Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego

09/04/2026

Looking to make a difference while building leadership skills?

The Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) gives Jewish high school students the opportunity to learn collaboration, public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership, all while working on real issues affecting their communities.

Hear from JTF Program Officer Rachael about why teens should consider joining this incredible program.

✅ Build leadership skills
✅ Meet new friends from across San Diego
✅ Learn about philanthropy and community impact
✅ Help make a difference in causes you care about

Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are currently open. We encourage interested students to apply soon!

🔗 Learn more: https://jcfsandiego.org/individuals-families/jewish-teen-foundation/

09/03/2026

What does it take to start building a legacy giving program?

Last week, nonprofit professionals joined us for The Language of Legacy Workshop, part of Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego’s Pathways: Nonprofit Growth Workshops.

During this interactive session, participants learned key legacy giving concepts and explored ways to incorporate legacy conversations into the fundraising activities they already do, including annual fundraisers, events, donor communications, and more.

We loved seeing so many nonprofit leaders eager to strengthen their organizations for the future, and we hope everyone left inspired with practical ideas they can put into action right away!

08/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for Follow the Money: A New Map for Ending Homelessness.

We were honored to welcome Andrew Hening, who shared a compelling look at how communities can better address homelessness by understanding where resources are flowing, aligning efforts across sectors, and building more coordinated systems of care.

Guests also had the opportunity to meet the 12 nonprofit organizations participating in our giv4 homelessness campaign and learn more about the important work they are doing every day to support vulnerable members of our community.

Thank you to Andrew, our nonprofit partners, and everyone who joined us for an important conversation about creating lasting solutions to homelessness here in San Diego. We’re grateful to spotlight the 12 giv4 homelessness organizations working every day to support vulnerable members of our community:

Serving Seniors
Monarch School San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Home Start, Inc.
Urban Street Angels
Youth Assistance Coalition San Diego
Interfaith Community Services
People Assisting the Homeless - PATH
Voices of Our City Choir
Yes in God's Backyard (YIGBY): https://yigby.org/
San Diego Housing Federation
Townspeople San Diego

08/17/2026

We're excited to share some leadership news at Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego!

Please join us in congratulating Michael S. Levinson, who has been appointed Chair of JCF's Board of Directors, and in welcoming our newest board members:

Susan Chortek Weisman
Debby Cushman-Parrish
Karen Foster Silberman
Leo Simpser

Together, they bring a wealth of experience, vision, and dedication to helping strengthen Jewish life and philanthropy in San Diego.

📄 Read more in the attached press release and online here: https://jcfsandiego.org/jewish-community-foundation-san-diego-names-michael-s-levinson-board-chair-and-expands-board-leadership-with-four-new-members/

Want to learn more about Michael and what excites him most about JCF's future? Read our Q&A: 👉 https://jcfsandiego.org/qa-with-new-board-chair-michael-s-levinson/

Please help us welcome and congratulate our board leadership team!

08/17/2026

: Double Your Support for Families Impacted by the Colombia Earthquake

Match opportunity for JCF donor advised fund holders: your donor advised fund grants to the International Community Foundation (ICF) for Colombia earthquake relief will be doubled up to $25,000. ICF is mobilizing resources through its network of local nonprofit and community partners on the ground for immediate assistance, recovery, and rebuilding after the devastating earthquake struck western Colombia, claiming more than 220 lives, causing widespread damage, and leaving communities reeling. Homes, community infrastructure, and essential services have been damaged, leaving families urgently in need of shelter, food, water, and recovery support.

The Jewish community in Cali was also impacted, with several families losing their homes and damage reported to the local synagogue and Jewish community center.

As part of ICF’s commitment to responding quickly during times of crisis, ICF waives its administrative fees for emergency-response contributions during the first 90 days following a disaster. This would allow 100% of the contributions received during that period to go toward the response efforts in Colombia.

If you don’t have a donor advised fund with JCF and want to learn about the match, contact Sharyn Goodson at [email protected].

Learn more and give here:

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

08/06/2026

📣 Applications for the Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) are now open!

Are you (or do you know) a Jewish high school student who wants to make a difference in your community, develop leadership skills, and shape the future through philanthropy?

JTF, a program by the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, brings together Jewish teens from across San Diego County to learn about community needs, build meaningful connections, raise funds, and make grant decisions through a Jewish values lens. Participants gain experience in leadership, teamwork, public speaking, and philanthropy.

Join San Diego's next generation of Jewish philanthropists and make an impact that matters.

👉 Learn more and apply:

We are a diverse group of San Diego County Jewish high schoolers building new relationships, learning collaboration, and making grants with a Jewish giving lens.

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/