Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles Awards $2 Million in Cutting Edge Grants
The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles (The Foundation) today announced that it awarded $2 million in Cutting Edge Grants to eight organizations focused on seeding and growing innovative programs in the Los Angeles Jewish community.
The programs receiving funding address high-priority issues and are particularly pertinent during this time of crisis, including combatting antisemitism and anti-Zionism; empowering and uplifting diverse, inclusive Jewish communities within local Latino, Asian, and Mizrahi and Sephardic populations; and promoting health, wellness, and safety among youth, people living with disabilities, and educational and spiritual leaders.
Since its creation in 2006, Cutting Edge Grants has awarded $23 million in funding to support more than 100 innovative Jewish causes and programs across Los Angeles. The multi-year awards of up to $300,000 are directed to innovative local and national organizations of all sizes to foster creative programming that builds a vibrant and inclusive Jewish Los Angeles, equipped to address emerging issues and future opportunities. In addition to the grant funding, recipients have access to technical expertise and professional development.
The 2023 Cutting Edge Grants recipients and their initiatives (listed by area of focus) are:
Combatting Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism
- The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles (in partnership with Project Shema), Fighting Antisemitism Empowerment Project
- Zioness, Los Angeles Zioness Fellowship Program
Empowering Diverse, Inclusive Jewish Populations
- Jewtina y Co., Jewtina y Co.: Dedicated L.A. Presence
- JIMENA, Sephardic Leaders Fellowship
- The LUNAR Collective, The LUNAR Collective Los Angeles Hub Expansion
Promoting Health, Well-Being and Safety
- Friendship Circle, Creative Center for Adults
- Jewish Studio Project, Activating Creativity to Improve Health in Jewish L.A.
- Organization for Social Media Safety, Social Media Safety: Protecting LA Jewish Students’ Mental Health and Well-Being
Rabbi Aaron B. Lerner, Foundation president and chief executive officer, stated: “This year’s Cutting Edge Grant recipients exemplify the creative, innovative problem-solving needed to address our Jewish community’s most pressing issues and drive its continued vitality. The Foundation’s funding in these important categories takes on even greater significance this year amid a sharp and disturbing rise in antisemitism and hate incidents resulting from the Israel crisis. We are proud to provide both the financial resources and professional expertise to these eight initiatives, collectively touching the lives of thousands locally.”