Social Change Grantmaking
All Women of Vision members have the opportunity to cast a vote on programs they believe deserve funding to create and inspire social change and justice for self-identifying Jewish women and girls. Women of Vision was founded in 1994 and its first grant was allocated in 2001.
From its inception, WOV has collectively decided and distributed through its endowment fund more than $1.7 million to nonprofit organizations in Greater Philadelphia and Israel. WOV annually rotates its grant distribution to either Greater Philadelphia or Israel, a new system which began in 2018.
Grant Recipients
Special Israel Grants 2024
Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children
(Special one-time grant of $30,000 in Fiscal Year 2024)
Women of Vision continues to be a voice for our sisters in Israel and stand firmly in solidarity with the Jewish homeland during the ongoing war against terrorism. In February 2024, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, separate from the Women of Vision Endowment Fund, Women of Vision made a special one-time grant of $30,000 to the Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children to support their work documenting the systematic and deliberate gender and sexual-based violence that Hamas committed and advocating for necessary changes on the international stage.
Jewish Women’s Collective Response Fund Collaborative Grant
The Jewish Women’s Collective Response Fund, which includes the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Women of Vision group, recently announced five grants to support Israeli nonprofits actively and effectively working to give voice to women and advance equality in government and civil society as Israelis reprioritize and rebuild during and after wartime.
The five Israeli organizations receiving grants, each for $25,000, are:
- The Adva Center, based in Tel Aviv, advances equality, social justice and gender-responsive policies in Israel, including giving voice in the Israeli government to women at a time when they are often excluded from decision-making.
- Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, based in Jerusalem, raises awareness within Israeli communities and government of gender-based sexual violence and harassment; provides support, resources and advocacy for survivors; and leads calls internationally for accountability for the sexual terrorism committed against Israeli women on Oct. 7.
- Itach Ma’aki – Women Lawyers for Social Justice, based in Tel Aviv, empowers and gives voice to Israeli women facing social, geographic, national, ethnic and economic discrimination by providing legal aid, engaging with activist groups and other allies, and identifying and promoting changes in national policy and legislation.
- The Ruth and Emanuel Rackman Center, based at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, promotes the status and rights of women in matters of family law and works to end gender discrimination and inequality in Israel through advocacy and legislative change.
- WePower, based in Azor, works to elevate women to influential and decision-making positions in Israel, focusing on erasing the gender gap in public and political arenas by identifying potential female leaders and training them for leadership positions, promoting gender-aware legislation to remove barriers, and advancing gender equality as a societal foundation.
Greater Philadelphia & National Grants 2024-2026 ($226,429)
Jewish Women International ($30,000/year for two years)
“Financial Fitness for Young Women”
Financial Fitness gathers women in their 20s and 30s for workshops, designed to unpack emotional barriers that often make women hesitant to address money issues and consider financial fitness as a component of physical and emotional well-being. This helps prepare women to prioritize their goals, organize finances, create a realistic budget, and learn how to negotiate and invest strategically. With the WOV grant, the program will expand its services to offer more classes and create additional tracks for new partnerships and participants to empower financial literacy among young women as a way to combat financial inequality and insecurity.
jGirls+ Magazine ($36,000/year for two years)
“Jewish Feminist Leadership Strategy & Vocal Point”
jGirls+ Magazine is a global community for Jewish women and nonbinary teens throughout North America to voice their realities, engage with new ideas, and lift each other up as they help cultivate the next generation of empowered, confident Jewish feminist leaders. The teen staff members are trained in an experiential educational curriculum within a Jewish context and learn how to set the editorial agenda for publication content. With the WOV grant, the organization will expand its services to reach more teens and readership and launch a new public speaking program to increase and empower feminist teen leaders to become ambassadors of its programs.
Dinah & The Hebrew Free Loan Society ($36,000/year for two years)
“Shalom Bayit Fund”
Dinah is a comprehensive legal services center providing low-cost and pro bono legal representation to survivors of domestic abuse in the Jewish community of Greater Philadelphia. In partnership with the Hebrew Free Loan Society, Dinah is seeking a WOV grant to establish the first interest-free loan program for women leaving domestic violence or unsafe relationships as well as to create new collaborative programming. This initiative will be a restricted loan fund through Hebrew Free Loan Society that will benefit individuals in physical or financial abusive relationships, who do not qualify for public benefits or are unable to access legal aid.
Moving Traditions ($22,429 for one year)
“CultureShift”
Moving Traditions emboldens Jewish youth through programs to thrive through the pursuit of personal wellbeing (shleimut), caring relationships (hesed), and a Jewish and feminist vision of equity and justice (tzedek). Moving Traditions is seeking a grant to address the issues of appropriate sexual behavior in a camp setting. With the WOV grant, the organization will expand its services and more than double its camp partners to provide direct, in-person training to overnight and day camp staff to implement direct programs for teen campers to help reinforce positive behaviors.
Israel Grants 2023-2025 ($137,328)
Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel (ARCCI) ($60,000 over two years)
Improving Law Enforcement Systems for Victims
Giving a voice to over 50,000 victims each year, the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel advocates for women of all ages who are victims of sexual violence across Israel.
Yozmot Atid ($60,000 over two years)
Micro-Business Entrepreneurship Program
Yozmot Atid brings Arab and Jewish women entrepreneurs together through business training courses, workshops and mentorship programs to assist in the promotion and expansion of small businesses.
ELI ($17,328 in Fiscal Year 2024)
Protecting Haredi Young Women and Girls
ELI aims to reduce abuse through partnering with influential rabbis and mikveh attendants, providing training for bridal teachers, creating abuse awareness and prevention programs in schools, and supporting at-risk mothers and women identified as being abused.
Greater Philadelphia & National Grants 2022-2024 ($185,000)
Einstein Healthcare Network ($72,000 over two years)
Empowering Orthodox Women Through Sexual Health Education
Empowering Orthodox women to take charge of their health and well-being with informed, culturally sensitive education.
Jewish Women International ($45,000 over two years)
Financial Fitness for Young Women
Financial Fitness gathers women in their 20s and 30s for 4-5 workshops, designed to unpack emotional barriers that often make women hesitant to address money issues and consider financial fitness as a component of physical and emotional well-being.
jGirls+ Magazine ($68,000 over two years)
Feminist Teen Leadership Training Program
Each year, jGirls Magazine invites teens entering 10th, 11th, and 12th grades throughout North America to join their staff as editors and photographers and to participate in their robust feminist leadership development program.
Israel Grants 2021-2023 ($86,000)
ELI ($36,000 over two years)
Training of IDF Female Officers: Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention in the Army
Creating systemic social change to reduce sexual abuse against women in the Israeli Defense Force.
Mavoi Satum ($50,000 over two years)
Changing the Status Quo: Changing Jewish Women’s Lives
Reducing gender inequality, discrimination and abuse in Israel’s marriage and divorce system and expediting the divorce process for individual women – while ensuring that their legal rights are respected.
Philadelphia Grants 2020-2022 ($180,000)
Dinah ($40,000 over two years)
Sustaining Dinah
To mature to the next level of growth through increased organizational and financial sustainability to have more of an impact on definitions, behavior, engagement and policies surrounding domestic abuse in our local Jewish community.
Interfaith Philadelphia ($30,000 over two years)
Visionary Women
An intergenerational, interfaith program for women ages 16 to 90+ engaging issues at the intersection of religion, gender, and social justice.
jGirls Magazine ($60,000 over two years)
jGirls Magazine Girls Empowerment Program
An innovative online community written by and for self-identifying Jewish girls, ages 13-19, across all backgrounds.
Ta’amod: Stand Up! ($50,000 over two years)
Ta’amod: Stand Up!
Stewarding whole Jewish workplaces where women can thrive and flourish in cultures of safety, respect, and equity.
Israel Grants 2019 – 2021 ($88,000)
ATZUM – Justice Works ($36,000 over two years)
Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution
To help sustain the legislative, advocacy, and educational efforts leading to legal reforms to criminalize the buying and selling of people and sex in Israel
ELI: Israel Association for Child Protection ($36,000 over two years)
IDF Female Officer Training Program
To raise awareness for and enact prevention measures against sexual abuse in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Israel Emergency Fund ($16,000 one-year discretionary grant)
Trauma Counseling Services in Netivot & S’dot Negev
To provide trauma counseling in our Jewish Federation’s partnership region
Philadelphia & Israel Grants 2018-2020 ($172,000)
Dinah ($40,000 over two years)
Community Allied Training Program
To train educate and empower the community on domestic violence and train attorneys to provide culturally sensitive bro-bono legal services to Jewish women experiencing domestic violence
Jewish Family & Children’s Service ($44,000 over two years)
Ma’Oz Bloom Expansion
To expand its maternal mental health program for Jewish families and to educate the Jewish religious community to de-stigmatize post-partum and motherhood issues
Moving Traditions ($70,000 over two years)
Rosh Hodesh Renewed
To implement its revised Rosh Hodesh empowerment curriculum for teen girls, which has been updated for today’s social media and technological environment
ATZUM – Justice Works ($18,000 for one year)
Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution
To help sustain the legislative, advocacy, and educational efforts leading to legal reforms to criminalize the buying and selling of people and sex in Israel
2017-2018 ($99,000)
Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia ($31,000)
Visionary Women: Rooted in Faith, Committed to Justice
An intergenerational, interfaith, all women’s series that emphasizes strengthened identity and increased empathy as key components to becoming change agents for tolerance and understanding.
CeaseFirePA ($25,000)
Igniting Your Advocacy
To create and implement a campaign that engages and trains Jewish women to be gun violence prevention advocates in particular, and advocates in general.
SeniorLAW Center ($25,000)
Protecting the Legal Rights of Older Jewish Women
To provide legal services, training and empowering community education to older Jewish women in the communities they live, allowing them to age in place with independence and dignity.
ATZUM – Justice Works ($18,000)
Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution
To help sustain the legislative, advocacy, and educational efforts of the Task Force on Human Trafficking and Prostitution
2016-2017 ($110,000)
Jewish Family and Children Service of Greater Philadelphia ($35,000)
Ma’oz Bloom: Transforming Maternal Mental Health in the Orthodox Jewish Community for Today and Tomorrow
The grant supports the Lower Merion based program Ma’oz Bloom: Transforming Maternal Mental Health in the Orthodox Jewish Community for Today and Tomorrow.
Moving Traditions ($35,000)
Empowered & Prepared: Rape Risk Reduction for Pre-College Jewish Women
A program that will prepare young women to face the challenges of a sexualized campus culture and take on leadership roles on campus in combating sexual assault.
Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia ($22,000)
Dare to Understand Women & Girls Initiative
A program for mother or grandmother/daughter pairs that will empower women of faith to be change agents for tolerance and understanding.
Hillel-The Right To Choose ($18,000)
Services for Haredi Women and Single Mothers in Israel will serve 150 (50 women, 100 children) who choose to leave the Haredi community to bridge their gaps in education and employment.
2015-2016 ($112,500)
Moving Traditions ($36,000)
Healthy Sexuality: Creating and Launching a New Model for Jewish Teen Girls
The grant supported the creation of a curriculum to guide Jewish teen girls to create healthy, Jewish sexual ethics.
Women’s Opportunities Resource Center (WORC) ($36,000)
The grant benefited the Retirement Income Solutions (RIS) Program, which focused on building the financial capabilities of low-and-moderate income women through supporting self-employment or re-entering the workforce.
ATIDIM: The Takeoff Program ($25,000)
This Israeli program supported 21 women soldiers in their transition from Israeli army service into their academic studies. TAKEOFF ensures a soft-landing into civilian life and accompanies these brave young women from the end of their army service through college education to satisfying career paths and permanent job placement.
ATZUM-Justice Works ($11,000)
Task Force on Human Trafficking
The grant supported the Task Force on Human Trafficking with the goal to change legislation in Israel surrounding human trafficking.
Temple Hillel ($2,250 over three years)
The Nashim (women’s) Group held quarterly meetings that provided attendees with an understanding of ritual observances specific to women and to provide guidance and leadership skills.
AJC: Global Jewish Advocacy ($1,500 over two years)
Bringing Women in: Charting a Pathway toward Volunteer Jewish Communal Involvement
The micro grant went towards Bringing Women in: Charting a Pathway toward Volunteer Jewish Communal Involvement programming.
Challah for Hunger ($750)
This micro grant supported the creation of a Women’s Speakers Series for the Philadelphia Alumni and Friends Chapter.
2014-2015 ($79,250)
Organization for the Resolution of Agunot ($37,000 over two years)
The multifaceted campaign addressed the plight of agunot (women chained to a dead marriage) and offered a proactive solution to get-refusal: the Jewish prenuptial agreement. This initiative incorporated educational workshops a CLE course for attorneys, rabbi and advocate training, a community-wide signing of the postnuptial agreement and a social media campaign.
Challah for Hunger ($14,500)
Funding supported the development of a curriculum that focused on Jewish values of communal leadership and social justice to enhance the organization’s effectiveness in bringing college women together to bake and sell Challah, raising money and awareness for social justice causes.
Beit Ruth ($14,500)
This program helped 37 at-risk Israeli girls thrive in a supportive living environment. Residents received recreational and therapeutic programming.
SHUTAFOT: Bringing Women to the Fore ($10,000)
This program launched a partnership of six Israeli women’s organizations working for gender equality, economic justice and workplace rights, and was funded by a collaboration of 17 Jewish Women’s Foundations, including WOV, with a total grant of $150,000over two years.
Career Wardrobe ($2,500)
Dressing and Image Consultation Program
The grant supported their expansion to Jewish women’s groups, empowering women in transition to achieve productive careers by utilizing the Dressing and Image Consultation Program.
Renaissance Group ($750)
Bringing Women in: Charting a Pathway toward Volunteer Jewish Communal Involvement
The micro grant went towards Bringing Women in: Charting a Pathway toward Volunteer Jewish Communal Involvement programming.
2013-2014 ($49,500)
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) ($20,000)
Through Women of Vision funding this organization ran events to raise awareness of the impact of breast and ovarian cancer on the Jewish community.
Hillel at Drexel University ($16,000)
Women’s Project
Funding for the Women’s Project launched an education program focused on building leadership skills and Jewish identity for college women.
IT Works ($13,000)
The Securing Israel’s Future through Employment
The program provided technology training and professional work tools for 20 young Ethiopian women in the Sharon region of Israel for them to obtain jobs in Israel’s hi-tech and communications industries.
Hillel at University of Pennsylvania ($500)
The micro grant established a senior student chapter for Jewish women.
2012-2013 ($32,000)
Tribe 12 ($20,000 over two years)
PresenTense Fellowship
Female fellows received leadership skills and help in developing ideas for business ventures with Jewish connections.
WePower – The Organization for the Advancement of Women’s Leadership in Israel ($12,000)
Young Women for Future Leadership
The Young Women for Future Leadership program provided leadership training to women with the goal of increasing female participation in government and business.
2011-2012 ($49,436)
Jewish Family and Children’s Service ($37,436 over two years)
Rumors, Secrets, and Cyberspace
The program provided workshops addressing the growing problem impacting teens who are victims, perpetrators and/or bystanders of acts of relational aggression.
New Family ($12,000)
The Economic Empowerment
A second year of funding for The Economic Empowerment program offered legal expertise to Israeli women in need of family protection; divorce, access to adoption and inheritance rights.
2010-2011 ($55,000)
Victor Center for Jewish Genetic Diseases, Albert Einstein Medical Center ($44,000)
Women’s Health Campaign to Prevent Jewish Genetic Diseases
The Women’s Health Campaign to Prevent Jewish Genetic Diseases educated and offered screening to college-age women.
New Family ($11,000)
The Economic Empowerment
The program offered legal expertise to Israeli women in need of family protection; divorce, access to adoption, inheritance rights and power of attorney.
2009-2010 ($55,000)
The Hadera Development Fund ($11,000)
Women’s Empowerment-Escaping Poverty through Micro Enterprise
Will increase regular income and strive to improve self-esteem through in-home businesses, cosmetician, sewing etc.
New World Association of Emigrants from Eastern Europe ($44,000)
Pathways to Success
Will instruct 30 to 35 unemployed or underemployed women to achieve the next level of competency in the English language, receive computer skills and acquire new professional skills and certification.
2008-2009 ($46,000)
Moving Traditions ($36,000)
Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing!
Maximize the impact of individual girls by launching a new and innovative three-year curriculum extension for high school girls– the Leadership Curriculum – and by improving the ability of Jewish educators and parents to understand the challenges facing girls and to effectively meet their needs.
ELI: The Israel Association for Child Protection ($10,000)
Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Enrolls 25-30 girls who are victims of abuse. The program offers a combination of individual and group therapy that aims to reduce the destructive, psychological effects of abuse in the girls who participate in the program.
2007-2008 ($30,000)
Female Hebrew Benevolent Society (FHBS) ($30,000)
Senior Supports Dental Program
Female Hebrew Benevolent Society (FHBS) supports many low- income, elderly Jewish women. These seniors often have medical needs that are beyond their means – dentures/dental services, podiatry, hearing aids, physicians’ co-pays and medicine, among others. FHBS developed relationships with dental professionals who provided services pro bono or at reduced fees for those who could not afford dental care.
2006-2007 ($27,000)
New World Association of Emigrants from Eastern Europe ($27,000)
English as a Second Language (ESL) for Working Women
Offers classes for women to gain business language skills. Classes gave students intermediate-level instruction with a special emphasis on Business, English, and American workplace culture and enrolled 37 Jewish refugee and/or émigré women between the ages of 18 years to 50+ years old, living in Northeast Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Bucks counties. Students developed communication skills and worked with mentors to learn first-hand how women in their community succeeded in the business world.
2005-2006 ($20,500)
Jewish Family & Children’s Services($20,500)
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds
A project of Jewish Family & Children’s Services, offered a series of educational groups for Jewish pre-adolescent and adolescent girls. This groundbreaking project, held in day schools, synagogues, and camps across the Philadelphia region, provided girls with a grounding in Jewish tradition that encouraged them to value themselves and their bodies, with the goal of preventing eating disorders.
2004-2005 ($17,500)
Jewish Employment and Vocational Services ($17,500)
Working for Success
A program that provides job search skills and employment placement assistance to 25 low-income unemployed and underemployed single Jewish mothers.
2003-2004 ($14,764)
Mitzvah Food Project ($17,764)
Supplemental Food Packages for Impoverished Elderly Women
A project that provides 150 monthly supplemental food packages to low-income women who attended programs at the Golden Slipper and JCC’s Stiffel Senior Centers.
2002-2003 ($16,000)
Jewish Family & Children’s Services ($16,000)
Spiritual Support Groups for Women Facing Chronic and Terminal Illness
Offers Jewish rituals and learning in a healing environment. Women of Vision provided seed funding to launch this project.
2001-2002 ($16,000)
Jewish Employment and Vocational Services ($16,000)
Lifeline: Employment Readiness and Self-sufficiency for Women in Abusive Situations
A program of Jewish Employment and Vocational Services which gave participants computer and career-readiness skills to compete in the workplace. Women of Vision provided seed funding for this program.