Richmond Jewish Foundation
Richmond Jewish Foundation is a public charity and philanthropic fundraising services organization based in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1992, the Foundation serves as the central endowment fund for the Richmond Jewish community. It functions as a primary resource for planned giving and endowments, managing philanthropic assets and distributing grants to support charitable, religious, and educational initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36.3M
-23.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
-12.8% YoY
Grant Count
21
-30.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$103K
+24.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Richmond Jewish Foundation's mission is to be a primary, trusted, and expert resource for planned giving and endowments. The Foundation engages, educates, and inspires generations of donors to create ongoing resources for charitable, religious, and educational needs. Donors may choose legacies of Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam, and the Foundation effectively stewards philanthropic assets entrusted to its care.
The Foundation's core mission is to serve the needs of donors and, through donors, to serve the needs of the community.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Health and human services
- Arts and culture
- Overseas relief
- Medical research
- Social action
Grantmaking
The Richmond Jewish Foundation awarded over $2,800,000 in grants and distributions in its most recent fiscal year (2024).
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in the Richmond, Virginia area and serves the Richmond Jewish community. Grants also support causes in Israel and around the world through the Annual Campaign.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $36,256,296
- Total revenues: $4,919,862
- Total expenses: $3,805,147
- Total grants and distributions: $2,800,000+
- Staff: 4 employees
EIN: 54-1623966
IRS Classification: 501(c)(3) public foundation
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,256,296 | $47,507,428 | $45,016,653 |
| Revenue | $4,919,862 | $7,409,770 | $4,369,013 |
| Expenses | $3,805,147 | $3,394,580 | $5,660,336 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,470,347 | $2,531,844 | $2,888,708 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
184 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Richmond Jewish Foundation
Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit Program
RICHMOND JEWISH FOUNDATION
Amount
65% tax credit on donations ($500 minimum); up to $50,000 per individual/year
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Genesis Fund
RICHMOND JEWISH FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Mark & Susan Sisisky JDC Fellowship
RICHMOND JEWISH FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish Community Federation of Richmond ($938,426), Richmond Wildlife Center ($400,000), Rudlin Torah Academy ($210,374).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Weinstein Jewish Community Center Richmond, VA | General | $29,609 |
| Congregation Beth Ahabah Richmond, VA | General | $16,500 |
| Blue Ridge Abortion Fund Charlottesville, VA | General | $35,000 |
| Jewish Community Federation of Richmond Richmond, VA | General | $938,426 |
| Temple Beth El Richmond, VA | General | $171,875 |
| Rudlin Torah Academy Richmond, VA | General | $210,374 |
| Yeshiva of Virginia Richmond, VA | General | $112,891 |
| Jewish Family Services Richmond, VA | General | $10,000 |
| Jonah Scharf DAV Richmond, VA | General | $25,000 |
| Hanover Education Foundation Ashland, VA | General | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Lauren Plotkin – Legacy Program Director
- Jeannine Corey – Chief Financial Officer
- Ronald Felmus – Board member (joined December 2025)
The Foundation employs 5 staff members as of the most recent reporting period.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey A Scharf | Immediate Chairman | 1 | — |
| Ronald I Felmus | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Jeffrey M Lacker | Chairman | 4 | — |
| Rosann Bocciarelli | Assistant Secretary | 2 | — |
| Ann B Macheras | Director | 1 | — |
| Beryl W Ball | Director | 1 | — |
| John A Weinberg | Director | 1 | — |
| Scott W Belleman | Director | 1 | — |
| Katie M Roeper | Director | 1 | — |
| Josh L Goldberg | Director | 1 | — |
| Wolf Joffe | Director | 1 | — |
| Kevin A Fine | Director | 1 | — |
| Howard S Golfine | Director | 1 | — |
| Jessica Samet | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Robert I Flax | Director | 1 | — |
| GD Rothenberg | Director | 1 | — |
| Richard Looney | Assistant Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Eric M Shoenfeld | Director | 1 | — |
| Dan Brandeis | CEO | 50 | $231,415 |
| Amy Nisenson | Director | 1 | — |
| Frances Goldman | Past Chairman | 1 | — |
| Janet Dunn Gale | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 5540 Falmouth Street, Suite 201 Richmond, VA 23230-1800
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 17128 Richmond, VA 23226
Phone: (804) 288-0045
Fax: (804) 282-7507
Email: jesse@rjfoundation.org
Website: rjfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Richmond Jewish Foundation fund?
The Richmond Jewish Foundation's mission is to be a primary, trusted, and expert resource for planned giving and endowments. The Foundation engages, educates, and inspires generations of donors to create ongoing resources for charitable, religious, and educational needs. Donors may choose legacies of Tzedakah and Tikkun Olam, and the Foundation effectively stewards philanthropic assets entrusted to its care. The Foundation's core mission is to serve the needs of donors and, through donors, to s…
How do I apply for a grant from Richmond Jewish Foundation?
The Richmond Jewish Foundation awarded over $2,800,000 in grants and distributions in its most recent fiscal year (2024). **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Jewish Community Federation of Richmond: $938,426 • Richmond Wildlife Center: $400,000 • Rudlin Torah Academy: $210,374 **Grant Programs:** **The Genesis Fund** – The Foundation's unrestricted pool serving as a communal source for research, development, and special projects funding. Genesis Fund grants seed innovation and support a wide vari…
Where does Richmond Jewish Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in the Richmond, Virginia area and serves the Richmond Jewish community. Grants also support causes in Israel and around the world through the Annual Campaign.
What size grants does Richmond Jewish Foundation award?
In 2024, Richmond Jewish Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $103K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Richmond Jewish Foundation's EIN?
Richmond Jewish Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1623966. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Richmond Jewish Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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