National Center to Encourage
The National Center to Encourage Judaism (NCEJ) is a private foundation based in Kensington, Maryland, established in 1981. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to funding programs that welcome new people to Judaism, with a particular focus on interfaith couples, individuals interested in conversion, and others exploring Judaism.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
-6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$380K
+22.5% YoY
Grant Count
40
+14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+7.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, National Center to Encourage reported a distributable amount of $344K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
NCEJ's mission centers on welcoming new people to Judaism and addressing the challenge of Jewish population decline through outreach and education. The foundation operates from the belief that Judaism must actively reach out to non-Jews and Jews alike, making efforts to "welcome the stranger into our midst" and clearly communicating what Judaism has to offer.
The foundation funds three primary program categories:
- Introduction to Jewish Beliefs & Traditions — Fostering welcoming and educational pathways to Judaism
- Interfaith/Intercultural Engagement — Connecting interfaith individuals to Judaism
- Holiday Programming — Celebrating and connecting newcomers to Jewish life
Grantmaking
NCEJ funds programs worldwide that engage, educate, and connect interfaith couples, people interested in conversion, and others exploring Judaism.
Review Cycle
- Questions are encouraged during the application process
How to Apply
uses a straightforward one-page form
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NCEJ funds programs worldwide, with particular activity in the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,687,177
- Total Revenues: $313,142
- Total Expenses: $478,635
- Investment Income and Dividends: $148,372
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $164,770
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $2.87M
- Revenue: $248,000
- Expenses: $394,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation has no employees and operates as a grantmaking organization.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,687,177 | $2,865,827 | $3,016,556 |
| Revenue | $313,142 | $248,149 | $155,226 |
| Expenses | $478,635 | $393,730 | $349,843 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $478,635 | $393,730 | $349,843 |
| Net Investment Income | $148,372 | $145,741 | $133,479 |
| Distributable Amount | $344,370 | $290,091 | $297,256 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Union Reform Judaism ($70,000), Institute for Southern Jewish Life ($45,000), Various Synagogues ($43,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM HUDSON, OH | GENERAL | $1,050 |
| TEMPLE BNAI ISRAEL MONROE MONROE, LA | GENERAL | $1,725 |
| KENESETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION ALLENTOWN, PA | GENERAL | $7,100 |
| SHA'AR ZAHAV SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $17,100 |
| INSTITUTE FOR SOUTHERN JEWISH LIFE JACKSON, MS | GENERAL | $45,000 |
| JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| UNION REFORM JUDAISM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $70,000 |
| VARIOUS SYNAGOGUES ALL IN USCANADA, MD | GENERAL | $43,000 |
| ALEPH ALLIANCE FOR JEWISH RENEWAL PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL | $6,600 |
| BUFFALO JEWISH FEDERATION WILLIAMSVILLE, NY | GENERAL | $6,400 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELLEN GERECHT | PRESIDENT | 10 | $36,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
NCEJ is actively expanding its funding efforts. The foundation is increasing funding for interfaith engagement programs in 2026 and is looking to expand the number of new applicants it funds as well as the size of awards depending on program nature. The foundation encourages proposals for introductory courses of varying lengths and costs, drop-in classes, and innovative programming designed to reach broader audiences beyond existing congregation members.
NCEJ is Increasing Funding for Interfaith Engagement Programs in 2026 - NationalFrequently Asked Questions
What does National Center to Encourage fund?
NCEJ's mission centers on welcoming new people to Judaism and addressing the challenge of Jewish population decline through outreach and education. The foundation operates from the belief that Judaism must actively reach out to non-Jews and Jews alike, making efforts to "welcome the stranger into our midst" and clearly communicating what Judaism has to offer. The foundation funds three primary program categories: • **Introduction to Jewish Beliefs & Traditions** — Fostering welcoming and educat…
How do I apply for a grant from National Center to Encourage?
NCEJ funds programs worldwide that engage, educate, and connect interfaith couples, people interested in conversion, and others exploring Judaism. **Grant Characteristics:** • Most grants historically range from $500 to $1,000 • Recent grants show larger awards, including grants of $70,000, $20,000, and $17,100 • Applications are accepted throughout the year with decisions generally made within 45 days • The application process uses a straightforward one-page form • No set application deadlines…
Where does National Center to Encourage make grants?
NCEJ funds programs worldwide, with particular activity in the United States.
What size grants does National Center to Encourage award?
In 2024, National Center to Encourage awarded 40 grants totaling $380K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is National Center to Encourage required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, National Center to Encourage reported a distributable amount of $344K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is National Center to Encourage's EIN?
National Center to Encourage's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1194529. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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