The Hadassah Foundation is awarding Core grants of $120,000 each to four Israeli organizations that advance women’s leadership and address challenges disproportionately impacting women and girls. These grants, which will be paid out over three years, are 50 percent larger than previous grants in this category, one of four categories in which the Foundation awards funding. The increase is just one component of the Hadassah Foundation’s 2026-2029 strategic plan to dramatically grow support for gender equity in Israel and the U.S. Jewish community.
The Hadassah Foundation’s four 2026 Core Israel grant recipients, all receiving general operating support, are:
- Michal Sela Forum: Dedicated to saving the lives of women trapped in violent relationships and eradicating intimate partner violence through prevention via technological and innovative defense solutions, Michal Sela Forum is building a new ecosystem of start-ups to prevent violence against women. In addition to promoting technological solutions, the organization creates systemic social change through public awareness campaigns, education, and policy change.
- Reservists Wives Forum: Established less than two months after the October 7 attacks, Reservists Wives Forum is the only organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of families of Israeli reserve soldiers. At a time of ongoing war, it is successfully lobbying policymakers to ensure that the needs of Israeli women whose careers, caregiving burden, and economic well-being have been adversely impacted by their spouses’ lengthy absences for reserve duty are addressed.
- Forum Dvorah: The only organization in Israel that focuses on gender equality in national security and foreign policy, Forum Dvorah promotes the advancement of women into top leadership roles through mentorship, peer support, training, and advocacy. Its network includes 450+ Israeli women professionals in national security and foreign policy, alongside more than 500 members of its Women Warriors Community serving in combat roles across active duty, career service, and the reserves. Forum Dvorah also works to increase the visibility of women national security and foreign policy experts in the media and encourages young women to pursue careers in these fields.
- Itach Ma’aki: Women Lawyers for Social Justice: Led by Arab and Jewish co-directors, Itach Ma’aki works to amplify the voices of Israeli women that face systemic exclusion and inequality on social, geographic, national, ethnic, and economic grounds. Its combined approach of individual legal aid, community leadership, and policy advocacy is intended to drive a cycle of systemic change in which insights from the field inform changes in policies and institutions, which return to the community as tangible improvements in people’s lives.
The Michal Sela Forum and Reservists Wives Forum are first-time grant recipients, and their grants are underwritten by the Andrea Silagi Fund for Education, Advocacy, and Outreach. Forum Dvorah and Itach Ma’aki are previous grant recipients with strong records of advancing gender equity in Israel. Forum Dvorah’s grant is underwritten by the Jacquie Bayley Fund for Leadership, Opportunity, and Sisterhood.
The Hadassah Foundation has steadily grown its annual grantmaking, with 2026’s expected total grantmaking of $960,000 representing a 70 percent increase since 2021. Under the 2026-2029 strategic plan, the Foundation aims to award $1.5 million in grants annually by 2029. In addition, the Foundation plans to foster greater collaboration within the Jewish and Israeli gender equity fields and mobilize other Jewish philanthropists to prioritize the needs of self-identifying women and girls. View strategic plan highlights here.
See a full list of the Hadassah Foundation’s 26 current grant recipients here.