Jewish Federation of Orange County
Jewish Federation of Orange County (JFedOC) is a public charity based in Irvine, California. Incorporated in 1965 under its original name, Jewish Community Council of Orange County, it convenes and leads the local Jewish community and its partners, supports Jewish life, assists people in need, and strengthens connections with Israel and Jewish communities globally.
Key facts about Jewish Federation of Orange County
In short: Jewish Federation of Orange County gave $1.4M across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $113K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 95-2407026
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,350,689
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- Average grant
- $112,557
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $14,735,910
- Primary geography
- New York (59% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Next open deadline
- March 15, 2027 (Passport to Jewish Life Grants)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$14.7M
+5.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-12.9% YoY
Grant Count
12
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$113K
+30.6% YoY
How Jewish Federation of Orange County gives
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
JFedOC’s stated mission is to convene, engage, and lead the Orange County Jewish community and its partners; leverage resources to enhance and sustain Jewish life; assist Jews in need; mobilize on issues of concern to the local Jewish community; and strengthen its bond with Israel and Jewish people globally.
Its 2024 grantmaking included support for a range of Jewish organizations and programs. For example, Jewish Family Service of San Diego describes its mission as building a stronger, healthier, more resilient San Diego through client-centered work; Hillel Foundation of Orange County says it seeks to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students at local universities and community colleges; and Camp Ramah in California says it creates educational communities where campers and staff learn to live committed Jewish lives embodying Conservative Jewish ideals.
JFedOC also describes initiatives for Jewish teens, summer and other educational experiences, campus engagement, and community arts and culture. Its 2024 filing reports support for social services, including case management and assistance for Holocaust survivors and Orange County households.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, JFedOC reported 12 grants totaling $1,350,689. The grants ranged from $6,600 to $792,323, with a median grant of $37,500. The largest awards included $792,323 to Jewish Federations of North America for Israel and overseas “fair share” support, $219,216 to Jewish Family Service of San Diego for a Holocaust survivor program, and $90,000 to Hillel Foundation of Orange County for Rose Project and teen initiative grants. Other listed awards included $77,550 to Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County, $50,000 each to Jewish Educators Association of Orange County and Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo, and $25,000 to Congregation B’nai Israel.
JFedOC’s Passport to Jewish Life program supports eligible Orange County students’ participation in Jewish educational experiences. Its published guidelines include summer camps, learning seminars and summer yeshivas, Israel and Israel-Poland experiences, and Maccabi programs. Summer applicants must meet the program’s grade and residency requirements; RootOne-subsidized Israel programs are excluded, and Passport awards are subject to a lifetime cap per student. The program listing gives March 15, 2027 as the deadline. JFedOC’s website separately states that applications are closed for 2026.
The Teen Engagement and Wellness Initiative is described as a multi-year investment in Orange County tween and teen programs, with grant funding and professional development for youth professionals. The initiative page says its application is closed; the program listing describes it as currently open. JFedOC’s 2024 filing says its teen initiative grants supported five partner programs.
JFedOC’s filing says grantmaking committees set eligibility and selection criteria, which vary by program. Grantees must provide IRS tax-exemption documentation and year-end reports assessing program results and challenges; program-grant reports include a comparison of proposed and actual expenses.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Jewish Federation of Orange County
Ready to take the next step with Jewish Federation of Orange County?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
JFedOC states that its purpose includes sustaining Jewish life in Orange County, Israel, and globally. Its Passport and Teen Engagement and Wellness initiatives are specifically described as serving Orange County. In 2024, 41% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 59% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $144K (2020) to $1.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish Federations of North America Inc ($792K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 55 (62%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federations of North America Inc New York, NY | Israel & Overseas; Fair Share | $792,323 |
| Jewish Family Service of San Diego San Diego, CA | Holocaust Survivor Program | $219,216 |
| Hillel Foundation of Orange County Irvine, CA | Rose Project Grant; Teen Initiative Grant | $90,000 |
| Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County Irvine, CA | Passports Camp Grants; Arts Grant; Teen Initiative Grants | $77,550 |
| Jewish Educators Association of Orange County Long Beach, CA | Teen Initiative Grant | $50,000 |
| Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo Mission Viejo, CA | Teen Initiative Grant | $50,000 |
| Congregation B'nai Israel Tustin, CA | Teen Initiative Grant | $25,000 |
| Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County Irvine, CA | Unused 2023 Grants Funds (Jfedoc - Fedleads) | $10,000 |
| Chabad at UCI Irvine, CA | Rose Project Grant | $10,000 |
| Camp Ramah in California Encino, CA | Passports Camp Grants | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,735,910 | $4,719,188 | $4,566,375 | $1,350,689 |
| 2023 | $13,988,874 | $5,967,405 | $4,342,335 | $1,551,469 |
| 2022 | $12,101,865 | $4,860,563 | $4,417,692 | $1,275,542 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,735,910 | $13,988,874 | $12,101,865 |
| Revenue | $4,719,188 | $5,967,405 | $4,860,563 |
| Expenses | $4,566,375 | $4,342,335 | $4,417,692 |
| Net Investment Income | $464,499 | $229,300 | $206,615 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 5, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Amir Kahana as chair of the board, Danielle Bronner as secretary, and Barry Grossman as treasurer. Directors listed are Heather Kline, Lori Schwartz, Sharon Beck, Naomi Blesofsky, Yael Aronoff, Jason Feld, and Roger Friedman.
Jewish Federation of Orange County is led by Erik Ludwig, President & Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2022; 4 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Erik Ludwig
President & Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$193K (2022) → $363K (2024)
Amir Kahana
Chair of the Board
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Chair of the Board, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Kline
Director
Vice Chair of the Board → Chair of the Board, 2021
Chair of the Board → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Schwartz
Director
Chair of the Board → Immediate Past Chair, 2020
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roger F. Friedman
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yael Aronoff
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Wyman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stuart Wolfe
Director
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Alfi
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Putterman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Beck
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patty Seyburn
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Kaufman
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bentley Kerr
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Feld
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Len Simon
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Naomi Blesofsky
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Macdonald
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard Levy
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margot Shapiro
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Mellon
Chief Administrative Officer
Senior Director → Chief Administrative Officer, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$112K (2019) → $136K (2024)
Stephanie Epstein
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Senior Director → Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$109K (2019) → $140K (2024)
Adina Kosoff
Controller
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$144K (2023) → $150K (2024)
Barry Grossman
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Bronner
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (27)
- Former: Adam Miller (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: David Siegel (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Rabbi David Eliezrie (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Rabbi Nico Socolovsky (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Marsie Alford (2020–2022) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Allan Gindi (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Daniel Roizman (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Dmitriy Chebotarev (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Rebbetzin Naomi Blesofsky (2022) — Director
- Former: Arlene Miller (2019–2021) — President & CEO
- Former: Kenny Beard (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nadine Durbach (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Stephen H. Gordon (2020–2021) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Eric Kramer (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gwen Gluckman (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Lori Reznick (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Marc Garelick (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Shapiro (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Bernie Labowitz (2019) — Director
- Former: Bonnie Widerman (2019) — Director
- Former: Deborah Siminou (2019) — Director
- Former: Doris Jacobson (2019) — Director
- Former: Frank Ellis (2019) — Director
- Former: James M. Weiss MD (2019) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Gerber (2019) — Director
- Former: Lauren Gavshon Brand (2019) — COO
- Former: Susan Levinstein (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $363K, to Erik Ludwig (President & Chief Executive Officer). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1 Federation Way 210, Irvine, CA 92603
Phone: (949) 435-3484
Website: https://jewishorangecounty.org
Frequently asked questions about Jewish Federation of Orange County
How much does Jewish Federation of Orange County give each year?
Jewish Federation of Orange County gave $1.4M across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 18 grants.
What is Jewish Federation of Orange County's typical grant size?
Jewish Federation of Orange County's median grant in 2024 was $37,500, and its average grant was $112,557, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Jewish Federation of Orange County give grants?
Jewish Federation of Orange County gives mostly in New York: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (41%). The most frequent recipient cities were Irvine, CA (4 grants).
Does Jewish Federation of Orange County give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Jewish Federation of Orange County's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Teen Initiative Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Jewish Federation of Orange County's largest grantees?
Jewish Federation of Orange County's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish Federations of North America Inc ($792,323), Jewish Family Service of San Diego ($219,216) and Hillel Foundation of Orange County ($90,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Jewish Federation of Orange County?
Jewish Federation of Orange County reported $14.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What does Jewish Federation of Orange County fund?
JFedOC’s stated mission is to convene, engage, and lead the Orange County Jewish community and its partners; leverage resources to enhance and sustain Jewish life; assist Jews in need; mobilize on issues of concern to the local Jewish community; and strengthen its bond with Israel and Jewish people globally. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jewish Federation of Orange County?
Jewish Federation of Orange County has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check jewishorangecounty.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Jewish Federation of Orange County's EIN?
Jewish Federation of Orange County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-2407026. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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