Jewish Federation

What Jewish Federation does

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is a nonprofit Jewish communal organization founded in 1928 (originally as the Jewish Welfare Association), headquartered at 6101 Executive Blvd, North Bethesda, MD, and serving the third-largest Jewish community in the United States across Washington DC, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. It operates as the central convener and collective-action hub for the regional Jewish community, mobilizing donors, deploying 11-12 Israeli emissaries (Shlichim) into partner institutions, and channeling grant funding to 42+ core partner agencies including JCCs (Bender, EDCJCC, Pozez), social service organizations (JSSA, JCA, JCADA), day schools (Charles E. Smith), campus Hillels (12 campuses), and global partners (JAFI, JDC). Major disclosed allocations include $1.29M to JAFI, $925K to JSSA, $812K to JDC, and $729K to Bender JCC. Core program areas are Community Security (JShield, providing free threat monitoring, security assessments, and NSGP grant writing that secured $5.25M in federal funding in 2025), Combating Antisemitism, Crisis Response, Israel Strategy (Shlichim, Hands-on Israel workshops, Israel Quest teen travel), Leadership Development (Cornerstone, Hartman Institute, NoVA Leadership Cohort), Camp and Youth engagement (One Happy Camper grants of $500-$1,000, need-based scholarships, PJ Library), and the affiliated Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Washington (UJEF rebranded 2022) which manages endowments and donor-advised funds.

Name

Jewish Federation

Legal name

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Website

https://shalomdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is a nonprofit convener founded in 1928 that mobilizes donors, deploys Israeli emissaries, and channels grant funding to 42+ partner agencies serving the third-largest US Jewish community across DC, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jewish Community Federation and Nonprofit Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Jewish community services
• Community fundraising
• Community security programs
• Nonprofit federation services
• Israel engagement programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Annual Campaign & Donor Contributions: Primary revenue comes from annual charitable donations from community members, major donors, and families across Greater Washington. The organization runs an Annual Campaign and accepts directed gifts, tribute donations, and legacy planned gifts.
2. Foundation & Institutional Grants: Federation receives grants from foundations (e.g., The Morningstar Foundation matching fund) and distributes them as allocations to partner agencies and programs. In 2025, the JShield program helped attract over $5.25 million in federal NSGP security funding to community institutions.
3. Jewish Community Foundation Endowment: The affiliated Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Washington (UJEF rebranded 2022) manages an endowment that supports long-term philanthropic giving, donor-advised funds, and legacy giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jewish Federation of Greater Washington serves as the central convener, fundraiser, and coordinator for the Jewish community across the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland. The Federation mobilizes philanthropic resources through an annual campaign and endowment, allocates funding to 42+ partner agencies, and operates community-wide programs including JShield security, the Community Shlichim Israeli emissary delegation, camp grant scholarships, antisemitism response, leadership development, and Israel engagement programming.

Product overview

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is a community service organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include JShield (community security with threat monitoring, assessments, and NSGP grant support), J-Caring (support hotline), and various Jewish engagement programs including One Happy Camper grants, Need-Based Camp Scholarships, Israel Quest travel grants, Community Shlichim (Israeli emissaries), and Hands-on Israel workshops. Additional programs encompass Leadership Development, Crisis Response, Combating Antisemitism initiatives, and Belonging and Inclusion programming. These programs operate independently rather than as modules on a unified platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JShield: Community security initiative providing expert assessments, security training, grant support, and trusted partnerships for Jewish organizations across Greater Washington.
• JShield Program
• Cornerstone

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2024, JShield helped secure $3.8 million in government grants for local Jewish institutions
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers16 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

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, minor and flagship.

• Bender JCC of Greater WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner agency receiving $729,063 in ongoing Federation core funding. Bender JCC provides cultural, fitness, educational, and social programs guided by Jewish values in Rockville, MD. Federation supports its operational sustainability as a backbone institution.
• Edlavitch JCC of Washington DC (EDCJCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner receiving $413,000 in core allocation. Builds and strengthens community through arts, education, fitness, and Jewish cultural programs in Washington, DC.
• Pozez JCC of Northern VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner receiving $365,780 in core allocation. Offers Jewish cultural, educational, fitness, and social programming to build community and Jewish connection in Northern Virginia.
• Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner receiving $607,000. Represents and advocates for the Jewish community in civic, government, media, and interfaith spaces. Federation funds JCRC's capacity building as part of antisemitism response.
• JSSA (Jewish Social Service Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner receiving $925,672 — the largest single core allocation. JSSA provides counseling, hospice, employment, and special needs support across Greater Washington. Federation supports its comprehensive health and social services.
• Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner receiving $282,000. Helps older adults in Greater Washington maintain independence, dignity, and vitality through comprehensive services and programs.
• MakomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner receiving $195,000. Supports and empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full, meaningful Jewish lives through personalized services and community connection.
• Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore partner receiving $55,000. Provides support services, prevention programs, and education to build safe, healthy relationships within the Jewish community.
• The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation is affiliated with JFNA, the umbrella organization offering leadership and resources to Jewish federations across the US. Through this affiliation, Federation participates in national security fly-ins, policy advocacy, and shared best practices.
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore global partner receiving $812,000 allocation. JDC provides humanitarian aid, social welfare programs, and emergency relief in Israel and globally. Federation channels Israeli and global crisis response through JDC.
• Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore global partner receiving $1,292,744 allocation. Supports aliyah, Jewish identity building, and connections to Israel. JAFI co-sponsors the Community Shlichim program with Federation.
• Birthright Israel FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $214,000 to enable peer Israel travel through Birthright Israel programs, lowering barriers for young adults to experience immersive Israel trips.
• World ORTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $24,000. World ORT provides education, vocational training, and institutional support to Jewish communities worldwide. Federation supports their global educational mission.
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJShield works closely with ADL for 24/7 threat monitoring, intelligence analysis, training, and crisis response. ADL's Security division leadership (Russell Rosenthal, former VP Security) joined Federation as Executive Director of Community Security.
• Secure Community Network (SCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJShield partners with SCN for 24/7 threat monitoring, intelligence analysis, and crisis response support across Greater Washington's Jewish institutions.
• Community Security Service (CSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJShield partners with CSS alongside ADL, SCN, and JCRC to provide coordinated 24/7 threat monitoring and community security support across Greater Washington.
• Hillel InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $258,000 in grants distributed across 12 Hillel campuses in Greater Washington. Hillel provides Jewish student engagement on college campuses from GMU to UVA to Virginia Tech.
• Shalom Hartman InstitutestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $200,000 through the Hartman Institute Partnership for deep Jewish learning for lay and professional leaders. Federation offers programs exploring Jewish values, democracy, identity, and Israel.
• Foundation for Jewish CampstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation partners with the Foundation for Jewish Camp to operate the One Happy Camper Grant program, offering need-blind incentive grants of $500–$1,000 for first-time Jewish overnight campers.
• Kibbutz Re'im and Kinneret Valley Cluster (Israel)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship place-based partnerships supporting long-term recovery, renewal, and community connection. Federation works together with these Israeli partners on projects strengthening relationships and shared learning. Kinneret Valley Cluster received $35,000 in emergency funding for transportation and trauma services.
• Arava InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $50,000 grant to expand dialogue. The Arava Institute focuses on environmental cooperation and peacebuilding in the Arava region of Israel.
• Berl Katznelson InitiativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $125,000 to strengthen leadership. The initiative advances leadership development and public policy in Israel.
• PnimaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $80,000 to build inclusive communities in Israel. Pnima supports social innovation and inclusive community development.
• ShaharitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $70,000 to nurture social leadership. Shaharit focuses on social leadership and civic engagement in Israel.
• Jerusalem Season of CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $25,000 to engage culture and identity in Israel through arts and cultural programming.
• Tech Careers (Ethiopian Israeli Women in Tech)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $25,000 to train Ethiopian Israeli women in tech careers, advancing diversity and social change in Israeli society.
• Charles E. Smith Jewish Day SchoolstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPluralistic Jewish day school in Rockville, MD (K–12) receiving day school allocations and security investments. Also hosts MoCo Teens Against Antisemitism Fellowship ($52,250 grant).
• Facing History & OurselvesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $77,500 for Holocaust and Contemporary Antisemitism Programs educating schools across Greater Washington. An international nonprofit using lessons of history to challenge bigotry and hate.
• American Jewish Committee (AJC) – WashingtonstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $55,000 for K-12 Independent Schools Initiative advancing antisemitism awareness. Local branch of global Jewish advocacy organization promoting civil rights and supporting Israel.
• Moving TraditionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $40,000 through Kumi Foundations to strengthen teen voices and Jewish identity programming for Jewish teens.
• BBYOstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $45,000 for Combating Antisemitism Training and $100,000 for Youth Mental Health Peer-to-Peer Training. BBYO is the global Jewish teen movement offering leadership, community service, and cultural programming.
• Harold Grinspoon FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation partners with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to power PJ Library (ages 0–8) and PJ Our Way (ages 9–12), delivering free Jewish books to families across Greater Washington.
• Social Venture Fund for Jewish-Arab Equality and Shared SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceiving $60,000 to advance equality and shared society initiatives in Israel, supporting dialogue and cooperation between Jewish and Arab communities.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Secure Community Network (SCN): National Jewish community safety and security organization partnered with JShield for 24/7 threat monitoring. Adjacent service offering in community security with overlapping capability for JFGW.
• Foundation for Jewish Camp: National organization that powers the One Happy Camper grant program which JFGW administers locally. Direct overlap on Jewish overnight camp incentive grants and scholarship distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): National Jewish advocacy and security organization with overlapping mission in antisemitism response and community security. JFGW's JShield program formally partners with ADL (and poached ADL's former VP Security as its Executive Director).
• The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA): Umbrella organization for North American Jewish federations, of which JFGW is an affiliate. Sets national policy, runs collective initiatives, and channels overseas allocations — overlapping capability at a national scale.

Direct peers

• Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Philadelphia-area Jewish federation operating the same federated fundraising and partner-agency funding model. Mid-tier scale comparable to JFGW.
• Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago: Chicago-area Jewish United Fund, one of the largest federations in the US. Comparable scope, partner-network funding, and Israel/overseas allocations.
• UJA-Federation of New York: Largest Jewish federation in North America, raising and distributing funds across the NY Jewish community. Operates the same federated giving / community convening model with international allocations and partner-agency funding structure.
• Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston: Greater Boston's central Jewish federation, operating a comparable annual campaign model, partner-agency funding, and community-security initiatives. Comparable in mission and governance structure.
• Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (San Francisco): San Francisco Bay Area Jewish federation combining annual campaign fundraising with an affiliated endowment fund — structurally analogous to the JFGW/Jewish Community Foundation pairing.
• Jewish Federation Los Angeles: Major West Coast Jewish federation serving the greater LA area. Direct peer in scope, fund-raising structure, partner-agency model, and Israel/overseas allocations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jfgw
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@JFGW
• Facebookfacebook.com/jewishfederationgw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jewish-federation-of-greater-washington
• Instagraminstagram.com/jewishfederationgw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Jewish Federation