Jewish Life Grant

The Gaia Fund is dedicated to supporting initiatives that sustain and enhance the democratic principles essential for a fair and representative political process in America. These principles include fair elections, representation for all, and equal political participation opportunities. The fund is particularly committed to addressing the challenges posed by the disproportionate influence of corporate and individual wealth in politics, advocating for a political landscape where every vote and voice has equal weight.

Type of Support

Overview

The grant program by Gaia Fund is designed to support San Francisco programs that connect Jews to their heritage and community, ensuring the tradition's relevance and continuity. It targets initiatives that enrich the Jewish experience, focusing on the appreciation of Jewish history, art, and culture. Although the program primarily serves the Jewish community of San Francisco, it may fund regional or national initiatives if they hold local relevance. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $50,000, supporting projects with finite funding needs or providing seed funding for new undertakings. Funding may be awarded in a single payment or in annual installments over two to five years.

Eligibility

Organization's Location
USA
Program Location
CA (San Francisco County)
Organization Type
Organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Organizations with a fiscal agent
Other
  • Initiatives must have local relevance to the City of San Francisco
  • Initiatives that enrich the experience of Judaism, focusing on Jewish history, art, and culture
  • Considers requests for capital and endowment campaigns, though at a lower priority

Ineligibility

Initiatives based overseas
Programs providing direct social services
Holocaust-related projects
Non-renewed general support or project grants (within two years of the last grant)
Unsolicited requests not aligning with Gaia’s funding interests
5k – 50k

Submission

Schedule
Step 1: Letter of Inquiry
Application deadlines
Jan 19, 2025
May 31, 2025
Step 2: Full proposal (check website)
Review Criteria

Priority is accorded to entities operating with yearly budgets below $5 million. A geographic focus is directed towards initiatives benefiting the Jewish population in San Francisco.