Jewish early childhood programs, day camps and afterschool programs in 30 states to receive funds for on-site security amid spike in antisemitism
Today, The Tepper Foundation is granting over $9 million to Jewish Federations of North America in response to a growing number of antisemitic incidents in the United States. This funding, which is in addition to The Tepper Foundation’s Security Fund grants of $3 million made earlier this year, will address the urgency of rising security costs impacting Jewish early childhood programs as well as support other faith communities’ security needs.

Jewish Federations of North America are distributing these new security grants to 76 local Federations, which will further distribute the funds to hundreds of local Jewish institutions in 30 states that host early childhood programs. The funds will be used to hire security personnel to protect early childhood programs such as pre-schools, day camps and after-school programs.

Participating Federations, all of which have already established comprehensive security plans under the auspices of Jewish Federations of North America, have also committed to building and strengthening relationships with other religious leaders and faith-based institutions in their communities by sharing their security expertise. This is a new aspect of The Tepper Foundation’s commitment to security, aimed at improving interfaith relations and enhancing safety for all populations confronting hatred. It also supports Jewish Federations’ robust community relations efforts.

Background:

  • The Tepper Foundation’s original Security Fund was launched in November 2023 following the October 7th attack on the people of Israel. This funding addressed the urgent increased security needs of college Hillel organizations, Jewish community centers, synagogues, Jewish Federations and other Jewish communal organizations.

  • Through the original Security Fund and this new round of funding, The Tepper Foundation has made grants totaling more than $12 million to support the security needs of the American Jewish community.

  • Building on the success of Jewish Federations’ LiveSecure initiative, the largest philanthropic effort to support Jewish security in North American history, the organization and its network communities have become The Tepper Foundation’s partner in continuing to ensure the safety of Jewish communities nationwide.

“As we work to keep the Jewish community safe at this challenging time, we also have an important opportunity to provide leadership and partnership to other communities who are grappling with similar security challenges,” said Randi Tepper, CEO of the Tepper Foundation. “Since we launched the Security Fund, we’ve been listening closely to the needs of our grantee partners, and we’re eager to get more dollars out the door to not only protect Jewish communities, but expand interfaith dialog and coordination.”

“Right now, nothing is more important than protecting our children and giving them a safe environment where they can learn, grow and thrive as people,” said Jewish Federations of North America Chair Julie Platt. “We’re thrilled that The Tepper Foundation continues on this journey with us during such difficult times.”

“Without basic security for our children, the Jewish community cannot flourish,” said Shira Hutt, Executive Vice President of Jewish Federations of North America. “We are proud of the immense progress we have made on securing our community through LiveSecure, but the unprecedented spike in antisemitism that our community has experienced since October 7th has created the need for both additional security resources and renewed outreach to our interfaith partners.”

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About The Tepper Foundation: The Tepper Foundation is a family foundation that supports effective organizations in New Jersey and across the United States. Through these grantee partnerships, the foundation works to meet people’s basic needs like food and housing; provide relief in the face of disasters; support the Jewish community; safeguard rights; and strengthen the nonprofit sector. Founded in 1996 by David Tepper, the foundation has supported grantees with hundreds of millions of dollars in direct support since its inception and continues to expand its giving. Learn more at www.tepperfoundation.org.
About Jewish Federations of North America: Jewish Federations of North America are the backbone of the organized Jewish community in the US and Canada, representing over 350 Jewish communities. They raise and distribute more than $2 billion annually and through planned giving and endowment programs to build flourishing Jewish communities at home, in Israel, and around the world.