How much funding does Fund for the Future provide?

Fund for the Future provides $5 million to date; $550,000 in November 2020 distribution in funding.

When is the deadline for Fund for the Future?

This grant has a rolling deadline or the deadline has not been announced.

Fund for the Future

Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago

Foundation Grants for Jewish Nonprofits Grants for Youth Programs Grants for Education Grants for Preschools

Funding Amount

$5 million to date; $550,000 in November 2020 distribution

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

Foundation

Overview

Geographic Scope: Chicago area

Focus Areas:

Next Generation Jewish engagement
Gateway experiences for young Jews
Israel connections for young people
Jewish early childhood education and preschools
Jewish camps
Jewish day schools
Teen and college student programs
Young adult and young family engagement
LGBTQ+ Jewish youth inclusion
Jewish education innovation

Program Description:

Launched in 2019 under auspices of Federation's Centennial Campaign
Devoted to accelerating community investment in Next Generation Jewish engagement
Has raised $59.2 million to date
Supports innovative initiatives connecting young Jews to Israel, Jewish life, and one another

Recent Funded Programs (2020):
1. CHIdush: Systemically rethinking congregational education; includes online teaching support
2. jBaby Chicago: Award-winning initiative supporting Jewish and interfaith new parents through parent ambassadors, playgroups, classes, and holiday events
3. LEARN (Live, Enrich, Appreciate, Respect, Nurture): Collaboration between JUF Young Leadership Division and Silverstein Base Hillel; intensive Jewish text and identity exploration for young adults
4. Moving Traditions – Tzelem+: Fostering well-being among LGBTQ+ teens using Jewish values; builds self-concept and social-emotional skills
5. Onward Israel: JUF Israel Education Center program offering internships in Israel for young adults
6. REACH: Day School network capacity building for serving children with diverse needs

Comprehensive List of Fund for the Future Supported Programs to Date:
Young Families: jBaby Chicago, JUF Early Childhood Collaborative, JUF Infertility Project, PJ Library Chicago, JUF Right Start
Youth: B'nai B'rith Beber Camp Chicago, Jewish Day School, Jewish Day School Guaranty Trust Fund, JUF Camp Scholarships, JUF Camping Initiative, JUF CHIdush Project, REACH
Teens: IsraelNow, Moving Traditions – Tzelem+, Voices – The Chicago Jewish Teen Foundation, Write On for Israel
Young Adults: AEPi Foundation, Base Hillel, Birthright Foundation, Honeymoon Israel, Jewish Federation Encompass Endowment, JUF Israel Education Center, JUF Lewis Summer Intern Program, LEARN, Moishe House Chicago, Onward Israel

Leadership:

Bill Silverstein, Fund for the Future Chair
Merle Cohen, Contact for more information

What Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025: 41
Total given: $107.52M
Median grant: $38K
Range: $5,953–$57.19M

By dollars: New York 56%, Illinois 43%, Massachusetts <1%. Top recipient cities: Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Skokie, IL.
90% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
32% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

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