Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area
ActiveMutual & Membership Benefit
About Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area
The Jewish Federation of the Desert, as the central communal organization for the Jewish population of the Coachella Valley, is dedicated to promoting the values and quality of Jewish life for future generations. The Federation is further committed to the unity of the Jewish people worldwide, the strengthening of the state of Israel, and the helping of Jews in need wherever they reside.
Focus Areas
Israel and Overseas programsLocal social welfare and vulnerable populationsJewish education and engagementHunger relief and emergency reliefLGBTQ+ inclusion and community buildingLegacy and planned giving
Who They Fund
disaster-affected populationsrefugees and internally displaced personsconflict-affected communities
Funding Style
About Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area
A defining feature of Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area’s grantmaking is its mix of local safety-net support and overseas humanitarian funding. In the recent grants list, the largest award was $225,000 to Jewish Federation of NA in New York, followed by $150,000 to Joint Distribution Committee, showing that the federation directs substantial resources beyond its immediate region as well as within it. At the same time, it backs local Jewish and communal institutions such as Bikur Cholim in Palm Springs, Jewish Family Services in Rancho Mirage, and Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs. Its active programs point to a consistent emphasis on caring for vulnerable people, strengthening Jewish education and engagement, and responding to emergencies. The federation also maintains a dedicated emergency-campaign structure for crisis response, including special funds tied to Israel and Ukraine. Across the recent grants, support reaches senior services, congregations, Jewish communal agencies, and humanitarian partners, reflecting a grantmaker that combines community-based giving in the Coachella Valley with broader Jewish and relief-oriented commitments.
What Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area Funds
One clear theme is support for vulnerable populations in the Desert Area. The federation gave $140,000 to Bikur Cholim in Palm Springs and $100,000 to Jewish Family Services in Rancho Mirage, both aligned with local human services and care for people facing hardship. Another pattern is Jewish education and community engagement: Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs received $42,500 for 2024, and Temple Sinai in Palm Desert received $22,210 in 2023, both fitting the federation’s education-and-engagement focus. The funder also supports senior-serving organizations, including $15,000 to Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs and $12,000 to Joslyn Senior Center in Palm Desert. In addition, its humanitarian relief work extends to organizations such as Angel View in Cathedral City, which received both $25,000 in 2023 and $20,000 in 2024.
How Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area Gives
Typical grants cluster in the middle range: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $42,500, and the 75th percentile is $101,400. The recent list shows repeat support for several recipients across 2023 and 2024, including Bikur Cholim, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Agency for Israel, Temple Isaiah, Angel View, Mizell Senior Center, Joslyn Center, and Congregation Beth Shalom. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The federation is not an individual-giving vehicle and does not make program-related investments. Its active programs also indicate that grants are made through structured communal funding areas rather than an open unsolicited application process.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$492K
Total Assets
$9.4M
Total Revenue
$2.5M
Total Expenses
$2.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $101K, with a median of $43K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$43K
75th Percentile
$101K
Geographic Reach
Regional2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ALAN POTASH
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