Jewish Federation of Greater Houston

What Jewish Federation of Greater Houston does

The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston (JFGH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit federation founded in 1910 and headquartered at 5603 S. Braeswood Blvd., Houston, Texas. It serves as the central convener, connector, funder, and innovator for the Greater Houston Jewish community, mobilizing philanthropic resources to support local institutions, Jewish education, community security, Israel engagement, and global Jewish needs. The Federation operates programs including PJ Library (serving 1,800+ children monthly), Marvin Barish Right Start tuition vouchers, Young Adult Division, FedU leadership development, Honeymoon Israel trips, the Local Impact Fund (awarding up to $30,000 per grant), and the Joan and Stanford Alexander Family Community Security Program in partnership with the Secure Community Network (SCN).

Its revenue model centers on an Annual Campaign with recurring donor pledges, supplemented by tribute gifts, stock/securities donations, donor-advised fund contributions, and planned/legacy giving. Donor recognition societies such as the Lion of Judah ($5,000+ annual) and Pomegranate Society ($1,800 annual) structure the giving pyramid, while grantmaking and pass-through funding flow to 560+ local organizations and to global partners including JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) and The Jewish Agency for Israel. Distribution occurs through direct Federation programming, funded partner agencies (ERJCC, Jewish Family Service, Seven Acres, local day schools, and congregational schools), and digital platforms including a Community Calendar, Organization Directory, and Jewish Community Job Board. Governance sits with a volunteer Board of Trustees chaired by Robert Shoss, with President & CEO Renée Wizig-Barrios leading a 45+ person professional team that includes C-suite officers across marketing, finance/operations, impact, and philanthropy functions, plus VPs of engagement, education, and security operations.

Name

Jewish Federation of Greater Houston

Legal name

Jewish Federation of Greater Houston

Website

https://houstonjewish.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit federation, founded in 1910, that mobilizes Annual Campaign philanthropy and grantmaking to support Jewish education, engagement, security, and Israel/global programs for the Greater Houston Jewish community and partner agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

Keywords

• Community philanthropy
• Jewish education
• Grantmaking services
• Nonprofit federation
• Community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Campaign: The primary fundraising mechanism powering Federation programs including Jewish Engagement, Education, Public Affairs, Security, Israel Connections, Leadership, and Communications. Donors contribute annually to support community initiatives.
2. Tribute Gifts: Donations made in honor or memory of individuals, with acknowledgements mailed to honorees or families.
3. Pledge Fulfillments: Payment of previously committed gift pledges by donors.
4. Stock & Securities Donations: Donations of stock and securities provide fair market value deduction while avoiding capital gains tax.
5. Donor-Advised Fund Contributions: Grants recommended from donor-advised funds to sustain community work.
6. Local Impact Fund Grants: Programmatic grants fund supporting new or expanding programs serving the Greater Houston Jewish community, with grants up to $30,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) federation that raises charitable funds through an Annual Campaign and distributes them as grants and programs serving the Houston Jewish community and Jews worldwide. It operates community engagement programs, Jewish education initiatives, community security training, Israel connection programming, and philanthropy programs while functioning as convener and connector for local Jewish organizations and global partners.

Product overview

The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston is a non-profit organization that serves as the connector, innovator, convener, and funder of the Houston Jewish community. Its core offerings include Jewish Education programs (school services, teacher development, collaborative networks, Marvin Barish Right Start vouchers, Kehillah High, teen engagement), Engagement programs (FedU leadership program, Young Adult Division/YAD, PJ Library, Honeymoon Israel, Mission trips), Public Affairs & Security (in partnership with Secure Community Network), Israel Connections, and philanthropy programs (Annual Campaign, Women's Philanthropy, Legacy). The organization also operates community platforms including a Community Calendar, Organization Directory, and Jewish Community Job Board. Grant programs include the Local Impact Fund supporting innovative community programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Campaign
• Local Impact Fund
• Lion of Judah Society
• Pomegranate Society
• Marvin Barish Right Start Vouchers
• Camp & Israel Scholarships
• Jewish Education Programs
• PJ Library
• Young Adult Division (YAD)
• FedU
• Honeymoon Israel
• Engagement Programs
• Joan and Stanford Alexander Family Community Security Program
• Israel Connections Programs
• Community Calendar
• Organization Directory
• Jewish Community Job Board
• Israel Emergency Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• $198,000 awarded in 2025 Local Impact Fund Grants to 16 programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023JFNA has a 12-person team on the ground in Israel assessing needs. Its strategic Rebuild Israel Task Force (25 people representing 141 Federations) has working groups in Mental Health, Education, and Soldiers and their Families. JFGH CEO serves as Co-Chair of Mental Health Working Group.
• Secure Community Network (SCN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with SCN to improve the safety, security, and resiliency of the Jewish people. SCN provides threat vulnerability assessments, training, and security coordination. Cody Sears serves as Deputy Regional Security Advisor.
• JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with JDC to care for Jews in Israel and around the world, providing basic needs, supporting at-risk populations, and promoting Jewish identity.
• The Jewish Agency for IsraelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership supporting and strengthening the people of Israel and the global Jewish community through various programs and initiatives.
• Houston Independent School District (HISD)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation coordinates with HISD for accessing Federal Title funding for Houston's Jewish Day Schools.
• ShinuisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network providing learning opportunities for innovation in Jewish education. The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston's Jewish Education Department is a founding member.
• Unpacked (OpenDor Media)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with OpenDor Media to provide educational media that deepens understanding of Israel, Judaism, and Jewish experience. Includes Teen Israel Fellowship for 10th-12th graders.
• MatansupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDisability education-consulting firm that conducted a full community assessment for the Federation's education inclusion initiative, interviewing 90 people and developing a five- to seven-year plan.
• ADL (Anti-Defamation League)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for addressing antisemitism and providing resources for parents and students dealing with campus and school-based antisemitism.
• Holocaust Museum HoustonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing antisemitism toolkits, Holocaust remembrance resources, educator programs, and student ambassador opportunities.
• AJC (American Jewish Committee)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal advocacy organization partnership providing toolkits for parents of Jewish middle and high school students and guidance for K-12 administrators.
• Texas Southern University (TSU)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Black-Jewish unity initiatives including Unity Dinner during Black History Month, film screenings, and BAMAH artist residency program.
• Harold Grinspoon FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for PJ Library program providing free Jewish books to children ages 0-12 in Greater Houston.
• Jewish Children's Regional Service (JCRS)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner providing scholarships for Jewish campers attending overnight camps in North America through their need-based scholarship programs.
• RootOnesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides up to $3,000 vouchers for Jewish teens participating on trips supported by RootOne, with pre-trip experience requirements.
• Masa IsraelsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides grants for long-term Israel programs. Programs must be approved by Masa Israel to qualify for Federation scholarships.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas: The most directly comparable peer: another major Texas Jewish Federation serving a similarly sized Jewish community, with the same federated giving model, Annual Campaign structure, and partner agency ecosystem. Mirrors Houston's structure, programs, and JFNA affiliation.
• Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta: A mid-sized Southern Jewish Federation operating under the same federated giving model, with comparable Annual Campaign scale, partner agency funding structure, and emphasis on Jewish education, security, and Israel programming. Strong structural peer.
• Jewish Federation of San Antonio: Texas-based Jewish Federation serving a smaller community than Houston, but operating under the identical JFNA-aligned federated giving model with the same Annual Campaign, partner agency funding, and Israel connection programming.
• Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Boston): Mid-large Jewish Federation operating under the same federated giving model with comparable programmatic breadth across education, engagement, Israel connections, and security. Notable for sophisticated grantmaking infrastructure and similar donor society structure (e.g., L'dor V'dor).
• Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Larger Jewish Federation operating under the same federated giving model with parallel program categories (Jewish education, engagement, security, Israel overseas programming) and similar partner agency ecosystem funded by Annual Campaign dollars.
• Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles: Large Jewish Federation operating the same federated giving model, with parallel programmatic structure including security initiatives, PJ Library, day school support, and Israel connections. Comparable on mission and operating model though larger in scale.
• UJA-Federation of New York: The largest Jewish Federation in North America, operating the same federated giving model but at materially greater scale. Useful as the upper-bound benchmark for Annual Campaign size, programmatic breadth, and endowment approach.
• Jewish Federation of Chicago (JUF): One of the largest Jewish Federations in North America, operating the identical federated giving model with Annual Campaign, donor societies, and comprehensive program portfolio across education, engagement, Israel, and security.

Broad incumbents

• Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA): The umbrella organization for the North American Jewish Federation system, of which JFGH is a member. Provides centralized services, advocacy, Israel overseas programming, and the Rebuild Israel Task Force, making it an incumbent platform partner rather than a competitor.

Others

• Greater Houston Community Foundation: The largest community foundation in the Houston region, serving as a parallel grantmaking and donor-advised fund institution for the broader (non-Jewish) Houston community. Highly relevant for benchmarking since JFGH's CEO Renée Wizig-Barrios previously served as SVP and Chief Philanthropy Officer here.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/houstonfederation
• Facebookfacebook.com/HoustonJewish
• Instagraminstagram.com/jfedhtx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jewish-federation-of-greater-houston

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jewish Federation of Greater Houston