Every organization has them: ideas discussed around board tables, programs waiting for funding, projects that could strengthen Jewish life, deepen engagement, expand educational opportunities, or bring people together in meaningful ways.
For Tidewater Jewish Foundation, helping turn those ideas into reality is exactly why Community Impact Grants exist.
Designed to strengthen Jewish life, the grants provide funding for projects and initiatives that create measurable impact throughout Jewish Tidewater. While many people associate grants with innovative new programs, Community Impact Grants support a broad range of needs, including special events, educational initiatives, collaborative programs, capital improvements, security enhancements, equipment purchases, and cultural experiences.
Past grants have supported everything from community-wide concerts and Holocaust remembrance programs to Jewish cooking experiences, campus engagement initiatives, playground improvements, broadcasting technology, and security upgrades.
“If a project has the potential to strengthen Jewish life and community, we want organizations to consider applying,” says Ann Swindell, TJF’s grants administrator.
One of the biggest misconceptions, according to Swindell, is that organizations must navigate the grant process alone. “I want organizations to know they don’t have to figure it all out by themselves,” she says. “If you have an idea, a question, or you’re not sure whether a project qualifies, call me. I’d much rather have a conversation early and help strengthen an application than have someone miss an opportunity because they weren’t sure where to start. These grants exist to support our community, and my goal is to help organizations successfully move from idea to impact.”
Over the years, Swindell has become a trusted resource for organizations throughout the application process, helping applicants think through project goals, measurable outcomes, budgets, timelines, and reporting requirements.
“Community Impact Grants aren’t about creating hurdles,” she says. “They’re about helping organizations create meaningful impact. I want applicants to view me as a resource from the first conversation all the way through final reporting.”
The current grant cycle closed July 10, but organizations that missed this deadline are encouraged to begin planning now for the next cycle, which opens November 15 and closes January 10, 2027.