In its core granting cycle, the Jewish Community Foundation’s Community Legacy Fund awarded $341,138 to 22 unique Jewish community organizations.

These grants are intended to help enhance and maintain the quality of Jewish life in the Greater Kansas City area.

Core grants support the general operating expenses (core expenses) central to the accomplishment of an organization’s mission. The Community Legacy Fund also makes core grants for unique services not otherwise available within the Jewish community that are essential to Jewish life.

In an effort to have the greatest impact on the Jewish community, the Community Legacy Fund maintains the following objectives: to provide financial support for safety net services; to nurture a strong Jewish community by providing underwriting for Jewish education, community relations and cultural arts; to provide financial support for seed programs which meet an identified community need; to purchase equipment which enhances an organization’s general operations or programs; to provide core support for Jewish community agencies; and, to provide support for programs which are essential to Jewish life in Kansas City.

“We are deeply grateful to the Community Legacy Fund for their generous support, which helps us continue the vital work of supporting refugees and immigrants in our community with dignity and compassion” said Morgan Merrell, Jewish Vocational Services director of grants. “At a time when harmful rhetoric too often overshadows the humanity of those seeking safety for their families, this partnership affirms our shared commitment to tikkun olam, the Jewish principle of repairing the world.”

The Community Legacy Fund consists of permanent endowments from which grants are awarded to agencies whose applications are reviewed and evaluated by the Foundation’s Grants Committee and Board of Trustees. The Foundation’s Grants Committee is a dedicated group of lay leaders who review each application and engage in dialogue about how to best allocate resources to make the most meaningful impact. In addition to its core granting cycle, the fund has an innovation/emergency cycle that supports new, high-quality programs that provide an innovative approach or solution to an existing or emerging community need, or respond to financial or humanitarian emergencies.

Community Legacy Fund grants were awarded for the following programs:

  • BBYO: Rent
  • Community Kollel of Kansas City: Health insurance
  • Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner: Overland Park Eruv
  • Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy: Scholarships and liability insurance
  • Jewish Community Relations Bureau | AJC: General support
  • Jewish Community Campus: Utilities
  • Jewish Community Foundation: J-LEAD grants
  • The J: Property, liability and casualty insurance
  • Jewish Family Services: Chaplaincy program, Priya and rent for food pantry
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City: Community security, financial aid for student immersive experiences, and Sasone staffing
  • Jewish Vocational Services: Core support
  • Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care: National accreditation
  • Kansas Mikvah Association: General upkeep
  • KU Chabad: Bookkeeping services
  • KU Hillel: Accounting services
  • Midwest Center for Holocaust Education: Rent and financial services
  • National Council of Synagogue Youth: Jewish Student Union
  • Rabbinical Association: Funding for a part-time administrator
  • Torah Learning Center Kansas City’s Kosher Meals on Wheels: Audit
  • University of Missouri Hillel: Staff salaries, benefits and facility upkeep
  • Vaad HaKashruth: Kosher supervision staffing
  • Village Shalom: New computers and software

More information about the Community Legacy Fund is available by contacting Beatrice Fine at or (913) 327-4618.