Our Approach
We support organizations that work through a gender lens and that are creating social change. Recognizing that initiatives at different stages of maturity are all important to a healthy and growing field advancing gender equity, we make different types of grants tailored to differing needs. And we embrace trust-based philanthropy: awarding multi-year grants; providing general-operating, as well as project-based, support; and minimizing reporting requirements whenever possible so that our grantee organizations have more time and resources to devote to achieving their goals.
Creating Social Change
The Hadassah Foundation seeks to promote lasting change by addressing the underlying obstacles that impede the full participation of women and girls in society. This approach is unlike traditional charity, which often seeks to ameliorate the symptoms of societal problems—for example, by providing medicine and treatment for the sick, funds for the poor, or shelters for the homeless and battered.
We are interested in how a program influences and brings about change in: how an issue is defined, individuals’ behaviors, increasing community engagement, policies and systems, and/or maintaining past gains in these areas. As part of this mission, we strongly encourage the active participation of women and girls in the governance of the organizations we support.
Utilizing A Gender Lens
We support organizations and programs that build on the unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences of people who identify as women and girls. We recognize that gender influences people’s needs, causes differing outcomes, and underlies various assumptions and norms. Deliberate attention to gender is an important component of a gender-sensitive program, and may occur in both a gender-specific (girls/women only) and/or multigendered environment.
Grant Categories
The Hadassah Foundation awards grants in four categories to gender-equity organizations in Israel and the United States.
These continue our tradition of strengthening leading organizations. Nonprofits can apply for either general-operating or project-based support. Each grant is $80,000 awarded over three years. Each year two Core grants are underwritten by the Andrea Silagi Fund for Education, Advocacy and Outreach. We expect to award six Core grants in 2024. Meet our current Core grantee organizations.
These allow for increased risk-taking and appropriately sized support for newer organizations that are meeting pressing and emergent needs. Each grant is $20,000 awarded over 18 months. Each year, one Spark grant is underwritten by the Julie Morris Ner Tamid Fund. We expect to award three Spark grants in 2024. Meet our current Spark grant recipients.
These exemplify the Foundation’s values of building partnerships and embodying trust-based philanthropy by offering longer-term funding to organizations that have a strong track record as Hadassah Foundation grant recipients. Each grant is $130,000 awarded over five years, and we expect to award one Visionary Partner grant in 2024. Meet our Visionary Partner grant recipients.
These enable us to quickly provide funds to address time-sensitive activities and needs that arise. Each grant is up to $5,000 awarded in one payment. We expect to award four Discretionary grants in 2024. Meet our recent Discretionary grant recipients.
Designated Funds
The Andrea Silagi Fund for Education, Advocacy and Outreach helps women and girls access the information they need to live healthy, informed, and productive lives. Established in 2022 with a $1 million gift from Andrea’s husband Moshe Silagi and their daughter Karen Silagi Freedman, the fund honors Andrea’s passion for education and love of teaching. Learn more.
The Julie Morris Ner Tamid Fund underwrites an annual Spark grant to an organization that embraces new ideas and alternative ways of solving problems, unlocks the hidden potential that lies within people, and fosters environments of peace and community where change can blossom. Learn more.
Featured Grant Recipients
Moving Traditions
Hadassah Foundation’s 2023 Visionary Partner, Moving Traditions emboldens Jewish youth to thrive through the pursuit of personal wellbeing (shleimut), caring relationships (hesed), and a Jewish and feminist vision of equity and justice (tzedek).
QueenB
With the aim of increasing female representation in Israel’s high-tech sector, QueenB offers after-school programming classes for teenage girls and creates a community of female students in the fields of computer science and engineering.
Forum Dvorah
The only organization in Israel focusing on gender equality in key decision-making positions in the fields of national security and foreign policy, Forum Dvorah manages a network of over 200 leading Israeli women in these fields and supports the next generation of leadership.
Gender Equity in Hiring Project
The Gender Equity in Hiring Project challenges gender bias in hiring and employment processes in Jewish organizational life, to help women rise into positions of leadership.
News & Events
Grantmaking
Meet Our Grantees
Our grant recipients in Israel and the United States address a variety of issues affecting those who identify as women and girls. Learn about our current and past grant recipients. Read More
For Grantseekers
The Hadassah Foundation awards grants in four categories to Israeli and U.S. organizations. Learn about our grants and how to apply. Read More