Jewish Community Partners

As part of its year-long 90th anniversary celebration, Memphis Jewish Federation has launched a new grant opportunity open to Memphis-based agencies, congregations, schools and youth groups serving the local Jewish community. Individuals and groups are also eligible to apply with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.

Ignite Grants are designed to spark and support bold, creative ideas that address gaps in service delivery or programming across the greater Memphis Jewish community. Reimbursement grants of up to $25,000 per funding year will be awarded to new and innovative programs, projects, or initiatives with the potential for meaningful and sustained impact. Cross-agency collaboration is encouraged.

“As a significant and impactful grantmaking organization, what better way to celebrate Federation’s 90th anniversary than by offering the community a new grant opportunity?” said Bluma Zuckerbrot-Finkelstein, Executive Vice President. “We’re seeking fresh ideas to ignite meaningful and lasting change.”

Preference will be given to proposals addressing the following priority areas, though all innovative ideas are encouraged:

• Jewish engagement programs serving individuals and families living outside the East Memphis/Germantown corridor or those not affiliated with a congregation
• Jewish engagement initiatives for parents of children and teens under age 18
• Mental health initiatives across all demographics
• Recruitment and retention efforts to strengthen Jewish Memphis

Two rounds of funding will be offered annually, with upcoming deadlines in June and November. Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the first round are due by June 2, 2026.

A small working group of Federation lay leaders met throughout the year to design the new process. The group included Board Chair Jimmy Ringel; Community Grants Committee Co-Chairs Sandra Arnold and Michelle Katz; Board Member and Needs Assessment & Planning Committee member Rachel Siegel; and Community Grants Committee member Jenny Cook.

For more information and to apply, please go to www.jcpmemphis.org/ignitegrants.