshops, and a prize for a first book in Judaic studies.
American Academy for Jewish at a glance
In short: American Academy for Jewish gave $46K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $46,177
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- Average grant
- $2,309
- Median grant
- $2,784
- Total assets
- $2,488,883
- +10.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (23% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to American Academy for Jewish
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Separately, its 2026–2027 dissertation research funding call invites applications from eligible Ph.D. students. Applicants must submit a CV, a research proposal of no more than five double-spaced pages, an itemized budget approved by their advisor, and a recommendation letter from their principal advisor. The proposal must show a need for archival, library, or manuscript materials or ethnographic research. Applicants must notify the Academy if they receive other summer grants.
- Review Cycle
- February 2, 2027, for the 2026–2027 dissertation research funding cycle.
- Deadline
- February 2, 2027, for the 2026–2027 dissertation research funding cycle.
- Contact
Mailing address: 305 E Eisenhower Ste 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (616) 942-6440
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who American Academy for Jewish funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Natalie Bernstien ($4K). Together the top 4 received $15K.
Organizations only. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($31,538), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 22 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Academy’s website describes its scholarly commitment as serving North American universities. In its 2025 filing, grant dollars went to recipients in California (23%), Pennsylvania (18%), Maryland (15%), Michigan (12%), and Washington (11%), among other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How American Academy for Jewish gives
- Giving grew 7596% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2021 it paid out 64% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $600 (2022) to $46K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 16 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $31,538 |
| Natalie Bernstien Los Angeles, CA | Research Grant | $4,000 |
| Lauren Bradford Charleston, SC | Research Grant | $4,000 |
| Shiyong Lu New York, NY | Research Grant | $3,642 |
| Ariel Horowitz Standford, CA | Research Grant | $2,997 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,488,883 | $178,702 | $119,791 | $46,177 | 20 | $89,418 | $151,009 | — |
| 2024 | $2,244,658 | $154,239 | $108,485 | — | — | $83,319 | $129,557 | — |
| 2023 | $2,094,627 | $93,461 | $119,596 | — | — | $87,060 | $62,509 | — |
| 2022 | $2,081,353 | $134,465 | $134,938 | $600 | 1 | $102,844 | $107,073 | — |
| 2021 | $2,458,775 | $237,876 | $98,680 | $1,920 | 1 | $73,239 | $201,499 | $113,572 |
| 2020 | $2,229,893 | $107,566 | $65,699 | $2,000 | 1 | — | $82,790 | $98,463 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Academy’s stated commitment is to enhance Judaic studies throughout North American universities. Its programs include dissertation research stipends for Ph.D. students in any field of Jewish Studies at North American universities, workshops for graduate students and early-career faculty, and the annual Salo Baron Prize for the best first book in Judaic studies.
For the 2026–2027 research funding cycle, eligible expenses include research-related costs such as travel and the purchase of copied or scanned materials. Funding is not intended for language study or equipment.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Academy reported 20 grants totaling $46,177. Grants ranged from $49 to $5,766, with a median of $2,784. Filing-year 2025 grants included individual awards of $5,766 for a student seminar in Michigan, $5,205 for a student seminar in Pennsylvania, $4,576 for research and a student seminar in Washington, and $4,342 for research and a student seminar in Maryland. Other listed awards included $4,000 for research in California and $3,000 for a Baron Prize in California.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Magda Teter as president, Beth Wenger as treasurer, David Biale as vice president, and Kay Shelemay as secretary. It also lists Gershon Hundert, Lila Corwin Berman, Nathaniel Deutsch, Lisa Leff, Derek Penslar, and Pamela Nadell as executive directors.
American Academy for Jewish is led by Derek Penslar, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 12 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Derek Penslar
Executive Director
President → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gershon Hundert
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Veidlinger
Executive Director
Executive Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lila Corwin Berman
Executive Director
Treasurer → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Magda Teter
President
Executive Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annette Yoshiko Reed
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Biale
V President
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Leff
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathaniel Deutsch
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Nadell
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Wenger
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kay Shelemay
Secretary
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Anita Norich (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: David Sorkin (2020–2021) — V President
- Former: David Stern (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Elisheva Carlebach (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Miriam Bodian (2020–2021) — Secretary & P
- Former: Naomi Seidman (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Shaul Magid (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Steven Fraade (2020–2021) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about American Academy for Jewish
How much does American Academy for Jewish give each year?
American Academy for Jewish gave $46K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is American Academy for Jewish's typical grant size?
American Academy for Jewish's median grant in 2025 was $2,784, and its average grant was $2,309, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does American Academy for Jewish give grants?
American Academy for Jewish's top state is California, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (18%) and Maryland (15%).
Does American Academy for Jewish give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on American Academy for Jewish's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Student Seminar" (11 grants), "Research Grant" (4 grants) and "Research Grant/Student Seminar" (3 grants).
Who are American Academy for Jewish's largest grantees?
American Academy for Jewish's largest 2025 grantees include Natalie Bernstien ($4,000), Lauren Bradford ($4,000) and Shiyong Lu ($3,642), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($31,538), which are not listed by name. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is American Academy for Jewish?
American Academy for Jewish reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $179K.
What does American Academy for Jewish fund?
The Academy’s stated commitment is to enhance Judaic studies throughout North American universities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Academy for Jewish?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is American Academy for Jewish's EIN?
American Academy for Jewish's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6003005. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does American Academy for Jewish accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from American Academy for Jewish's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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