Jewish Federation of San Diego County
Jewish Federation of an individual recipient County is a public charity based in an individual recipient, California. It mobilizes community resources, leaders, and organizations to address needs in Jewish communities locally, in Israel, and around the world, with work spanning community well-being, Jewish life, global connections, and security.
Key facts about Jewish Federation of San Diego County
In short: Jewish Federation of San Diego County gave $2.7M across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $54K), mostly in New York. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 95-1319015
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,744,293
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- Average grant
- $53,810
- Median grant
- $15,555
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (16 of 51, 2025)
- Total assets
- $39,715,808
- Primary geography
- New York (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$39.7M
+21.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
-38.5% YoY
Grant Count
51
+21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
-49.4% YoY
Is Jewish Federation of San Diego County open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 51 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $71K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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
The organization’s stated mission is to build a vibrant, caring, connected, and enduring Jewish community. It says it broadens and deepens engagement in Jewish life, strengthens Jewish identity, fosters connections with Israel, and cares for Jews in need.
Its four priorities are caring for Jews in need, building a vibrant Jewish future, connecting with Israel and global Jewry, and creating a resilient and secure community. Activities described on its website include supporting local Holocaust Survivors, responding to Jewish poverty, providing Jewish chaplaincy services, engaging young people in Jewish life, developing Jewish leaders, fighting antisemitism, and enhancing community security.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. An individual recipient Jewish Academy says it empowers students to learn for life, guided by Jewish values and rooted in community. Kindness Initiative says it works to alleviate poverty in the an individual recipient Jewish community through case management and distribution of personal and household goods. Birthright Israel Foundation says it raises funds to support educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults. Secure Community Network says it works to create a comprehensive security shield for the Jewish community through services including information sharing, facility assessments, training, and incident response.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Federation reported 51 grants totaling $2,744,293. Grants ranged from $5,400 to $690,875, with a median of $15,555. Among the largest were $690,875 to Jewish Federations of North America for serving the needy; $324,602 to Jewish Agency for Israel for youth services; $250,214 to Secure Community Network for security; $211,750 to Lawrence Family JCC for education and youth services; and $120,000 to Hillel of an individual recipient for security and services.
Other 2025 grants included $100,000 to Joint Distribution Committee and $100,000 to Kavod – Jewish Foundation of Greater Memphis, both for serving the needy; $94,940 to Ken Jewish Community Center for youth services; $81,438 to the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles for natural disaster relief; $55,306 to an individual recipient Jewish Academy for scholarships, security, and leadership; $53,500 to AJC San Diego for antisemitism; and $50,000 to Birthright Israel Foundation for education and youth services.
Ready to take the next step with Jewish Federation of San Diego County?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Federation describes work in an individual recipient, Israel, and around the world. In 2025, 43% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 52% to recipients in New York; the remaining reported shares were Tennessee (4%), Colorado (1%), and Georgia (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2020) to $4.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish Federations of North America ($691K). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($55,306), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
180 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 180 (71%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federations of North America New York, NY | Serving the Needy | $690,875 |
| Jewish Agency for Israel New York, NY | Youth Services | $324,602 |
| Secure Community Network New York, NY | Security | $250,214 |
| Lawrence Family JCC La Jolla, CA | Education/Youth Services | $211,750 |
| Hillel of San Diego La Jolla, CA | Security/Services | $120,000 |
| Joint Distribution Committee New York, NY | Serving the Needy | $100,000 |
| Kavod - Jewish Foundation of Greater Memphis Memphis, TN | Serving the Needy | $100,000 |
| Ken Jewish Community Center San Diego, CA | Youth Services | $94,940 |
| The Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles Los Angels, CA | Natural Disaster Relief | $81,438 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $55,306 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,715,808 | $17,617,403 | $13,516,427 | $2,744,293 |
| 2024 | $32,572,522 | $25,666,223 | $14,152,657 | $4,462,148 |
| 2023 | $18,941,309 | $7,849,261 | $8,855,509 | $3,033,116 |
The Federation states that its endowment spending policy appropriates up to 7% of the fair value of the endowment’s twelve-quarter rolling average. It also reports a beneficial interest in certain endowment funds held by the Jewish Community Foundation, with distributions used to further the Federation’s mission.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $39,715,808 | $32,572,522 | $18,941,309 |
| Revenue | $17,617,403 | $25,666,223 | $7,849,261 |
| Expenses | $13,516,427 | $14,152,657 | $8,855,509 |
| Net Investment Income | $327,558 | $313,254 | $107,370 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tina Brenbaum as Jewish Community Foundation Board Chair, David Fuhriman as CFO, Sonia Israel as Vice Co-Chair, Campaign, and Sara Kabakoff as Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Co-Chair. It also lists Victor Shlionsky, Sarah Shekhter, Simone Abelsohn, Silvana Christy, Seth Krosner, and Kira Finkenberg as directors-at-large.
Jewish Federation of San Diego County is led by Heidi Gantwerk, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 7 of 39 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heidi Gantwerk
President & CEO
Interim President & CEO → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$21K (2022) → $346K (2025)
David Bark
Board Chair
Director-At-Large → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debbie Deverett
Women's Philanthropy Board Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ilene Gail Tatro
Senior Director of Community Planning
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$115K (2025)
Matthew Goldberg
Director of Caring & Community Relations
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
David Bramzon
Director-At-Large
Board Chair → Immediate Past Board Chair, 2022
Immediate Past Board Chair → Director-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kira Finkenberg
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Kornfeld
Director-At-Large
Director-At-Large → Director, 2023
Director → Director-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Rubenstein
Director-At-Large
Vice Chair, Secretary & Treasurer → Director-At-Large, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Seth Krosner
Director-At-Large
Director-At-Large → Vice Co-Chair, 2022
Vice Co-Chair → Director-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Silvana Christy
Director-At-Large
Director-At-Large → Vice Co-Chair, 2022
Vice Co-Chair → Director-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Simone Abelsohn
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elliot Scott
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Guri Stark
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Uri Feldman
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Hauser Erickson
Director-At-Large
Director → Director-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Howard Somers
Director-At-Large
Director → Director-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Datnow
Director-At-Large
Director → Director-At-Large, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Pearl
Director-At-Large
Women's Philanthropy Board Chair → Director-At-Large, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debbie Kornberg
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ingram Losner
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josh Feder
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meryl Maneker
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Shekhter
Director-At-Large
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Abraham
Director-At-Large
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronit Dorker
Director-At-Large
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victor Shlionsky
Director-At-Large
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darren Schwartz
Chief Planning & Strategy
Employee → Chief Planning & Strategy Officer, 2021
Chief Planning & Strategy Officer → Chief Planning & Strategy, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$114K (2020) → $188K (2025)
Carly Ezell Lobenstein
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Marketing & Engagement Officer → Chief Marketing Officer, 2024
Chief Marketing Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$91K (2023) → $148K (2025)
David Fuhriman
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$96K (2025)
Joanna Chiu
Controller
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$110K (2025)
Jack Maizel
Immediate Past Board Chair
Vice Co-Chair → Board Chair, 2022
Board Chair → Immediate Past Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Katz
Vice Chair, Secretary & T
Vice Chair, Secretary & T → Vice Chair, Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
Vice Chair, Secretary & Treasurer → Vice Chair, Secretary & T, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Schindler
Vice Co-Chair & Campaign
Director-At-Large → Vice Co-Chair, 2024
Vice Co-Chair → Vice Co-Chair & Campaign, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sonia Israel
Vice Co-Chair & Campaign
Vice Co-Chair → Vice Co-Chair & Campaign, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Keith
Women's Philanthropy Campaign Co-Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Pearl
Permanent Guest
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Kabakoff
Women's Philanthropy Campaign Co-Chair
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tina Brenbaum
Jewish Community Foundation Board Chai
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Beth Sirull (2020–2024) — Permanent Guest Jcf CEO
- Former: Judi Gottschalk (2020–2024) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Graeme Gabriel (2023–2024) — Jewish Community Foundation Board Chair
- Former: Scott McGrath (2023–2024) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Suzanne Slatkin (2023–2024) — CFO
- Former: Elizabeth Weinrib (2024) — Women's Philanthropy Board Chair
- Former: June Chocheles (2024) — Women's Philanthropy Board Chair
- Former: Laura Vainer (2020–2023) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Lori Polin (2020–2023) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Theresa Dupuis (2020–2023) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Jodie Graber (2022–2023) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Sabrina Kerbel (2023) — Women's Philanthropy Campa
- Former: Brian Tauber (2020–2022) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Britney Ewing (2020–2022) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Caryn Viterbi (2020–2022) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Janet Acheatel (2020–2022) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Laura Tauber (2020–2022) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Michael Jeser (2020–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Susan Halliday (2020–2022) — CFO
- Former: Myra Geisener (2021–2022) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Olga Worm (2021–2022) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Laura Vainer-Mekler (2022) — Director-At-Large
- Former: Raquel Benguiat (2020–2021) — Director-At-Large
- Former: James Lewis (2020) — Director-At-Large
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $346K, to Heidi Gantwerk (President & CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 4950 Murphy Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92123-4325
Phone: (858) 571-3444
Frequently asked questions about Jewish Federation of San Diego County
How much does Jewish Federation of San Diego County give each year?
Jewish Federation of San Diego County gave $2.7M across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.5M across 42 grants.
What is Jewish Federation of San Diego County's typical grant size?
Jewish Federation of San Diego County's median grant in 2025 was $15,555, and its average grant was $53,810, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jewish Federation of San Diego County that year got $16K on average.
Where does Jewish Federation of San Diego County give grants?
Jewish Federation of San Diego County gives mostly in New York: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (43%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (24 grants), New York, NY (6 grants), La Jolla, CA (6 grants) and Encinitas, CA (2 grants).
Does Jewish Federation of San Diego County give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 51 grants with a stated purpose on Jewish Federation of San Diego County's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Security" (11 grants), "Serving the Needy" (7 grants) and "Youth Services" (5 grants).
Who are Jewish Federation of San Diego County's largest grantees?
Jewish Federation of San Diego County's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish Federations of North America ($690,875), Jewish Agency for Israel ($324,602) and Secure Community Network ($250,214), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($55,306), which are not listed by name. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jewish Federation of San Diego County?
Jewish Federation of San Diego County reported $39.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $17.6M.
What does Jewish Federation of San Diego County fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to build a vibrant, caring, connected, and enduring Jewish community. It says it broadens and deepens engagement in Jewish life, strengthens Jewish identity, fosters connections with Israel, and cares for Jews in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jewish Federation of San Diego County?
Jewish Federation of San Diego County has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Jewish Federation of San Diego County's EIN?
Jewish Federation of San Diego County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-1319015. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Jewish Federation of San Diego County by hand.
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