The Foundation is organized to promote philanthropy and to further the charitable needs of the Jewish community, other charitable institutions, and community organizations.
Among the foundation’s largest recent grants are repeated awards to Jewish Federation Princeton Mercer, including $244,217 in 2023, $195,859 in 2024, and $188,265 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that supports established Jewish institutions in the Greater Mercer area while also making grants to local service organizations, schools, and broader Jewish communal groups. The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Mercer Inc reports annual grants of $3,677,454 and assets of $18,275,593, with giving recorded through 2025. Its recent activity includes multi-year support for Jewish Federation Princeton Mercer, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Greenwood House, and the Jewish Center in Princeton, alongside grants to organizations such as Homefront Inc and One Family Fund. The foundation’s structure also reflects a donor-advised and community-fund model, with named funds for endowment, scholarships, memorial giving, and legacy incentives. That mix shows a grantmaker that combines local Jewish community support with mechanisms designed to move charitable dollars through both designated funds and broader community grants.
Jewish communal institutions are a core part of the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $96,429 to Jewish Center in Princeton and $37,576 to Temple Sholom in Scotch Plains, while earlier awards included $49,307 to Jewish Center in 2023 and $74,212 in 2024. The foundation also supports Jewish Federation Princeton Mercer across multiple years. Beyond congregational and federation support, it funds family and social-service work: Jewish Family & Children’s Services received $222,459 in 2025 and $164,774 in 2024. Legacy and endowment building is another recurring theme through LIFE & LEGACY Incentive Grants, which reward partner organizations that meet legacy-giving goals. Educational support appears in the Linda Meisel Book Awards and the Nathan & Ruth Feldstein Israel Travel Fund, both aimed at student development.
Typical grant size sits at a p25 of $6,712, a median of $12,650, and a p75 of $25,000, though the recent grants table also shows larger institutional awards. The foundation appears to fund repeatedly rather than only once: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Jewish Federation Princeton Mercer, Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Greenwood House, Homefront Inc, and Jewish Center. Its structure includes a mixed donor-advised fund profile, along with named endowment, scholarship, memorial, and incentive-grant programs. Unsolicited support is possible for some funds, including the Endowment Fund, Scholarship Fund, Donor Advised Fund, and Memorial Fund, while other programs are restricted to defined partner groups or categories.
$1.7M
$21.4M
$3.5M
$2.4M
Most grants fall between $7K and $25K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$25K
CURTIS LOEB
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Giving is heavily concentrated in New Jersey, which accounts for 47% of grants, with the top state by grant count also being NJ. Recent recipient cities cluster around Lawrenceville, Princeton Junction, Princeton, Ewing, and Trenton, with additional awards to Scotch Plains and East Windsor. Outside New Jersey, recent grants also reached New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Montgomery, Brookyln, and Westerville. All recorded recipient grants in the supplied country distribution are in the US.
Recent grants show support for Jewish federations, family services, congregations, community organizations, and educational institutions. The foundation also runs funds for scholarships, Israel travel for teens, legacy giving, memorial giving, and donor-advised philanthropy.
The typical grant distribution is $6,712 at the 25th percentile, $12,650 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include much larger institutional grants, so the distribution includes both smaller and higher-dollar gifts.
Yes. Jewish Federation Princeton Mercer appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Jewish Family & Children’s Services appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Greenwood House appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern suggests ongoing support for selected institutions.
Yes. The Endowment Fund, Scholarship Fund, Donor Advised Fund, and Memorial Fund all accept unsolicited activity or donor recommendations, while other programs such as the Israel Travel Fund and LIFE & LEGACY Incentive Grants are limited to defined participants or partners.
New Jersey is the top state by grant count, and 47% of grants go to recipients in NJ. Recent recipient cities include Lawrenceville, Princeton Junction, Princeton, Ewing, Trenton, Scotch Plains, and East Windsor.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Mercer that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Minimum gift of $50,000 to establish an Endowment Fund. Foundation Board determines annual distribution percentage.
Who can apply: Minimum gift of $50,000 to establish a Scholarship Fund. Scholarships are awarded to students via nonprofit organizations overseeing the programs (grants not given directly to students).
Who can apply: Donor/advisor establishes the fund; grants may be recommended to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations subject to Foundation review. (Fund establishment requires completing the DAF agreement.)
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $211,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES | PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ | $169,023 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION PRINCETON MERCER | PRINCETON, NJ | $143,236 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GREENDWOOD HOUSE FOUNDATION INC | EWING, NJ | $106,299 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | — |
| FRIENDS OF ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $96,700 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PRINCETON, NJ | $80,699 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH CENTER | PRINCETON, NJ | $71,645 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR | WASHINGTON, DC | $55,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| HOMEFRONT INC | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $45,530 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| EZRAS CHOLIM OF ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $40,000 | 2026 | — |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADO | NEW YORK, NY | $33,600 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $32,600 | 2026 | — |
| TEMPLE MICAH | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $26,000 | 2026 | — |
| ISLES INC | TRENTON, NJ | $26,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | — |
| BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| BETH EL SYNANGOGUE | EAST WINDSOR, NJ | $22,719 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH | NEW YORK, NY | $21,100 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JOSHUA HARR SHANE FOUNDATION | MONROE TWP, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| TRENTON AREA SOUP KITCHEN | TRENTON, NJ | $18,010 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF YESHIVAT LEV | TEANECK, NJ | $18,000 | 2026 | — |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC | MONTGOMERY, AL | $16,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ABRAMS HEBREW ACADEMY | YARDLEY, PA | $13,668 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY PARK, PA | $12,879 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| FEDRATION OF JEWISH MENS CLUBS INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $12,300 | 2026 | — |
| GOALS OF CARE COALITION OF NJ INC | PRINCETON, NJ | $12,300 | 2026 | — |
| NATIONAL YIDDISH BOOK CENTRAL INC | AMHERST, MA | $10,500 | 2026 | — |
| TEMPLE SHOLOM | GREENWICH, CT | $10,414 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL | CEDARHURST, NY | $10,360 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| FOOTHILLS FOOD BANK | CAVE CREEK, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PRINCETON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | PLAINSBORO, NJ | $9,000 | 2026 | — |
| WOMANSPACE INC | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $9,000 | 2026 | — |
| ARM IN ARM INC | HAMILTON TWP, NJ | $8,750 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CONGREGATION BETH CHAIM | PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ | $7,888 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOMERSET | BRIDGEWATER, NJ | $7,696 | 2026 | — |
| JFCS PHOENIX | PHOENIX, AZ | $7,500 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| FRIENDS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR | PRINCETON, NJ | $7,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SHARE MY MEALS INC | PRINCETON, NJ | $7,000 | 2026 | — |
| ACLD FOUNDATION | BETHPAGE, NY | $6,532 | 2026 | — |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $6,500 | 2026 | — |
| MERCER STREET FRIENDS | TRENTON, NJ | $6,010 | 2026 | — |
| SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL | SARASOTA, FL | $6,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SARASOTA | SARASOTA, FL | $6,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERITEIS UNION OF | NEWARK, NJ | $6,000 | 2026 | — |
| ST MARY'F FOOD BANK | PHOENIX, AZ | $6,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| JEWISH NATIIONAL FUND USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2026 | — |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $5,860 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| MCCARTER THEATRE CENTER | PRINCETON, NJ | $5,750 | 2026 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
GREENDWOOD HOUSE FOUNDATION INC
$106,299CHARITABLE PURPOSES
CHARITABLE PURPOSES
JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$80,699CHARITABLE PURPOSES
JEWISH CENTER
$71,645CHARITABLE PURPOSES
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
$32,600TEMPLE MICAH
$26,000BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
$25,000BETH EL SYNANGOGUE
$22,719CHARITABLE PURPOSES
JOSHUA HARR SHANE FOUNDATION
$20,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF YESHIVAT LEV
$18,000THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
$12,879CHARITABLE PURPOSES
FEDRATION OF JEWISH MENS CLUBS INC
$12,300GOALS OF CARE COALITION OF NJ INC
$12,300TEMPLE SHOLOM
$10,414CHARITABLE PURPOSES
WOMANSPACE INC
$9,000CONGREGATION BETH CHAIM
$7,888CHARITABLE PURPOSES
JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOMERSET
$7,696SHARE MY MEALS INC
$7,000ACLD FOUNDATION
$6,532SARASOTA FILM FESTIVAL
$6,000CHARITABLE PURPOSES
JEWISH NATIIONAL FUND USA INC
$6,000