National Center to Encourage
The National Center to Encourage Judaism is a private foundation based in Kensington, Maryland. It funds programs worldwide intended to engage, educate, and connect interfaith couples, people interested in conversion, and others exploring becoming part of the Jewish community.
National Center to Encourage at a glance
In short: National Center to Encourage gave $426K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), top state New York. 59% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $425,748
- +12.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -7.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,507
- +21.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,975,443
- +10.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 59% first-time grantees (22 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to National Center to Encourage
- How to Apply
-
Submit an application for a program that meets the foundation’s guidelines. The filing lists Ellen Gerecht as the contact and indicates that application materials are open.
- Review Cycle
- None listed on the 2025 filing.
- Deadline
- None listed on the 2025 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Ellen Gerecht
Mailing address: PO Box 125, Kensington, MD 20895
Phone: (301) 802-4254
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who National Center to Encourage funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Union Reform Judaism ($63K). Together the top 10 received $315K.
Grant Size Distribution
178 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 173 grants of 178 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it funds programs worldwide, including projects in the United States, Israel, Europe, and Canada. Its 2025 grants also went to organizations in several U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is National Center to Encourage open to new grantees?
59%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 22 of 37 grantees (59%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 58% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $178K (2020) to $426K (2025). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $426K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Union Reform Judaism New York, NY | General | $62,900 |
| Various Synagogues All in Uscanada, MD | General | $45,248 |
| Sutton Place Synagogue NYC New York, NY | General | $36,200 |
| Institute for Southern Jewish Life Jackson, MS | General | $30,000 |
| Joint Distribution Comm New York, NY | General | $30,000 |
| Hillels Int Washington, DC | General | $28,000 |
| Mishkan Chicago Chicago, IL | General | $25,000 |
| Israel Reform Movement New York, NY | General | $25,000 |
| Keneseth Israel Congregation Allentown, PA | General | $16,800 |
| New London Synagogue | General | $16,000 |
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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 | $2,975,443 | $793,463 | $504,988 | $425,748 | 37 | $504,988 | $154,611 | $382,927 |
| 2024 | $2,687,177 | $313,142 | $478,635 | $379,780 | 40 | $478,635 | $148,372 | $344,370 |
| 2023 | $2,865,827 | $248,149 | $393,730 | $310,117 | 35 | $393,730 | $145,741 | $290,091 |
| 2022 | $3,016,556 | $155,226 | $349,843 | $269,525 | 36 | $349,843 | $133,479 | $297,256 |
| 2021 | $3,216,325 | $1,652,952 | $410,842 | $348,250 | 30 | $410,842 | $125,982 | $310,561 |
| 2020 | $2,188,843 | $238,332 | $212,079 | $177,640 | 20 | — | $108,332 | $217,914 |
| 2019 | $2,164,608 | $250,583 | $271,126 | $225,425 | 13 | — | $113,865 | $227,440 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, National Center to Encourage reported a distributable amount of $383K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says its primary objective is to help Judaism grow by encouraging conversion and helping people in interfaith marriages see the benefits of raising their children as Jews. It also aims to help people build meaningful Jewish homes, promote programs to wider audiences, and connect people exploring Judaism with local Jewish communities.
Its grants support programs such as introductions to Jewish beliefs and traditions, conversion classes, holiday programming, Israel engagement, and interfaith or intercultural engagement. Eligible expenses may include marketing, program materials, security for in-person events, room rental, technology for a specific program, and limited staff support. Programs must have an educational component, be open to the public, and begin after the application is submitted. The foundation says it does not cover a program’s entire cost and only funds established groups.
The foundation supports synagogues, federations and JCCs, national Jewish organizations, and other Jewish nonprofits, including groups working internationally. One 2025 grantee, American Jewish University, describes its own mission as advancing and elevating the Jewish journey through scholarship, teaching, engaged conversation, and outreach.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $425,748. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $62,900, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest listed grants included $62,900 to Union for Reform Judaism, $45,248 to various synagogues, $36,200 to Sutton Place Synagogue NYC, $30,000 each to the Institute for Southern Jewish Life and Joint Distribution Comm, and $28,000 to Hillels Int. The listed purposes for these awards were general.
Applications are considered throughout the year, and the foundation’s website says decisions are generally made within 45 days. It says applications are reviewed individually and that applicants seeking funding for two different programs should submit separate applications. The filing lists the application form and materials as open, no deadline, and an award restriction of “Advancement of Judaism & Jewish causes.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ellen Gerecht as president. The foundation’s website identifies her as executive director.
National Center to Encourage is led by Ellen Gerecht, President on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen Gerecht
President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $41K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $41K, to Ellen Gerecht (President).
Frequently asked questions about National Center to Encourage
How much does National Center to Encourage give each year?
National Center to Encourage gave $426K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $380K across 40 grants.
What is National Center to Encourage's typical grant size?
National Center to Encourage's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,507, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from National Center to Encourage that year got $7K on average.
Where does National Center to Encourage give grants?
National Center to Encourage's top state is New York, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Maryland (11%) and Mississippi (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Does National Center to Encourage give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of National Center to Encourage's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (37 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are National Center to Encourage's largest grantees?
National Center to Encourage's largest 2025 grantees include Union Reform Judaism ($62,900), Various Synagogues ($45,248) and Sutton Place Synagogue NYC ($36,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is National Center to Encourage?
National Center to Encourage reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $505K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $383K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does National Center to Encourage fund?
The foundation says its primary objective is to help Judaism grow by encouraging conversion and helping people in interfaith marriages see the benefits of raising their children as Jews. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from National Center to Encourage?
Submit an application for a program that meets the foundation’s guidelines. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). National Center to Encourage funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/national-center-to-encourage-morg_f003e94cb8cc48c39edc9c8060b3c8e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521194529_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{National Center to Encourage funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/national-center-to-encourage-morg_f003e94cb8cc48c39edc9c8060b3c8e5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from National Center to Encourage'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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