Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pa
ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
About Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pa
To build and sustain a vibrant Jewish community in Central Pennsylvania by helping donors create endowments, manage philanthropic funds, support local agencies and Jewish causes, and provide scholarships and legacy/planned giving services.
Focus Areas
Endowment buildingDonor-advised fundsScholarshipsPlanned givingJewish communal servicesGrants to local agenciesSupport for Israel
Who They Fund
unspecified / any nonprofit or community organizationgeneral public / community beneficiaries
Funding Style
general operating supportunrestricted support
About Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pa
The Jewish Community Foundation of Central PA centers its grantmaking on Jewish communal life in Central Pennsylvania, with large general-purpose awards recurring to core institutions such as Jewish Federation of Greater Hbg and Jewish Family Service of Greater Hbg. Its recent giving also reaches congregations, schools, and community organizations tied to local Jewish infrastructure, including Temple Ohev Sholom, Ohev Sholom Congregation, Chisuk Emuna Congregation, and Silver Academy. The foundation’s structure points to a dual role: it administers donor-advised and named philanthropic funds while also operating scholarship and legacy-giving programs. That mix connects current grant support with long-term endowment building and planned giving. The organization’s summary says its purpose is to build and sustain a vibrant Jewish community in Central Pennsylvania by helping donors create endowments, manage philanthropic funds, support local agencies and Jewish causes, and provide scholarships and legacy/planned giving services. Recent awards show that the foundation supports both recurring institutional needs and specific educational or communal priorities, including university-linked Jewish communal service scholarships and general-purpose support for local Jewish organizations.
What Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pa Funds
One visible thread is support for Jewish communal services. In 2025, the foundation gave $264,328 to Jewish Family Service of Greater Hbg for general purpose, alongside a $77,486 grant to Chisuk Emuna Congregation and a $48,122 grant to Beth El Temple, all in Harrisburg. Education is another clear area: Penn State University received $109,450 in 2023, $71,800 in 2024, and $48,000 through Penn State Univ Office of Donor in 2025, showing a sustained connection to higher education. The foundation also funds Jewish communal service training through scholarships for graduate study, including programs tied to work commitments in the Jewish Foundation system. Congregational and synagogue support appears repeatedly as well, with awards to Temple Ohev Sholom, Ohev Sholom Congregation, and Temple Beth Israel in York.
How Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pa Gives
Typical grant size sits at a p25 of $10,000, a median of $21,525, and a p75 of $54,832, which points to a mix of smaller community grants and larger institutional awards. The recent record shows repeat recipients across multiple years, especially Jewish Federation of Greater Hbg, Jewish Family Service of Greater Hbg, Ohev Sholom Congregation, Temple Ohev Sholom, Silver Academy, and Penn State-related recipients. The foundation is a community foundation rather than a private operating foundation, with donor-advised and named funds alongside scholarship and legacy-giving programs. Unsolicited applications are accepted in several of its active programs, including planned giving and scholarship-related opportunities.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2M
Total Assets
$67.9M
Total Revenue
$11.7M
Total Expenses
$3.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $55K, with a median of $22K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$22K
75th Percentile
$55K
Geographic Reach
Regional8 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
PAULETTE KEIFER
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Jewish Community Foundation of Central Pa?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime