Twice a year, the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor awards grants from the Community Engagement Fund and the Zelma Weisfeld Fund for Arts and Culture. In the Winter 2026, the projects funded were ones that engaged with themes of nature, identity, and community service. The Jewish Federation is pleased to share information about these grant awardees and details on the next grant cycle.
The Community Engagement Fund grant was created to encourage 3 or more community organizations or individuals to work collaboratively on innovative initiatives for the Jewish community. The funding aims to incentivize programming and initiatives that cultivate a connected, caring, and vibrant Jewish community in Washtenaw County. Special consideration will be given to projects focused on teen engagement, and on Jewish arts and culture.
The Zelma Weisfeld Fund for arts and culture was set up to honor the late Ms. Weisfeld’s dedication to the arts, and to help bring Jewish cultural events the greater Ann Arbor Jewish Community.
Fall 2026 Cycle Details
Letters of Intent for the upcoming fall 2026 grant cycle are due to the Jewish Federation by July 1. Full applications are due by July 15. Guidelines for submission can be found at jewishannarbor.org/grants or by contacting Kadi Swerdlow (Kadi@jewishannarbor.org).
Grants of up to $3,000 per project are available. Proposals will be considered for one-time programs or initiatives submitted by a formal or informal partnership of at least three collaborators.
Winter 2026 Awards
Four projects have been funded in Winter 2026—two from the Zelma Weisfeld Fund and two from the Jewish Federation’s Community Engagement Fund. One of these events has already occurred and the others are working to be implemented over the summer.
Girls in Trouble with Alicia Jo Rabins
Alicia Jo Rabins is a Jewish writer, musician, author, and Torah teacher who uses her talents to teach about Jewish texts, feminism, and spirituality. This past April, the Jewish Communal Leadership Program at the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work brought Ms. Rabins to Ypsilanti thanks to a grant from the Zelma Weisfeld Fund. The event brought together community members to connect through Alicia’s music. The performance was followed by a Q-and-A session where attendees engaged with Alicia about her work. Attendees shared that they found it a night of meaningful music and connection.
Project Teshuva
Project Teshuva is being brought to the Ann Arbor area by the JCC, HDS and Camp Raanana. The collaborators hope to create a space at the JCC that invites all to come engage with nature, learn, and connect. A highlight of the project will be a beautiful walking path at the JCC with spots to stop and reflect while learning about native fauna and flora, creating an engaging and meaningful learning environment.
PACK Program
The PACK program is an effort by Jewish Family Services, Temple Beth Emeth, Beth Israel Congregation, and a growing group of community partnerships. The goal of the program is to bring a meaningful and service-focused Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience to Ann Arbor area youth. The PACK program will combine Jewish values, educational opportunities, and a way to directly see how their effort lightens the burden of those in most in need for students and their families.
Intersection of Two Identities
An effort between Ann Arbor Public Schools, a local Jewish Parents group, and the Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation brings a program that fosters self-exploration in children grades 4-8, encouraging them to connect with not only their Jewish identity, but any identity they hold within themselves. The group plans to bring Muscogee and Jewish author Emily Bowen Cohen to Ann Arbor for a program showcasing her graphic novel “Two Tribes,” which delves into her experience growing up both Indigenous and Jewish. Students will interact with the author and get the opportunity to create their own graphic novel about themselves and their identity.
To learn more about these projects or about the grants and how the Jewish Federation can help bring your community project or event to life, contact the Jewish Federation’s Grant Administrator Kadi Swerdlow at Kadi@jewishannarbor.org.