The Hadassah Foundation is an investor in social change to empower girls and women in the United States and Israel. It works to improve the status, health and well-being of women and girls; bring their contributions, issues and needs from the margins to the center of Jewish concern; and encourage and facilitate their active participation in decision-making and leadership in all spheres of life.

In late 2022, the Foundation revamped its grantmaking structure. While previously it awarded in two grantmaking cycles per year, one for Israeli organizations and one for U.S. organizations (both cycles awarded two-year grants of up to $70,000), it now put out two RFP’s annually: one for Core grants and one for Spark grants. Both Israeli and U.S. organizations are welcome to apply. The Foundation also awards Visionary Partner and Discretionary grants, but through a different process. Learn more about the new grant structure and the size and duration of grants here.

Visionary Partners

Five-year unrestricted grants of $130,000 for mission-aligned organizations with strong track records as previous grantees.

In December 2022, we awarded our inaugural Visionary Partner grants to Jewish Women International (JWI) and WePower. Based in the U.S., JWI works to empower women and girls – of every race, culture, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation – by ensuring and protecting their safety, building access to long-term economic security, and lifting and mentoring women leaders. WePower,  a non-partisan Israeli NGO,  helps women to advance to top level decision-making and elected positions, thus propelling social change and leading to a more equal and just civil society.

We plan to award at least one new Visionary Partner grant each year.

Learn more here.

2022 Israel Grants

Two-year grants of up to $70,000. Funding began in August 2022.

Adva Center: A leading Israeli progressive think-tank that monitors social and economic developments and their impact on Israel’s diverse populations. Funds support their gender programming, including research, establishing gender budgeting throughout Israel, and courses and lectures.

Economic Empowerment for Women: EEW promotes the economic empowerment of women by providing them with the knowledge and tools to create their own businesses and become financially independent. Funds are for general operating support, which go toward EEW’s many programs including: empowerment training, business forums, personal consultations, and lectures.

Merchavim: Israel citizens of different backgrounds get to know each other, appreciate diversity, create joint communities and organizations, and promote a fairer society at Merchavim. Funds support the M’Nehigot (“Leadership”) initiative, which helps Arab women teachers obtain sought after leadership and teaching positions in Jewish schools throughout Israel.

The Ruth and Emanuel Rackman Center: Operating at Bar-Ilan University, the Rackman Center provides legal representation, academic expertise, and policy recommendations to improve the status of women in Israel’s family laws and policies. Funds support Rackman’s advocacy initiatives as well as their pro-bono legal support and counseling for women who lack the resources and information they need to navigate Israel’s court systems.

WePower: WePower is also a Visionary Partner (details above). Funds go toward WePower’s general operating costs, helping further their many initiatives including: their advocacy and education on the gender gap in leadership, locating and training potential women government officials, and fostering growth and connections among women in decision-making positions. 

2021 U.S. Grants

Two-year grants of up to $70,000. Funding began in July 2021.

Jewish Women International (JWI): JWI is also a Visionary Partner (more details above). Funds underwrite the Jewish Communal Women’s Leadership Project (JCWLP), an initiative to help women advance to the highest positions of Jewish communal organizations. 

2023 Discretionary Grants

Grants of up to $5,000 distributed in response to time-sensitive needs.

Moving Traditions: Also a 2021 U.S. grantee. Funds support efforts to help teens engage with reproductive rights work in response to the June 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Project Kesher: Funds support mental health services, legal support, and leadership training for female Ukrainian and Russian refugees and immigrants in Israel.

COVID-19 Response Grants (2020-2021)

Phase 1

With a dramatic increase in calls to Israel’s domestic abuse hotlines since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the Hadassah Foundation quickly launched a COVID-19 Response Fund.  The selected grant recipients were:

Association of Rape Crisis Centers: The convener of Israel’s rape crisis centers that advocates on behalf of policies that promote women’s safety and support survivors of gender-based violence.

Israel Women’s Network: An organization focused on women’s equality that is lobbying the new Knesset and national government administration to implement needed domestic violence reforms.

Kayan: A feminist movement that advances the status and protects the rights of Arab women in Israel, is translating important domestic violence information into Arabic, expanding their culturally responsive helpline, and advising local Arab-women leaders on the ways to respond to COVID-19 and the domestic violence crisis.

Phase 2: Jewish Women’s Collective Response Fund

The Jewish Women’s Collective Response Fund, convened and facilitated by The Hadassah Foundation, was comprised of five women’s funds – Greater Miami Jewish Federation Women’s Amutot Initiative, Israel Lions of Judah, Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta, and The Hadassah Foundation. The Collective Response Fund was created to provide sorely needed financial resources during this pandemic to Israeli nonprofit organizations that support survivors of domestic violence.

Tahel: The Crisis Center for Religious Women and Children: With 85 percent of its clientele coming from the Haredi population, Tahel provides emotional support, advice, and referrals for women and children in times of crisis.

Women’s Spirit: Providing tools, knowledge, and support for the economic independence and personal development of women survivors of violence.

MASLAN: The Negev’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Support Center: One of nine crisis centers in Israel, offers emergency services and counseling for people located throughout the Negev region.