Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJPGB) is a dedicated to strengthening the Jewish way of life and improving conditions for the Jewish community of the Boston, Massachusetts area and elsewhere. Major programs include building a broader and deeper engagement in Jewish life, caring for the aged, and supporting environmentalist causes. ^[1]

CJPGB administers programs that include travel to Israel and a social networking website. It also makes grants to organizations that include Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). ^{[2] [3]}

Major funding for CJPCB comes from Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund and the Boston Foundation. ^[4]

History

Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston was formed in 1960 from the combination of the Combined Jewish Appeal and Associated Jewish Philanthropies. The organization promotes the Jewish way of life and serves the needs of the Jewish community in greater Boston and the broader Jewish community around the world. ^[5]

The organization develops and promotes groups, operates a website designed to connect Jewish constituents to the community, makes grants to other nonprofit organizations, and develops and executes education programs for all ages. ^[6]

It has developed partnerships with multiple organizations locally and nationally as well as with international sister cities Haifa, Israel, where it is aiding at-risk families, and Dnipro, Ukraine, where it works to address poverty, health care access, and elder care. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Activities

Fighting Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism

Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston partners with the left-leaning Anti-Defamation League, which has identified a significant rise in violent crime against those of the Jewish faith, and supports education and activism to build understanding of the Jewish faith and develop strategies to address anti-Semitism. The CJP Communal Security Initiative is one strategy that is designed to provide safety to those who have been threatened with violence. ^{[10] [11]}

Charitable Work

CJPGB works with Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, Jewish Vocational Service, and Yad Chessed to provide emergency financial assistance, providing help in accessing food, utilities and home fuel assistance, career counseling and job search assistance, and public-benefits guidance. ^[12]

Through its Tzedek program, CJPGB helps those coming to America access services and support that help them stabilize and move towards economic self-sufficiency and prevent homelessness. ^[13]

Future Generations

CJPGB provides grants and provides travel, leadership and professional development opportunities while connecting youth to Israel and the broader Jewish community. It also operates a separate website that features events, blogs, and resources to aid social connections. ^[14]

Welcome to Israel and Global Jewry (IGJ)

CJPGB promotes building communities around the world with their engagement with Israel broadly, leadership development, and sister city work. ^[15]

Jewish Learning and Education

CJPGB provides youth, teen, young and older adult education programs including the Myra and Robert Kraft passport to Israel savings plan that helps send children to Israel to provide a continuous stream of education and connection to their community. ^[16]

Funding

Major funders of Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston in 2020 and 2019 were Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($12,420,218), a provider of donor-advised funds; the Boston Foundation ($1,567,441), a funder of many left-of-center organizations; and the Ruderman Family Foundation ($1,023,632), a philanthropy that promotes inclusion of people with disabilities through Jewish values. ^{[17] [18]}

Grants

In 2020, the largest grants made by Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston include Upstream USA ($8,500,000). Upstream USA promotes access to contraception and makes grants to multiple organizations associated with Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Upstream is also formerly a project of the New Venture Fund. Other grants went to Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund ($8,035,500) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) ($7,516,450), which promotes left of center environmental policies. ^{[19] [20] [21] [22]}

People

Rabbi Marc Baker is president and chief executive officer of Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston and head of school at the Gann Academy. ^{[23] [24]}

CJPGB’s board chair is Shira Goodman, formerly chief executive officer of Staples, who also sits on the boards of directors for Carmax, Henry Schein, CBRE, and The Rockport Company. ^{[25] [26]}

Campe Goodman is CJPGB’s senior vice president. She is a fixed income portfolio manager at Wellington Management Company LLP. ^{[27] [28]}

Finances

Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston reported revenue of $218,872,687 for 2020, down from $312,263,899 in 2019. That revenue consisted of $201,681,522 in contributions and grants, $15,909,443 in investment income, and $1,000,170 in program service revenue. ^[29]

The organization reported 2020 expenses of $236,866,465, with grants paid of $203,356,607. ^[30]

Net assets of CJPB declined marginally to $1,597,124,638 at the close of 2020. ^[31]