The Jewish Fund
The Jewish Fund is a grantmaking organization established in 1997 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, from the proceeds of Sinai Hospital's sale to the Detroit Medical Center. Operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and subordinate organization under the Jewish Federation of Detroit, The Jewish Fund distributes funds to qualified nonprofit organizations aligned with its mission of supporting health care needs and improving the human condition in the Jewish and broader Detroit communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$62.6M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
+13.6% YoY
Grant Count
49
+28.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$78K
-11.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Jewish Fund's mission centers on assuring quality and compassionate care for vulnerable individuals in Metropolitan Detroit by awarding grants to help improve health and human condition. The organization maintains a strong connection to both the Jewish community and the broader Detroit area, operating as a steward of financial resources and catalyst for innovation and collaboration in healthcare.
The Fund's grantmaking priorities include:
- A Thriving Community
- A Healthy Start
- Access to Quality Care
- A Shared Life in Detroit
The organization distinguishes itself by perpetuating the values of compassion, equity, and community service that defined Sinai Hospital, which was established in 1953 as a refuge from discrimination prevalent in mainstream hospitals of that era.
Grantmaking
The Fund distributes grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in support of its mission. The organization operates a Teen Board program that engages 25 Jewish high school students in grades 10-12 in learning about philanthropy and becoming grantmakers, with students engaging their Jewish values to improve their community.
Grant Range
** $2,500 to $600,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Jewish Fund focuses on Metropolitan Detroit, specifically Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets (2024): $62,555,927
Total Revenues (2024): $1,967,113
Total Expenses (2024): $4,509,584
Annual Grantmaking Budget: Approximately $3 million
Employees: 5 (as of most recent data)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $62,555,927 | $60,251,819 | $63,179,971 |
| Revenue | $1,967,113 | $3,794,521 | $6,947,379 |
| Expenses | $4,509,584 | $4,031,863 | $2,967,985 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,966,713 | $3,794,521 | $6,947,379 |
| 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
150 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from The Jewish Fund
A Healthy Start
THE JEWISH FUND
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
A Shared Life in Detroit
THE JEWISH FUND
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
A Thriving Community (Health and Welfare of the Jewish Community)
THE JEWISH FUND
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Margo Pernick — Executive Director
Ms. Pernick has served as Executive Director since 2008. Prior to joining The Jewish Fund, she was a program officer at the Kresge Foundation in Troy, Michigan, serving on health and human service teams for three years. She previously spent sixteen years with the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, where she developed and managed programs in early childhood education, special needs inclusion, cultural arts, Jewish education, marketing, and fundraising, and served as assistant executive director for ten years. Earlier in her career, she held positions in child welfare agencies in Detroit and served as program director for Hillel at the University of Michigan. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Wayne State University. She previously served as a trustee of the Council of Michigan Foundations and has held board memberships with Detroit College Promise, Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit, and Temple Kol Ami.
Rachel Peres — Program Director
Rachel Peres oversees the grantmaking process and works collaboratively with the board and staff.
Board of Directors: 36 members
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVE INGBER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| DOROTHY BENYAS | SECRETARY/TREASUER | 2 | — |
| MARGO PERNICK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 35.9 | — |
| MARK KOWALSKY | VICE CHAIR | 0.5 | — |
| JEFF SCHLUSSEL | CHAIR | 0.5 | — |
| PETER ALTER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| CAROLYN BELLINSON | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL BERGER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| DENNIS BERNARD | BOARD MEMBER - PARTIAL YEAR | 0.5 | — |
| ROZ BLANCK | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| PENNY BLUMENSTEIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ERIKA BOCKNEK | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| JODY BOORSTEIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| SHARLONDA BUCKMAN-DAVIS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| JEFFREY DEVRIES | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ANDY DOCTOROFF | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL EIZELMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| DR JENNIFER FRIEDMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| LYNDA GILES | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| PAULA GLAZIER | BOARD MEMBER - PARTIAL YEAR | 0.5 | — |
| NANCY GROSFELD | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| JAY HACK | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| GILDA JACOBS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| SHERRI KETAI | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| JUSTIN KLAMERUS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| CANDACE JOHNSON KIMPSON | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| RICHARD KRUGEL | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MATT LESTER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ILANA LISS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| BEVERLY LISS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| RABBI HAROLD LOSS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL MADDIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ROBERT NAFTALY | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MARCIE ORLEY | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| SUSIE PAPPAS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| GEORGE ROBERTS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MARTA ROSENTHAL | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| STEVE SCHANES | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MARK SCHLUSSEL | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| KAREN SOSNICK SCHOENBERG | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| GARY TORGOW | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| LEAH TROSCH | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| HELENE WHITE | BOARD MEMBER - PARTIAL YEAR | 0.5 | — |
| LAWRENCE WOLFE | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| MONICA WOODSON | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Jewish Fund announced new grant awards in 2015, including $50,000 for the inaugural year of its Teen Board Grants program. The Teen Board continues to engage diverse groups of Jewish high school students in learning about philanthropy and becoming grantmakers.
JWF Announces 2025 Grants Supporting Community InnovationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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