Providing meals at the JUF Uptown Cafe is one of the numerous ways JUF meets local basic needs.

Meeting basic human needs. Advocating for and supporting Israel and endangered Jews around the world. Ensuring a vibrant Jewish future.

With these primary goals in mind, hundreds of community leaders spent thousands of hours crafting the plan for how the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago will allocate $154.4 million in Fiscal Year 2016-a nearly $4 million increase from last year.

The largest share of funding comes from the JUF Annual Campaign, which raised $82.1 million last year. In addition, JUF/Federation distributes funds received from government agencies, foundations, endowments, donor advised funds, the United Way, and other sources.

“Each year, JUF reaches 300,000 Chicagoans of all faiths who are in need through a comprehensive network of social service agencies, and provides relief for 2 million Jews around the world,” said Bill Silverstein, JUF/Federation Chairman.

Meeting basic human needs

With its commitment to meeting basic human needs, JUF/Federation furnishes support to approximately 70 agencies and programs. Under the FY ’16 budget, $24.71 million will go to Chicago area social service agencies and programs, including Jewish Child & Family Services, CJE SeniorLife, Jewish Vocational Service, Sinai Health System, and The Ark.

Increased resources have been made available to enhance services to Holocaust survivors, reinforce existing emergency safety net programs, and provide legal services for domestic violence survivors.

Supporting Israel and overseas programs

Nearly $34.4 million will go to Israel and overseas to provide significant support for world Jewry in crisis through JUF/Federation partner agencies and programs, including Jewish Federations of North America, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Agency for Israel, and World ORT.

During the past year, Jews around the world have been under siege, with wars in Israel and Ukraine and increased anti-Semitic activities across Europe. JUF/Federation’s support enables these partners to provide emergency and long-term assistance that helps individuals and communities recover.

The allocation also reinforces JUF overseas initiatives and programs. These include Partnership Together, which provides services to the most vulnerable in Israel’s Kiryat Gat-Lachish-Shafir region, and the Kyiv Kehilla Project, which addresses hunger and supports formal and informal Jewish education programs in Ukraine. In addition, the funds will enhance educational programs operated by the streams of Judaism in Israel: Progressive (Reform), Masorti (Conservative), and Modern Orthodox.

Fostering a vibrant community

JUF/Federation allocations reflect a strong commitment to building community and promoting Jewish continuity. In FY ’16, $17.1 million will go to the Jewish Community Center of Chicago, Associated Talmud Torahs, Community Foundation for Jewish Education, 16 Chicago area Jewish day schools, Spertus Institute for Learning and Leadership, Hebrew Theological College, and other programs.

A total of $245,000 within these allocations has been designated to encourage adult participation in Chicago Jewish communal life, create professional development opportunities for day school educators, and extend partnerships with local congregations.

Engaging Jewish teens

An additional $120,000 allocation will be the first part of a multi-year commitment to a broad new teen initiative that will significantly increase opportunities for youth engagement and expand partnerships with youth groups (See story on p. 23).

Creating connections to Israel

Another $5.75 million will go to efforts to promote Israel outreach, advocacy, and cultural connections at the local and national levels, including combating anti-Israel campaigns; maintaining Israel studies programs on campuses; and sponsoring Birthright trips. This allocation also includes support for agencies such as the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

Advancing innovative programs and initiatives

In addition, a $1.17 million allocation to the Breakthrough Fund-nearly $180,000 more than FY 2014-15-will support innovative programs and initiatives in the Chicago Jewish community.

This pilot program-in its second year-awards grants to a broad array of efforts, including programs focusing on inclusion and individuals with disabilities, the creation of online resources for seniors, programs that strengthen students and engage community members, programs for Jewish grandparents and an incubator for Jewish social entrepreneurs (See story on p. 17).

Most of the remaining JUF/Federation FY ’16 allocations cover distributions from donor-advised funds, community programs and services provided directly by JUF/Federation, support services to affiliated agencies, and operational expenses.

Effectively distributing JUF/Federation funds is a collaborative effort involving community leaders, and JUF/Federation and agency professionals. Members of the Health and Human Services, Israel and Overseas, and Community Building and Jewish Continuity Commissions of JUF’s Overall Planning and Allocations Committee identify needs, assess impact, and recommend future allocations.

“An engaged and impassioned group of lay leaders worked on these allocations for an entire year,” said OPAC Chair Andrea Yablon. “They carefully considered each request and made their recommendations based on site visits, interviews and strategic planning.”

“Through this process we ensure that critical assistance will be available in the future, and that agencies are equipped to provide effective responses to rapidly changing needs,” Silverstein said.