The Hadassah Foundation, the largest Jewish women’s fund in the US, whose mission is to invest in social change to empower women and girls, is proud to announce the complete list of its 2021 grant recipients, three US-based organizations in the Jewish community and five Israel-based organizations impacting women and girls of all backgrounds.

Women’s issues are making headlines as the ramifications of the coronavirus continue to unfold. Women’s progress in the workplace declined significantly, while reports of domestic and family violence skyrocketed around the world. The Hadassah Foundation aimed to recognize these immediate needs, while keeping its long-term funding priority, advancing women in positions of power, paramount.

Foundation Board Chair Sue Beller explains, “These organizations are trailblazers in their fields addressing gender gap issues that were further exacerbated by the pandemic.  They give me hope and optimism for what women’s leadership will look like in the future.”

The US-based grants, totaling $170,000, range from $50,000 to $70,000 over two years and are awarded to:

• Maharat: The first rabbinical school in North America to train and ordain Orthodox women for the rabbinate. Hadassah Foundation renews its support of Maharat with general operating funds that further its ability to train women to lead the Jewish community, while managing the ongoing challenges of gender bias in the field.
• Jewish Women International: A national organization that ensures women and girls thrive in healthy relationships, control their financial futures, and realize their full potential. Funds underwrite the continuation of the Hadassah Foundation funded Jewish Communal Women’s Leadership Project (JCWLP), a network for mid-to-senior level women executives that helps advance them to the highest positions, and reimagines the Jewish communal workplace.
• Shalom Task Force:  A partner new to the Hadassah Foundation, Shalom Task Force combats and prevents domestic violence and fosters healthy and safe relationships. Funds support the Purple Fellowship, which equips students with the skills, knowledge, and leadership experience to become advocates on behalf of the issue of domestic violence in their schools and communities.

“We are so proud and excited to partner with these organizations that address gender inequality in the Jewish community, the lack of women in c-suite positions, and the importance of publicly addressing domestic and family violence,” comments Co-Chair of US Grants Joanna Golden.

“Through these grants, the Hadassah Foundation continues to show its commitment to empowering women to leadership roles in today’s increasingly complex society,” adds Co-Chair of US Grants Meg Gold.

These newly awarded grants follow the Hadassah Foundation’s selection of its Israel-based grants, totaling $330,000. The 2021 Israel grant recipients include: Beit Ruth Village, Center for Women’s Justice, Itach-Ma’aki: Women Lawyers for Social Justice, Women’s Spirit: Financial Independence for Women Victims of Violence, and Yozmot Atid. Click here to read the press release on the 2021 Israel Grantees.

ABOUT THE HADASSAH FOUNDATION

The Hadassah Foundation invests in social change organizations that empower women and girls in Israel and the United States. As one of the largest Jewish women’s funds in the United States, The Hadassah Foundation has awarded $10.5 million in grants to over 110 non-profit organizations. For additional information, including a list of all past grantees visit hadassahfoundation.org. 

Photo: Shalom Task Force Purple Fellows at Denver Academy of Torah teach a workshop they created for their classmates on Go Purple Day, a day where students advocate for the awareness of domestic abuse and healthy relationships and the importance of supporting survivors.