Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego

07/29/2026

✨ Exciting Funding Opportunity for San Diego Nonprofits ✨

We are honored to announce a new grant opportunity through the Chortek Weisman Family Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, inspired by the legacy of Peter and Elaine Chortek (z"l) and their lifelong commitment to Jewish community and philanthropy.

Organizations located in and serving San Diego County are invited to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to support innovative programs that strengthen Jewish identity, deepen community connection, foster leadership, and inspire meaningful Jewish engagement.

Support may be provided for both established programs with demonstrated success and opportunities for growth, as well as new and experimental initiatives with the potential for significant impact.

🔗 Ready to apply? Click here to create your account and get started: https://cap.jcfsandiego.org/submit/c476de55-c032-40b7-9c4b-ee4b7f0cdf33/chortek-weisman-family-fund-2026-grant.

07/22/2026

On Monday, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego fundholders and staff had the opportunity to visit Wesley House Student Residence and learn more about its impactful work supporting college students in San Diego. During our time at Wesley House, we heard about the residence's mission and saw firsthand how affordable housing, supportive programming, and a welcoming community help students succeed both academically and personally.

As part of the value-added benefits of being a JCF fundholder, we host site visits that provide an inside look at the organizations strengthening our community. These visits offer meaningful opportunities to connect behind-the-scenes with local nonprofits and better understand the impact they are making throughout our region.

Thank you to Wesley House Student Residence for hosting us and sharing your inspiring work. We look forward to bringing fundholders more opportunities to connect with the nonprofits creating positive change across our community.

06/26/2026

: Support Families Impacted by the Venezuela Earthquakes

In the wake of devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, communities are facing widespread damage, displacement, and urgent humanitarian needs, including more than 500 Jewish families affected. Relief organizations are mobilizing to provide food, shelter, medical care, and trauma support.

You can help by supporting vetted organizations delivering aid on the ground. Learn more and give here:

We are committed to advancing sustainable, just and vibrant societies through our emergency funding response vehicle - Know.Act.Give.

06/15/2026

Have you seen our Book of Life kiosks yet?

The Jewish Community Foundation has created interactive "living screens" where you can explore the incredible stories of people in our community who have chosen to share their values, memories, and life journeys for the sake of ensuring a thriving future for our Jewish community.

In this video, you'll get a peek at one of our kiosks in action, scrolling through meaningful stories that connect generations.

📍 Located in the lobby of Jewish Federation of San Diego and at the Lawrence Family JCC

We invite you to stop by, explore, and be inspired.

💙 Learn more about the Book of Life: https://jcfsandiego.org/individuals-families/book-of-life/

06/08/2026

On June 2, we welcomed community members to our latest Governance Leadership Institute (GLI) Workshop, Effective Governance: Becoming a High-Impact Board Member 💼✨

From those new to board service to experienced leaders, participants learned how to make a unique difference in their organizations. The session was filled with practical insights, thoughtful discussion, and prompts to uncover what made each individual particularly equipped for their boards.

A big thank you to our own Sharyn Goodson and Sharleen Wollach for leading such an engaging and inspiring workshop!

It was a highlight seeing our community of leaders learning, connecting, and growing together.

📸 Take a look at a couple of moments from the morning!

06/04/2026

What an incredible night 💙

We were so proud to be at the 17th annual Women of Valor celebration at the Lawrence Family JCC, honoring six amazing women who make our San Diego Jewish community stronger every day, including our very own Senior Vice President, Philanthropy, Sharyn Goodson!

From the stories and songs to the moments of reflection and joy, the evening was a beautiful reminder of the impact one person can have and how much we can accomplish together.

Mazal tov to all of the honorees:
✨ Ruth Broudy
✨ Rhona Fink
✨ Kira Finkenberg
✨ Sharyn Goodson
✨ Karen Parry
✨ Debby Stauber

We’re so grateful to be part of a community filled with leaders like these 💫

Want to witness their stories? Join us on Sunday, June 14 for another special community gathering: https://sdjfest.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F40487%2Fstorefront%2F199872

05/19/2026

The Jewish Community Foundation San Diego is heartbroken for the Islamic Center of San Diego, the victims of the shooting, their families, and every person whose world has been shattered by this violence.

We stand with our friends in the Muslim community, including the many dedicated partners at nonprofits working every day to make San Diego a better place for all of us, as they carry an unbearable weight of grief and fear. May the memories of those we lost be a blessing, and may we honor them through solidarity, partnership, and understanding.

05/06/2026

Still thinking about Sunday...what an inspiring celebration of our community’s teens! There was so much to kvell over with the Jewish Teen Foundation's grant presentations, marking 15 years of the Peter Chortek Leadership Award, and hearing from Congregation Beth Israel’s 8th Grade Social Innovation Class.

From intentional grantmaking to remarkable ideas for improving our community, our bright teens showed what it means to lead with purpose. Their curiosity, compassion, and commitment to community are proof that the future of philanthropy is already here.

Thank you to everyone who showed up to support, celebrate, and invest in the next generation!

04/27/2026

We're looking forward to celebrating our community's teens this Sunday! It will culminate this year's Jewish Teen Foundation experience, mark 15 years of the Peter Chortek Leadership Award, and honor Congregation Beth Israel's 8th Grade Social Innovation Class.

This year, the Jewish Teen Foundation's 40 participants established issues to address in our community and assessed proposals from incredible nonprofit organizations. They cap the year with making real grants, and true impact for youth and providing access to healthcare.

Register to celebrate with us here: https://jcfsandiego.my.salesforce-sites.com/summit__SummitEventsRegister?instanceID=a4sUN000005JA8r

04/14/2026

This year's Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) Commemoration gathered us to honor our cherished Survivors living in San Diego and hear the extraordinary, courageous stories of individuals who saved tens of thousands of lives during the Holocaust. As we mark Yom HaShoah starting this evening, we commit to remembering and retelling these remarkable stories, and caring for our Survivor community.