The Rocker Family Foundation concentrates its giving on Jewish communal life and Jewish education/identity initiatives, while also supporting regional civic and cultural institutions in New Jersey and a selection of national policy, health, and environmental organizations. Grants are weighted toward a small set of repeat beneficiaries (notably MetroWest Jewish institutions), with additional discretionary gifts to arts organizations, public media, medical institutions, and policy think tanks. The foundation blends local community impact (MetroWest NJ and statewide nonprofits) with targeted national investments in public policy and environmental causes.
Rocker Family Foundation Inc centers its largest recent grants on Jewish communal infrastructure in Greater MetroWest, with two consecutive $403,000 awards to the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest and major support for the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ. That pattern points to a foundation that uses its resources to sustain institutions serving Jewish life, education, and community support, rather than chasing a wide mix of one-off projects. The foundation also shows a steady interest in Israel-related education and scholarships, including support for Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and American Friends of Livnot U'lehibanot. Alongside those Jewish community commitments, its recent giving extends to public media, cultural institutions, food security, health, and policy organizations. In practice, the grant portfolio combines large general-support allocations to anchor institutions with smaller discretionary grants to a broader set of organizations. The result is a grantmaker with clear priorities and a regional footprint, but one that also places targeted bets on specific national organizations connected to education, civic life, and Jewish identity.
Jewish education and communal life are the clearest thread in the portfolio. In 2024, Rocker Family Foundation Inc gave $15,000 to the American Jewish Distribution Committee and $12,000 to the American Jewish Committee, both as general support. Israel study and Jewish learning also appear through $20,000 to Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024, plus $20,000 and $10,000 to American Friends of Livnot U'lehibanot in 2023 and 2024. The foundation also backs community-serving work in the region, including $20,000 to Community Food Bank of New Jersey and $10,000 to Fresh Air Fund. Cultural and media support shows up in $25,000 grants to New Jersey Performing Arts Center in both 2023 and 2024, and $20,000 to WPBT Communications Foundation Inc in 2024.
Typical awards cluster at $10,000 to $20,000, with a median grant size of $10,000 and a 75th percentile of $20,000. The portfolio also includes a much larger tier, led by repeated six-figure support for core Jewish communal institutions. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest, Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ, Consumers Union of the United States, American Jewish Committee, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, American Friends of Livnot U'lehibanot, Ashoka, Harvard College, and Community Solutions. The foundation is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$941K
$5.8M
$682K
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 25% of grants go to recipients in NY.
David Rocker
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Concentrated giving with repeat, multi-year support to a few core grantees (especially MetroWest Jewish institutions), supplemented by smaller one-off or repeat grants to regional cultural, health, environmental, and policy organizations; mix of large flagship gifts and many mid-to-small sized awards.
Notable grantees: Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest, Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, Environmental Defense Fund
Most grants go to recipients in New York, but the largest concentration of major anchor gifts lands in Whippany, NJ, where the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest and the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ are both based. New York City recipients include Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, American Jewish Distribution Committee, American Jewish Committee, Community Solutions, Row New York, and WNET Radio. Other named recipient cities include Newark, Hillside, Miami, Boca Raton, Washington, DC, Arlington, Cambridge, and Yonkers. All recorded grants in the dataset go to US recipients.
The foundation gives heavily to Jewish communal organizations and Jewish education, especially in Greater MetroWest. Recent grants also include cultural institutions, public media, food security, health, and policy organizations, showing a mix of community-based and national support.
The typical grant is $10,000, with the 75th percentile at $20,000. Recent grants also show larger anchor gifts, including $403,000 awards to the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest and $137,000 to the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest, Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ, Consumers Union of the United States, American Jewish Committee, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, American Friends of Livnot U'lehibanot, Ashoka, Harvard College, and Community Solutions.
The top state by grant count is New York, while 23% of grants go to recipients in New Jersey, the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent recipient cities also include Whippany, Newark, Hillside, Miami, Boca Raton, Washington, DC, Arlington, Cambridge, and Yonkers.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Rocker Family Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Restricted endowment funds are overseen by a grant review committee; applicants must follow the current grant application process.
Who can apply: Applications are open each spring to organizations located in or serving residents of Greater MetroWest NJ's partnership communities in Israel, including Ofakim/Merchavim, Arad, Kibbutz Erez, Rishon LeZion, and Hurfeish.
Deadline: Applications open each spring.
Who can apply: Local community organizations addressing care for older adults (with special consideration for the financially vulnerable/needy), programming/classes/curriculum/technology/projects focused on Jewish education, or engagement initiatives focused on securing new synagogue membership/participation.
Deadline: Applications open each spring.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest | Whippany, NJ | $403,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ | Whippany, NJ | $271,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| New Jersey Performing Arts Center | Newark, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| International Paruresis Association Inc | Catonsville, MD | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY | Hillside, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL | TEANECK, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONSUMERS UNION OF THE UNITED STATES | YONKERS, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | New York, NY | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Friends of WLRN | Miami, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| WPBT Communications Foundation Inc | Miami, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Wounded Warrior Project | Topeka, KS | $10,000 | 2026 | general support |
| Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center | Livingston, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Foundation for the Defence of Democracies | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | general support |
| PARDES INSTITUTE OF JEWISH STUDIES | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Community Center of MetroWest | West Orange, NJ | $10,000 | 2026 | Program support |
| WNET Radio | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARVARD COLLEGE | Cambridge, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASHOKA | Arlington, VA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | Washington, DC | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Honest Reporting (CAMERA) | Boston, MA | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOULA PROGRAM TO ACCOMPANY AND COMFORT | New York, NY | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Environmental Defense Fund | New York, NY | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest | Whippany, NJ | $403,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ | Whippany, NJ | $315,312 | 2025 | General Support |
| International Paruresis Association Inc | Catonsville, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LIVNOT U'LEHIBANOT | Boca Raton, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | NEWARK, NJ | $25,000 | 2025 | general support |
| WNET Radio | New York, NY | $21,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Friends of WLRN | Miami, FL | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY | Hillside, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | New York, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONSUMERS UNION OF THE UNITED STATES | YONKERS, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PARDES INSTITUTE OF JEWISH STUDIES | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ASHOKA | Arlington, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WPBT Communications Foundation Inc | Miami, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center | Livingston, NJ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Foundation for the Defence of Democracies | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Anti-Defamation League - NY Development | New York, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | Washington, DC | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOULA PROGRAM TO ACCOMPANY AND COMFORT | New York, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Environmental Defense Fund | New York, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest | Whippany, NJ | $403,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ | Whippany, NJ | $137,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| International Paruresis Association Inc | Catonsville, MD | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | NEWARK, NJ | $25,000 | 2024 | general support |
International Paruresis Association Inc
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Friends of WLRN
$10,000General Support
WPBT Communications Foundation Inc
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WNET Radio
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
International Paruresis Association Inc
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LIVNOT U'LEHIBANOT
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WNET Radio
$21,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Friends of WLRN
$20,000General Support
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WPBT Communications Foundation Inc
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
International Paruresis Association Inc
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
