Local Impact Fund Information

The Fund’s priority areas were identified by our community through our 2022-23 Hineni Houston listening journey and will drive the Federation’s decision making.

Programs shall fit within at least one of the three following priority areas:

• Inclusion: Programs that engage and support the following groups and populations. Programs may be a direct service program or create a space to learn about inclusivity focusing on at least one of the populations below.
  • Youth and adults with special needs
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Interfaith families
  • Mixed heritage and Jews of color
  • Greater Houston neighborhoods outside the central core Jewish area
• Engagement: Fostering Jewish community and building Jewish identity, both socially and spiritually, in an innovative way. Programs must include at least one of the categories below.
  • Innovative and collaborative programming for elementary and middle school age children (grades K-5 and 6-8) and their families
  • Adults across ages and stages, including seniors
  • Jewish community partnerships across religious denominations
  • Community-wide initiatives or programs for the broadest audience across Greater Houston
• Education: Innovative programming for formal and informal Jewish education. Programs must include at least one of the categories below. Programs may serve any age/stage.
  • Combating antisemitism
  • Fostering support for Israel
  • Building bridges between the Jewish community and non-Jewish communities
  • Service learning and volunteer opportunities

The fund will be open to any 501(c)(3) or an organization with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor that directly serves the Greater Houston Jewish community, including organizations that receive other sources of funding from the Federation.

• Funding must be tied to a particular project or program that fits the funds’ priorities and has measurable impact.
• All programs or initiatives must be new (0-2 years in existence) or expanding and serve the Jewish community.
• All programs or initiatives must have a collaborative partner. 
• Grants will be awarded up to $30,000.
• Grantees will be required to participate in site visits and submit annual reports.
• Grants will be awarded on an annual basis, with a maximum of 3 years of funding for a particular project or program. Renewal for funding in years 2 and 3 will be based on program outcomes, community needs, and a proven model of financial stability or fundraising. Programs seeking renewed funding will be required to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) as their first step in the application process to provide updated program and grant request information.

April 29, 9-10 AM (8:30 AM breakfast) 

All organizations are invited to attend the in-person meeting at the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston to learn more about the fund’s requirements, application process, and have an opportunity to connect with other local organizations to collaborate on new programs for the community. Click here to register.

July 31 

Letters of Inquiry (LOI) are due. Applicants will be notified about the next round of the process in September. 

November 4 

Full proposal due for those invited to complete the process. Prior to that date, there will be an information session. 

December 2025 

Grant awards will be announced. 

Click here to apply. When applying use code Impact25.