By Melanie Fine, Chief Impact Officer 

The Richmond Jewish community once again demonstrated the extraordinary power of collective philanthropy. 

Thanks to the generosity of donors through the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond (JCFR) Annual Campaign, we raised an impressive $3.6 million this year. Of that total, $1.8 million was allocated to support local, regional, and international partners strengthening Jewish life in Richmond and beyond.

The entire breakdown of impact area is represented above.

Throughout the year, the JCFR Allocations Committee worked diligently to ensure campaign dollars would have the greatest possible impact. Beginning in January, committee members reviewed nearly 50 applications for unrestricted allocations and programmatic grants from local and regional organizations. 

Guided by community feedback and informed by the Federation's Pulse Survey, the committee evaluated requests through multiple lenses to address the most pressing needs across our Jewish community.

To support thoughtful decision-making, the committee organized funding priorities into seven key impact areas:

Jewish Connectivity, Identity & Engagement
Connecting unaffiliated and under-affiliated individuals to Jewish life, increasing awareness of community resources, and creating meaningful opportunities for engagement and belonging.

Jewish Education
Supporting formal and informal Jewish learning opportunities for all ages, including children, students, adults, families, and seniors. Programs may focus on religion, heritage, history, culture, society, and civilization.

Jewish Caring
Providing essential support and care for vulnerable members of the Jewish community across all age groups.

Security & Combating Antisemitism
Supporting community security initiatives and programs that address antisemitism, while supplementing federal and state funding sources.

Cultural Exchange & Outreach
Building bridges between the Jewish community and secular organizations, as well as strategic interfaith partners.

Israel & Overseas
Supporting Jewish communities and organizations in Israel and around the world.

Jewish Leadership
Investing in the development of future Jewish leaders through talent development, succession planning, and leadership pathways.

This year's funding distribution reflected evolving community needs. Most notably, Jewish Caring received increased investment, with funding growing by 7% over the previous year. Funding for Jewish Leadership also increased by 2%, underscoring the community's commitment to developing the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Supporting Israel and Global Jewry

In the fall 2026, the Israel and Overseas Committee will allocate $564,118 to overseas partners and programs. These investments support organizations including Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), World ORT, Partnership2Gether, Mazel Tov JCC in Zaporizhzhia, HaOgen, and additional Israel and overseas initiatives.

These partnerships help strengthen Jewish communities worldwide and ensure Richmond remains connected to the global Jewish people.

Investing in Richmond's Core Agencies

One of the most significant investments made each year is in Richmond's four core Jewish agencies. Recognizing their essential role in sustaining Jewish life, the Allocations Committee recommended increases for all four agencies compared to last year's unrestricted funding levels.

Core Agency Allocations

• Carole and Marcus Weinstein Jewish Community Center (JCC): $249,025

• Jewish Family Services: $134,750

• Rudlin Torah Academy: $146,250

• JCFR Central Services: $390,125

JCFR Central Services funding supports the Jewish Community Relations Council, PJ Library, community security initiatives, marketing, and community planning efforts.

Supporting Jewish Life Across Virginia

JCFR remains committed to fostering Jewish life at every stage and supporting students and families throughout the Commonwealth. This year, the Board approved the following unrestricted regional allocations:

• Aleph Bet Preschool: $19,000

• BBYO: $25,000

• Birthright Israel: $3,000

• GMU Hillel: $5,000

• Holocaust Survivor Support Fund: $4,500

• JELF: $2,500

• Jewish Life at VCU (Chabad): $30,000

• Jewish Student Union: $20,000

• JMU Hillel: $2,500

• Radford Hillel: $1,000

• RJEM: $15,000

• Richmond Yiddish Week: $3,000

• UVA Hillel: $15,000

• VCU Hillel: $25,000

• Virginia Tech Hillel: $10,000

• William & Mary Hillel: $7,000

Total Regional Unrestricted Allocations: $187,500

Funding Innovation Through Programmatic Grants

Beyond unrestricted support, JCFR invests in innovative programs that strengthen community connections, expand access, and create new opportunities for engagement.

The following programmatic grants were recommended by the Allocations Committee and approved by the Board of Directors:

• Aleph Bet Preschool, Scholarships: $21,000

• Friendship Circle of Virginia, Birthday Programs: $6,250

• Friendship Circle of Virginia, Community Events: $7,000

• JCFR, Overnight Camp Scholarships: $30,000

• JCFR, Community Security: $60,000

• Jewish Life at VCU (Chabad), Shabbat Programming: $10,000

• Jewish Family Services, Care Line: $50,000

• Jewish Student Union, Cardin Fellowship: $2,000

• KBI, JLEAP: $7,500

• Congregation Or Atid, Adult Education: $2,600

• Congregation Or Atid, Yom HaShoah Program: $1,000

• Congregation Or Atid, Jewish Middle School Program: $5,000

• Rudlin Torah Academy, IDEAL Program: $30,000

• Rudlin Torah Academy, Middle School Israel Trip: $4,000

• Rudlin Torah Academy Scholarships: $40,000

• VCU Hillel, Springboard Fellow: $15,000

• VCU Judaic Studies Department, Lyons Lecture: $5,000

• Weinstein JCC, Community Hanukkah Celebration: $2,000

• Weinstein JCC Scholarships: $40,000

• Hold Back: $10,509

Total Programmatic Grant Funding: $353,859

None of this work would be possible without the dedication of our Allocations Committee, whose members contributed countless hours reviewing applications, assessing community needs, and ensuring the responsible stewardship of communal resources.

Amy Melnick-Scharf; Chair, Brian Greene, David Galpern, Ellen Renee Adams, Eric Shoenfeld, Howard Goldfine, Hilton Rubin, Jordan Perin, Josh Goldberg, Martin Caplan, Michal Coffey, Mike Doniger, Shana Passman

Together, these volunteers helped ensure that every dollar entrusted to JCFR strengthens Jewish life, supports those in need, invests in future generations, and builds a vibrant Jewish community in Richmond and beyond.

For more information, please contact Melanie Fine at mfine@jewishrichmond.org.