Moses Feldman Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Moses Feldman Family Foundation supports environmental conservation, social justice, education, the arts and Israel. Its domestic grantmaking centers around Pennsylvania and the greater Philadelphia area.
IP TAKE: This funder typically awards grants to support general operating costs. Philadelphia is a clear geogrpahic priority, especially for arts and culture funding. Proposals are accepted by invitation only, so a connection to the Feldman family will be key here.
PROFILE: Jacob Feldman founded the Moses Feldman Foundation in 1946 in honor of his grandfather, steel manufacturing magnate Moses Feldman. Initially, the Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based funder supported Jewish causes in Dallas and charitable projects taking place in Israel. The foundation’s funding priorities expanded under the leadership of Feldman’s sons, and grantmaking programs now include Israel, the environment, social justice, education and human services and arts and culture.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
The environment program aims to “protect and encourage a pristine natural environment.” Conservation efforts supported include those related to conserving open spaces for both recreational and educational purposes, renewable energy and population stabilization as it relates to the sustainable use of global natural resources. Past conservation grantees include the League of Conservation Voters and the Rainforest Trust.
Grants for Security, Human Rights and Jewish Causes
The majority of Feldman’s global security grantmaking falls under its Israel program area, which aims to “build and sustain a strong, secure, and equitable society in Israel.” Main areas of grantmaking interest include strengthening Israeli-Arab relations in Israel and throughout the Middle East; advocating for increased diplomacy between the U.S. and Israel; and promoting diplomacy between Israel and the rest of the world. These grantees include Jewish Funders Network, New Israel Fund, Palestine Israel Endowment Fund, Seeds of Peace and The Washington Institute.
While Israel and Jewish causes remain a strong area of funding interest for the foundation, it also supports human rights projects through its Social Justice, Education and Human Services grantmaking program. That program funds efforts to strengthen civic leadership, help marginalized populations gain self-sufficiency, and fight “hate and bigotry.” Areas of specific interest here include combating poverty, advancing women and children’s health globally and promoting tolerance.
Grants for Civic and Democracy, Work and Opportunity, and Racial Equity
The Moses Feldman Foundation’s Social Justice, Education and Human Services grantmaking program funds efforts to “strengthen civic leadership,” “contest hate and bigotry,” and “help disadvantaged populations access services that address urgent needs and build self-sufficiency.” It is particularly interested in leadership development in the fields of social justice and economic opportunity, and “organizations that promote tolerance and work to overcome discrimination and prejudice.” Grantees include Planned Parenthood, the United Way, Americares, the American Jewish World Service, the Voter Participation Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The Moses Feldman Foundation primarily supports performing arts and visual arts institutions in the greater Philadelphia area, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Woodmere Art Museum and the Pennsylvania Ballet.
Important Grant Details:
Foundation wide, grants can range from $10,000 to $400,000, though most fall in the range of $15,000 to $50,000. To learn more about the types of organizations Feldman supports, explore its recent grants list.
The Moses Feldman Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding. Organizations invited to apply for a grant must submit their application materials in February for grant consideration in April.
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