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Jewish Women’s Foundation

Jewish Women's Foundation logo

The Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago seeks to expand and improve opportunities and choices in all aspects of Jewish women and girls' lives through strategic and effective grant-making. At the same time, the Foundation empowers women as leaders, funders, and decision makers.

What does the Jewish Women’s Foundation do?

The Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago brings Jewish women together to promote hands-on change for Jewish women and girls here in Chicago, across the United States and around the world. Through strategic and effective grant-making, the Foundation seeks to expand and improve all aspects of Jewish women and girls' lives.

Get Excited to Make a Difference in the Lives of Jewish Women and Girls

jwf 3We started with a vision. Chicago women, pooling our philanthropic resources, would focus on issues often ignored in the Jewish community. We believed that together, with a collective voice, we could bring positive change for Jewish women and girls. Today, the Jewish Women's Foundation (JWF), an independent program of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, brings Jewish women together to promote hands-on change for Jewish women and girls here in Chicago, across the United States and around the world. As a JWF member, you'll experience how rewarding strategic and effective grant making can be. In addition to helping decide where the Foundation dollars go, you'll be educated by experts on timely issues in philanthropy.

Start your membership to the Jewish Women's Foundation with a gift of $10,000, payable over five years (pay as little as $167 per month). Your membership allows you to make significant change for Jewish women and girls.

In just ten years, the Jewish Women's Foundation has raised an endowment of over $6 million and has awarded over $1 million to cutting edge projects, making it the country's largest Jewish women's foundation.

Take a look at all we've accomplished ... when women come together

Action: Provided funding for staff members at Response Center’s Medical Units to receive specialized training to treat victims of sexual assault and abuse.
Result: During the course of JWF funding, the Medical Units served l0l rape victims, 83 sexual abuse victims and 237 girls in abusive relationships.
Action: Provided funding to Economic Empowerment for Women (EEW), Israel for low-income Jewish and Arab Israeli women to start their own micro-enterprises.
Results:

Since 2003, of all the women who received training and possibly a loan from EEW:

  • 65% of graduates are either small business owners, employed or both after one year.  This statistic increases to 71% three years later.
  • 85% of the businesses that were active one year following the program were still active three years later.
  • The average household income increased 20% over a three-year period (in comparison to the national increase of 1.8%).
Action: Provided funding to Yad L'Isha --a Women's Legal Aid Center, Jerusalem which hires and trains women to serve as advocates inside the Rabbinic Courts for long-term agunot (women refused a religious divorce) with nowhere left to turn.
Results:

Yad L'Isha advocates are the first women in history to represent agunot inside the Rabbinic Courts.  In l997, the year Yad L’Isha opened, there were seven long-time agunot freed.  From 2000-2006 there have been 240 gets (divorces) handed down.

Our Diverse and Passionate Membership

jwf 2Our members join JWF with varied backgrounds and experience, yet share a strong desire for women to grow and learn in new ways. Our membership of talented, intelligent and motivated women make a difference for Jewish women and girls in Chicago, Israel and throughout the world. At JWF, your voice matters.

How the Foundation Operates

  • Provides money for projects that make a difference in the health, status and economic power of Jewish women and girls around the world.
  • Offers opportunities for women and girls in the Jewish community to achieve greater influence and success.
  • Allow Jewish women to support women-centered causes.
  • Makes grants to agencies and programs that further the growth of Jewish women and girls' body, mind, and spirits.

We are saving a place at the Grant-making table for you!

Your membership gift gives you a place at the grant-making table. Choose your level of involvement in the grant-making process. Simply review and approve grant proposals, or take on a leadership role and chair subcommittee meetings and events. Start your membership today. Find out more about how to join JWF.

Contact JWF for more information

Our professional staff is happy to answer any questions you have about the foundation's goals and resources. Please contact us at:

Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
30 S. Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312-357-4850
Fax: 312-855-3284
E-mail: womensfndn@juf.org