About Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is the leader in mobilizing our community’s response to the local and global needs of the Jewish people. It funds programs that strengthen the Jewish people, advocate on behalf of shared values, educate every generation, enhance Jewish continuity, and sustain the Jewish community in Houston, Israel, and around the world.
Focus Areas
Jewish communityJewish educationCommunity engagementIsraelGlobal Jewish communityAntisemitism preventionInclusionLGBTQIA+ communitiesInterfaith familiesPeople with special needsCommunity securityDisaster assistanceVolunteer opportunities
About Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
Emergency support for Jewish communities in Israel and for national Jewish federated partners stands out in the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s recent giving. In 2025, the largest grant in the list went to The Jewish Federations of North America for $3,531,800, followed by $1,881,800 to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and $1,484,904 to the Jewish Agency for Israel-North American Council, all described as emergency support. That pattern shows a federation that moves substantial dollars through national Jewish infrastructure when crises arise, while also maintaining a strong local role in Greater Houston. The funder’s stated purpose is to preserve and enrich Jewish communal life by supporting programs that strengthen the Jewish community locally, in Israel, and around the world. Recent local grantmaking includes repeated support for the Houston Jewish Community Foundation, Evelyn Rubenstein JCC, Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services, and The Emery/Weiner School. The mix of emergency aid, community institutions, scholarships, and endowment support suggests a multi-channel approach: allocate for immediate needs, strengthen core organizations, and build long-term Jewish continuity.
What Jewish Federation of Greater Houston Funds
Community security is one clear theme. The Joan and Stanford Alexander Family Community Security Program focuses on safety infrastructure and training for Jewish institutions in Greater Houston, showing that security is treated as a dedicated program area rather than an ad hoc expense. Education and youth engagement are another major thread: the Camp & Israel Scholarships program helps families with financial need send children to Jewish overnight camp in North America or to short-term and gap-year programs in Israel. The recent grants also point to early childhood and educational investment, including $1,000,000 to the Houston Jewish Community Foundation for Marvin Barish Early Childhood support and $772,500 for the Leo Baeck Education Center Endowment. Social services and basic needs appear in support for Jewish Family Service in Houston, which received $877,266 for general support and Covid-19 relief.
How Jewish Federation of Greater Houston Gives
The typical grant size is moderate but wide-ranging: the 25th percentile is $20,000, the median is $59,888, and the 75th percentile is $175,000. The recent list also includes several seven-figure awards, indicating that the federation moves large allocations alongside smaller operating and program grants. Recipients recur across years and often within the same institution, especially Houston-based community organizations and national Jewish agencies. The structure includes annual allocations, a local impact fund, a local core fund, scholarships, and a foundation arm that likely manages donor-advised and endowment giving. Unsolicited applications are accepted for several active programs, including the Local Impact Fund and Camp & Israel Scholarships.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$17.5M
Total Assets
$16.5M
Total Revenue
$23.2M
Total Expenses
$25.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $175K, with a median of $60K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$60K
75th Percentile
$175K
Geographic Reach
National16 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Renee Wizig-Barrios
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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