United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

What United Jewish Federation of Tidewater does

The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater (UJFT) is a non-profit Jewish federation headquartered at 5000 Corporate Woods Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia, serving the Jewish community across the Tidewater region (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake). It operates as the central coordinating body for local Jewish communal life, integrating multiple program verticals under one federation structure with a staff of approximately 20 employees. Its portfolio spans youth development through hosted BBYO chapters (Old Dominion AZA and Simcha BBG), arts and culture programming under the Arts + Ideas umbrella (the 34th annual Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, the Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival, and the Leon Family Gallery), advocacy and community relations through the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), educational outreach via the BeAR literacy program operating in eight Title I elementary schools, Israel engagement, and Holocaust remembrance via the Holocaust Commission.

UJFT runs its operations on a FedWeb-powered website platform with SalsaLabs email marketing and standard event registration infrastructure. Its business model is donation-led: the Annual Campaign is the primary fundraising vehicle, supplemented by the Israel Emergency Fund (designated crisis-response giving), corporate and individual sponsorships, planned-giving (Leave a Legacy), and government arts grants from the City of Virginia Beach and Norfolk Arts Commissions. The only transactional revenue stream is the Great Jewish Bookshelf bimonthly subscription ($65/year pickup, $85/year home delivery), offered under the Konikoff Center for Learning. Distribution is regional and campus-based, anchored on the Reba & Sam Sandler Family Campus shared with Simon Family JCC, with security services delivered through a 2020-launched partnership with the Secure Community Network (SCN) that deploys a full-time Regional Security Advisor.

Monetization is not transactional; UJFT is funded by community donations, federation allocations to partner agencies, and foundation grants rather than commercial customers. The organization is governed as a 501(c)-style non-profit with no parent company or external ownership and reports no publicly disclosed financials in the source material.

Name

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

Legal name

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater

Website

https://federation.jewishva.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Jewish Federation of Tidewater is a non-profit Jewish federation headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, serving the Tidewater Jewish community through BBYO youth programs, Arts + Ideas cultural programming, JCRC advocacy, BeAR literacy outreach, and a Regional Safety & Security partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jewish Community Federation Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Jewish community services
• Youth development programs
• Community security services
• Cultural arts programming
• Fundraising campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Campaign Donations: The primary fundraising vehicle for UJFT, soliciting annual donations from community members to support federation programs, community services, and allocation to partner agencies and Jewish causes domestically and overseas.
2. Israel Emergency Fund: Designated fund for emergency humanitarian support to Israel, accepting tax-deductible donations from community members for specific crisis response.
3. Great Jewish Bookshelf Subscription: Subscription program offering curated Jewish literature delivered bi-monthly. Pickup at Simon Family JCC for $65/year or home delivery for $85/year. Includes 6 books annually with multiple genre options per cycle.
4. Sponsorship Opportunities: Corporate and individual sponsorships for community events, programs, and initiatives including Arts & Ideas programming, film festivals, and youth development.
5. Leave a Legacy (Planned Giving): Legacy giving program allowing donors to include UJFT in estate planning, providing long-term financial support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

UJFT coordinates a comprehensive portfolio of Jewish community programs for the Tidewater, Virginia region, including BBYO teen leadership chapters (AZA and BBG), the Great Jewish Bookshelf subscription service, BeAR literacy mentorship, arts and culture events (Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, Leon Family Gallery), and the annual Israel @ celebration. Through its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and Regional Safety & Security Initiative with the Secure Community Network, the organization delivers advocacy, antisemitism response, and security services to local Jewish institutions. The federation also allocates funds to partner agencies through its Annual Campaign, Israel Emergency Fund, sponsorships, and legacy/planned giving.

Product overview

The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater operates as a Jewish community organization offering a diverse portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include BBYO youth development programs (AZA for teen boys and BBG for teen girls), Arts & Ideas cultural programming (Virginia Festival of Jewish Film, Leon Family Gallery), educational services (The Great Jewish Bookshelf subscription, Be A Reader mentorship), advocacy through the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and safety/security services via the Secure Community Network partnership. The organization also provides community communications including the Tidewater Today newsletter and hosts annual events like the Israel @ celebration of Yom Ha'Atzmaut. These programs are delivered through their FedWeb-powered website platform with integrated tools for donations, event registration, and newsletter management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tidewater BBYO - Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) High school fraternity for Jewish teen guys providing leadership training, community service opportunities, Jewish education, and connections to Israel through member-led programming as part of BBYO International's network (700+ chapters, 50+ countries).
• Tidewater BBYO - B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG) High school sorority for Jewish teen girls offering leadership development, social programming, community service, and Jewish heritage enrichment in a member-led organization under BBYO International.
• Israel @ 79 (Yom Ha'atzmaut Celebration) Annual community celebration of Israel's Independence Day featuring Israeli culture, food, entertainment, and educational activities for all ages in the Tidewater region.
• Virginia Festival of Jewish Film One of the longest-running Jewish film festivals in the country, presenting world-class film premieres and repertory cinema inspired by Jewish or Israeli history, heritage, and values.
• Leon Family Gallery Free art gallery at Simon Family JCC featuring Israeli and Jewish artists, with rotating exhibits showcasing talent from the Tidewater community and around the globe, including the Hall of Remembrance featuring over 1,500 Israeli names lost on or since October 7.
• The Great Jewish Bookshelf Bimonthly book subscription delivering handpicked Jewish literature to subscribers' doorsteps or for pickup at Simon Family JCC, with five curated title options per cycle covering fiction, history/non-fiction, and Jewish thought genres. Pickup subscription $65/year, home delivery $85/year.
• Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Council that champions a thriving Jewish community locally, in Israel, and around the world through advocacy, education, combating antisemitism, and building bridges within and beyond the Jewish community. Focuses on five core issues: combating antisemitism, supporting Israel, fostering community relationships, modeling civil discourse, and preserving religious freedom.
• Regional Safety & Security Initiative (Secure Community Network Partnership) Partnership with Secure Community Network (SCN) providing regional safety and security services including security consultations, threat/vulnerability/risk assessments, training workshops, and emergency communication coordination for Jewish institutions throughout Tidewater. Led by a dedicated Regional Security Advisor (former Norfolk Chief of Police).
• Be A Reader (BeAR) Mentorship program in eight Title I elementary schools pairing volunteer mentors with students for weekly reading sessions, providing books for home libraries, school supplies, and ongoing commitment throughout the school year.
• Tidewater Today Newsletter Regional electronic newsletter mailed twice monthly to keep the community informed of the latest happenings and events of interest throughout the Tidewater Jewish community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ community members trained in safety awareness through SCN workshops
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Secure Community Network (SCN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020UJFT launched the Regional Safety & Security Initiative in 2020 in partnership with SCN, the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America. The partnership provides a dedicated Regional Security Advisor (former Norfolk Chief of Police Mike Goldsmith) who delivers security consultations, assessments, training, and coordinates with law enforcement. Seed funding from UJFT Annual Campaign and Tidewater Jewish Foundation Community Impact Grant.
• BBYO InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUJFT hosts local Tidewater BBYO chapters (Old Dominion AZA and Simcha BBG), operating under BBYO International's international structure. BBYO provides programming frameworks, leadership development, conventions, and summer programs. Tidewater BBYO is part of Virginia Council in Eastern Region, serving Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake.
• Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)coreOthersJCRC operates as the advocacy and community relations arm of UJFT, addressing antisemitism, supporting Israel, and building bridges with public officials, civic leaders, and faith communities. Core issues include combating antisemitism, supporting Israel, fostering community relationships, modeling civil discourse, and preserving religious freedom.
• Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCIC collaborates with UJFT and JCRC on inclusivity initiatives, including the Combatting Antisemitism in the Arts toolkit developed in partnership with ADL and VCIC to empower local arts organizations.
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADL partners with UJFT/JCRC on antisemitism response, campus safety resources, incident reporting (Report Campus Hate portal), and the Combatting Antisemitism in the Arts initiative.
• Simon Family JCCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSimon Family JCC is a key partner on the Reba & Sam Sandler Family Campus, hosting BBYO chapter meetings, Leon Family Gallery exhibitions, Arts & Ideas programming, and Great Jewish Bookshelf pickup locations.
• Jewish Book CouncilmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational organization supporting Jewish book programming. UJFT's Book Festival is held in coordination with Jewish Book Council, the national organization promoting Jewish books.
• Hillel InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Report Campus Hate initiative (operated with SCN and ADL) and campus antisemitism resources, supporting Jewish students at Virginia colleges and universities.
• Embassy of IsraelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmbassy of Israel provided support for Roie Galitz wildlife photography exhibition at Leon Family Gallery.
• Portsmouth Jewish Museum and Cultural CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for 'A Tale of Two Histories' exhibition celebrating 150 years of Jewish history in Tidewater alongside events in Israel.
• Konikoff Center for LearningmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Great Jewish Bookshelf program is brought to the community by the Konikoff Center for Learning, UJFT's Jewish educational arm.
• Shalom Hartman InstituteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubscription alternative offering: subscribers can receive Shalom Hartman Institute's 'Sources: A Journal of Jewish Ideas' as an alternative to seasonal book selections.
• Jewish Family Service of TidewatermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUJFT's allocation partner providing social services. Virginia Festival of Jewish Film supports JFS Community Food Pantry through event donations.
• City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities CommissionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant funding from City of Virginia Beach supporting Leon Family Gallery exhibitions and Arts & Ideas programming. Norfolk Arts Commission provides similar support.
• Norfolk Arts CommissionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrant funding supporting Virginia Festival of Jewish Film and Arts & Ideas programming in Norfolk.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• BBYO International: Operates the AZA and BBG teen fraternity network that UJFT hosts locally. Comparable as a Jewish youth development organization, though BBYO is national/international while UJFT operates the Tidewater chapters.

Broad incumbents

• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): National Jewish organization focused on antisemitism response and civil rights advocacy. UJFT/JCRC partners with ADL on antisemitism tracking and the Combatting Antisemitism in the Arts toolkit. Comparable mission space at much larger scale.
• Combined Jewish Philanthropies (Boston): Mid-sized regional Jewish federation performing the same annual campaign, allocations, JCRC, and program delivery functions as UJFT, with a comparable multi-program portfolio but larger operating scale.
• UJA-Federation of New York: Largest Jewish federation in North America, performing the same community federation functions (annual campaign, allocations, JCRC, security, cultural programming) as UJFT but at massively greater scale and geographic reach. Represents the category leader.

Direct peers

• Jewish Family Service of Tidewater: UJFT's primary social services allocation partner, serving the same Tidewater Jewish community with case management, food pantry, and family support. Directly comparable client base and overlapping programs (Shalom Tidewater, Shalom Baby).
• Tidewater Jewish Foundation: Sister foundation serving the same Tidewater Jewish community, focused on endowment and grantmaking (including Community Impact Grants to UJFT). Complementary role within the local Jewish communal ecosystem.
• Jewish Federation of Greater Washington: Regional Jewish federation serving the D.C. metro area with annual campaign, BBYO chapters, JCRC, arts programming, and security initiatives. Closest geographic and demographic peer to UJFT.
• Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Regional Jewish federation serving a U.S. metropolitan Jewish community through fundraising, allocations, and program delivery (youth, arts, advocacy, security). Directly comparable in mission and operating model to UJFT, though at much larger scale.
• Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington: Performs the same advocacy, antisemitism response, and interfaith bridge-building functions as UJFT's JCRC arm, but as a standalone organization rather than a federation department.
• Simon Family JCC: Co-located Jewish community center on the same campus as UJFT. Provides overlapping programming (cultural events, family services, youth activities) and shares facilities. Operationally intertwined with UJFT.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/ujft
• Facebookfacebook.com/UJFTidewater
• Instagraminstagram.com/ujftidewater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ujft

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 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 United Jewish Federation of Tidewater