Encourage charitable giving, support partner agency endowment development, and build & sustain a vibrant Jewish community.
The Jewish Foundation of Memphis channels large-scale support into Jewish communal life in Memphis through partner agencies, endowment building, and donor-directed giving. Its recent grants show a strong emphasis on institutions that anchor religious practice, education, health and welfare, and community services, with multiple seven-figure awards going to Memphis Jewish Federation and Kavod (ensuring Dignity for Holocaust Survivors). The foundation also supports named synagogues and schools, alongside organizations serving older adults and families, which points to a funding model that blends institutional stability with direct community needs. The foundation’s structure matters as much as its grant list. It manages donor advised funds, special interest endowment funds, agency funds, and support organizations, giving donors and partner agencies different ways to build long-term charitable support. That mix is consistent with a foundation whose stated purpose is to encourage charitable giving, support partner agency endowment development, and build and sustain a vibrant Jewish community. Recent awards to Temple Israel, Baron Hirsch Congregation, and Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab show how that mission reaches across religious, social, and care-oriented institutions in the Memphis area.
A central theme in the Jewish Foundation of Memphis’s grantmaking is Jewish community infrastructure. In 2024, it gave $567,471 to Baron Hirsch Congregation for religious purposes and $411,705 to Temple Israel for religious purposes, supporting congregational life in Memphis. It also funded Beth Sholom Synagogue with $291,198 in 2024. Education is another visible focus. The foundation awarded $316,865 to Bornblum Jewish Community School in 2024 and $279,807 to Margolin Hebrew Academyfyos for religious education. Hillel of Memphis received $139,969 in 2024 for cultural education. Health and welfare needs appear in several grants as well. Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab received $249,970 in 2024, while Jfs at the Memphis Jewish Community Center received $384,127 the same year. The foundation also gave $2,000,000 to Kavod (ensuring Dignity for Holocaust Survivors) for food and nutrition.
Typical grant size sits at $7,575 at the 25th percentile, $13,000 at the median, and $33,075 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants list shows a wide spread from smaller awards like $82,858 to larger institutional grants above $2 million, suggesting both routine community support and major operating or endowment-level commitments. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off. Memphis Jewish Federation appears in both 2023 and 2024, as do Kavod, Temple Israel, Baron Hirsch Congregation, Bornblum Jewish Community School, Hillel of Memphis, Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab, and the Memphis Jewish Community Center. The foundation is a mixed Jewish Federation DAF structure, and it offers donor advised funds, agency funds, special interest funds, and support organizations. Donor advised funds can be recommended broadly, while Book of Life gifts direct donor-selected support to Memphis Jewish organizations.
$8.2M
$111M
$16.5M
$12.9M
Most grants fall between $8K and $33K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$33K
LAURA LINDER
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Giving is heavily centered in Tennessee: 55% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and Tennessee is also the top state by grant count. Memphis is the main city of concentration, but Germantown and Cordova also appear repeatedly in the recent grants list. Outside Tennessee, the recent-grants table includes recipients in New York and St. Louis. All listed recipient-country data is domestic, with 215 grants to U.S. organizations.
It supports Jewish community organizations, endowments and permanent funds, donor advised funds, legacy and estate giving, teen philanthropy, and professional advisor services. Recent grants also show support for congregations, schools, health and welfare organizations, and Holocaust-survivor services.
Yes. Memphis Jewish Federation, Kavod (ensuring Dignity for Holocaust Survivors), Temple Israel, Baron Hirsch Congregation, Bornblum Jewish Community School, Hillel of Memphis, Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab, and the Memphis Jewish Community Center all appear in more than one recent grant year.
The typical grant size is $7,575 at the 25th percentile, $13,000 at the median, and $33,075 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows much larger awards for major community institutions, including multiple grants above $1 million.
Donor advised funds are a charitable giving vehicle at the Jewish Foundation of Memphis. Donors open an account, recommend grants, choose investment options, and add to the fund over time. The program is listed as accepting unsolicited participation.
Yes. The B'nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Co-Op grants let Memphis-area teens manage individual funds and a Teen Co-Op Fund that awards approximately $10,000 each year to local Jewish organizations. Eligible local Jewish charities may apply for grants during the program cycle.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Jewish Foundation of Memphis that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Local nonprofit organizations may establish agency funds with the Foundation and be represented on the Foundation’s investment committee; agencies remain owners of their endowment assets while leveraging Foundation investment oversight.
Who can apply: Interested donors/families work with the Foundation to create a support organization that supports the umbrella organization's goals; must follow legal and bylaw requirements for a separate corporate entity.
Who can apply: Donors create a permanent endowment fund by making a gift. Funds may be designated to support a particular organization, program or purpose and are subject to fund-specific spending policies and Foundation oversight.
Who can apply: Qualified local Jewish charities and nonprofit organizations in the Memphis area (organizations serving the Memphis Jewish community).
Deadline: Program calendar has historically shown a grant application window in February (e.g., application open in early February and close later in February). Specific dates vary by year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEMPHIS JEWISH FEDERATION | GERMANTOWN, TN | $1,481,594 | 2026 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| TEMPLE ISRAEL | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,122,907 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM | NEW YORK, NY | $576,133 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| JFS OF MEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $415,939 | 2026 | HEALTH / WELFARE |
| BARON HIRSCH CONGREGATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $342,987 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| MARGOLIN HEBREW ACADEMYCYOS | MEMPHIS, TN | $280,297 | 2026 | EDUCATION - RELIGIOUS |
| BORNBLUM JEWISH COMMUNITY SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $256,177 | 2026 | EDUCATION - RELIGIOUS |
| AHS OF GREATER MEMPHIS FOUNDATION INC | MEMPHIS, TN | $250,000 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | GERMANTOWN, TN | $194,300 | 2026 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| BETH SHOLOM SYNAGOGUE | MEMPHIS, TN | $179,548 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| ST GEORGE'S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL | COLLIERVILLE, TN | $147,500 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $135,386 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $125,300 | 2026 | HUMANITARIAN AID |
| LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $123,500 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $111,296 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES | ATLANTA, GA | $105,886 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| HILLEL OF MEMPHIS | MEMPHIS, TN | $97,932 | 2026 | EDUCATION - CULTURAL |
| MEMPHIS OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TRUST | MEMPHIS, TN | $78,890 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SHELBY FARMS PARK CONSERVANCY | MEMPHIS, TN | $73,200 | 2026 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $72,530 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MEMPHIS & THE MID-SOUTH | MEMPHIS, TN | $72,300 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $66,916 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MEMPHIS JEWISH HOME & REHAB | CORDOVA, TN | $65,689 | 2026 | HEALTH / WELFARE |
| YOUNG ISRAEL OF MEMPHIS | MEMPHIS, TN | $61,025 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| HUTCHISON SCHOOL | MEMPHIS, TN | $60,800 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $60,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| HENRY S JACOBS CAMP | UTICA, MS | $58,184 | 2026 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| NATIONAL ORNAMENTAL METAL MUSEUM | MEMPHIS, TN | $57,300 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $54,000 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CAMP NEBAGAMON | LAKE NEBAGAMON, WI | $50,018 | 2026 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| HADASSAH THE WOMEN'S ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTMAKING FOUNDATION |
| MEMPHIS KOLLEL | MEMPHIS, TN | $47,150 | 2026 | RELIGIOUS |
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BOCA RATON, FL | $44,925 | 2026 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES | MEMPHIS, TN | $32,350 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF THE MID-SOUTH | MEMPHIS, TN | $32,279 | 2026 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS | MEMPHIS, TN | $32,205 | 2026 | ARTS & CULTURAL |
| AKIVA SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $30,836 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ERUV BIDIKDUK | MONSEY, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF ISRAELI SCOUTS | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | ISRAEL ADVOCACY |
| TJE THE JEWISH ENTREPRENEAUR | BALTIMORE, MD | $30,000 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART | MEMPHIS, TN | $29,775 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| CHURCH HEALTH | MEMPHIS, TN | $29,567 | 2026 | HEALTH / WELFARE |
| CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,200 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| MEMPHIS CHAMBER FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| GAN ALIYA | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION - RELIGIOUS |
| TULANE UNIVERSITY | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $25,000 | 2026 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| PUPS WITHOUT BORDERS | VAN NUYS, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| BEN PORAT YOSEF INC | PARAMUS, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
| SAMUEL A FRYER YAVNEH ACADEMY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $24,780 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MEMPHIS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER | MEMPHIS, TN | $23,460 | 2026 | FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE |
TEMPLE ISRAEL
$1,122,907RELIGIOUS
UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM
$576,133FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
JFS OF MEMPHIS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
$415,939HEALTH / WELFARE
BARON HIRSCH CONGREGATION
$342,987RELIGIOUS
MARGOLIN HEBREW ACADEMYCYOS
$280,297EDUCATION - RELIGIOUS
BORNBLUM JEWISH COMMUNITY SCHOOL
$256,177EDUCATION - RELIGIOUS
AHS OF GREATER MEMPHIS FOUNDATION INC
$250,000FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
BETH SHOLOM SYNAGOGUE
$179,548RELIGIOUS
ST GEORGE'S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
$147,500EDUCATIONAL
LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
$123,500EDUCATIONAL
MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
$111,296EDUCATIONAL
MEMPHIS JEWISH HOME & REHAB
$65,689HEALTH / WELFARE
YOUNG ISRAEL OF MEMPHIS
$61,025RELIGIOUS
HUTCHISON SCHOOL
$60,800FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
HENRY S JACOBS CAMP
$58,184YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
GRANTMAKING FOUNDATION
MEMPHIS KOLLEL
$47,150RELIGIOUS
FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES
$32,350FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
ERUV BIDIKDUK
$30,000FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
TJE THE JEWISH ENTREPRENEAUR
$30,000FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART
$29,775FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
MEMPHIS CHAMBER FOUNDATION
$25,000FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
GAN ALIYA
$25,000EDUCATION - RELIGIOUS
TULANE UNIVERSITY
$25,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PUPS WITHOUT BORDERS
$25,000FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
BEN PORAT YOSEF INC
$25,000FOR EXEMPT PURPOSE
SAMUEL A FRYER YAVNEH ACADEMY
$24,780EDUCATIONAL