A social worker supporting families at Talmud Torah School. Jewish teens building connections with their peers. An interfaith cemetery project responding to changing community needs.
At first glance, the initiatives appear unrelated. This year, however, they share a common source of support: grants from the Edmonton Jewish Charitable Community Foundation (EJCCF), funded through endowments established by community members who chose to invest in the future of Jewish life in Edmonton.
This year, the foundation distributed grants to 14 organizations supporting initiatives ranging from youth engagement and mental health supports to educational resources, cultural programming and community infrastructure. The grants were made possible through undesignated endowment funds established by donors who wanted to support the community's changing needs over time.
Stephanie Hendin, chair of the EJCCF, says donors who establish undesignated endowment funds give the foundation flexibility to respond to emerging opportunities and priorities across the community.
"The allocations committee sends out a letter to all potential beneficiaries in the community to inform them that there are funds available and to please make a grant request for something that meets the criteria,'" Stephanie says. "We get numerous requests from beneficiaries, including Talmud Torah, the synagogues, camp, Maccabi Games, etc. We look at each one, evaluate it as a committee and distribute it based on the project itself and how widely we can disburse the funds available."
The grants are often used to fund projects that fall outside an organization's regular budget.
"It's not a budget item," Stephanie says. "I always consider it like a bonus item for them."
This year's grants illustrate how that support touches community members at every stage of life.
For Jewish Family Services Edmonton, a $5,000 grant will help fund a Jewish and Israeli social worker who will have a presence at Talmud Torah one day a week, building relationships with families and connecting them to supports and resources when needed.
Danielle Dolgoy, executive director of Jewish Family Services Edmonton, says the initiative grew from ongoing conversations about the challenges facing students, parents and educators.
"The money we're getting from EJCCF is going towards a Jewish and Israeli social worker. They speak Hebrew and will begin to have a presence at Talmud Torah for one day a week," Danielle says.
She says the need is particularly significant at a time when many families are experiencing heightened stress and anxiety.
"It's fair to say that our community is experiencing heightened levels of acute anxiety," Danielle says. "A lot of kids that attend Talmud Torah and the parents sending them there have very real worry and anxiety about safety."
For younger community members, a $3,000 grant to NWC BBYO will help continue BBYO Connect, a program for students in Grades 7 and 8 that creates a bridge between elementary school and BBYO's high school programming.
"It's an important piece, where these youth can still feel like they're connected to the community and they have their own special place to go," says Marnie Pellett, coordinator for NWC BBYO.
The funding helps offset participation costs and expand access to programming.
"It really makes it more accessible for the community, and for anyone who wants to join," Marnie says. "I'm very, very grateful for the funding. We wouldn't be able to offer this without it."
At another stage of community life, Edmonton Chevra Kadisha received $3,600 to support development of its interfaith cemetery project. The initiative will provide burial options for interfaith families while remaining separate from the consecrated Jewish burial section.
Jeff Rubin, president of Edmonton Chevra Kadisha, says the grant is meaningful not only because of the financial support it provides, but because it reflects community backing for the project.
"We're very pleased that the Edmonton Jewish Charitable Foundation was able to provide that $3,600, because that not only will help, but it also shows that they agree with the principle of developing the interfaith section," Jeff says.
The foundation's support extends well beyond these three projects. This year, grants also supported Camp BB-Riback's Israel Day initiative, Hebrew language resources for Talmud Torah Society, the Young at Heart Choir at the Jewish Senior Citizens' Centre, technology upgrades at Edmonton Beth Shalom Congregation, moving costs for the Jewish Archives and Historical Society of Edmonton and Northern Alberta and Temple Beth Ora as they relocate to the Oshry | Kipnes Jewish Community Centre, programming at Beth Israel Synagogue, camper subsidies through Chabad Lubavitch of Edmonton, volunteer and play-area initiatives at Jewish Federation of Edmonton, Festival Hatzafon rental costs for Aviv Israeli Folk Dance Association and other community needs.
Danielle says that broad approach is one of the Foundation's strengths.
"Endowments are a wonderful thing. They are a statement of the belief in our community's future," Danielle says.
She adds that the foundation is tasked with supporting both new ideas and long-standing institutions.
"They have a difficult job of balancing innovation, and risk over here, with stability and ... having a strong foundation over here."
For Stephanie, the annual grants are a visible reminder of how endowment funds continue supporting the community year after year.
"Ultimately the goal is to have more endowments established so that it gives even more support to more organizations in the community," Stephanie says. "And more certainty of funding."
From helping a young teen find a place to belong, to supporting families, strengthening community institutions and responding to end-of-life needs, this year's grants demonstrate how endowment funds established years ago continue to shape Jewish life in Edmonton today while helping build its future.