Seed the Dream Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Seed the Dream Foundation focuses its grantmaking on Jewish and Israeli education. It has also demonstrated interest in the prevention of gender-based violence.
IP TAKE: The Seed the Dream Foundation is a steadfast supporter of education in Israel and Jewish educational initiatives in the U.S. Newer areas of giving concern gender-based violence and an impact investing program, Seed the Impact. This funder does not accept unsolicited proposals and appears to stick with its large, well-established corps of regular grantees. A connection to a past grantee might help gain this funder’s attention.
PROFILE: The Seed the Dream Foundation was established by Joel Greenberg, founder of the Susquehanna investment and equity trading group, and his wife, Marcy Gringlas. Based in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, this foundation supports education, emphasizing Jewish education and schools in Israel. Its runs grantmaking programs for educational Access, Engagement, Awareness and Empowerment.
Grants for Education and Jewish Causes
Three of this funder’s four grantmaking programs support Jewish and/or Israeli education.
Educational Access giving supports elementary education in Israel by partnering with “school operators that work to improve underprivileged and underperforming elementary schools.” Giving targets initiatives for leadership and teacher development, as well as student, family and community supports. The program also funds scholarships for Israeli students facing obstacles in the attainment of higher education.
Grantees working in these areas include Shalva: The Association for Children with Disabilities and their Families in Israel, the American Israel Education Foundation and the American Friends of Migdal Ohr.
Grants stemming from the Educational Engagement program support opportunities for high school and college students to “learn about Israel, engage with Israelis, and develop life-long connections.”
At the high school level, the foundation supports Facing History and Ourselves, a Holocaust history education program. Recipients working with college-age populations include the Birthright Israel Foundation, Hillel: The Jewish Foundation for Campus Life and Friends of Chabad on Campus.
The Educational Awareness program makes grants to meet the needs of Holocaust survivors and to educational programs “about the meaning of the Holocaust for the Jewish community and the world.” Grants prioritize “combating anti-Jewish hatred and integrating lessons on contemporary antisemitism into all Holocaust Education.”
Educational awareness grantees include the KAVOD SHEF Fund, Jewbelong Inc., the Jewish Relief Agency and Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation.
Grants for Women, Girls and Violence Prevention
The Seed the Dream Foundation’s Educational Empowerment, its newest giving area, will support educational and other support programs for survivors of sexual, domestic and gender-based violence. The initiative also earmarks funding for education for the prevention of sexual violence, “tech support” for people who are in danger and other initiatives for women’s physical and mental wellness and safety.
Other Opportunities
The Seed the Dream Foundation also runs an impact investing program, Seed the Impact, which provides funding for “projects that provide education and employment opportunities for underprivileged and underrepresented communities in the United States and Israel.”
Important Grant Details:
Grants are typically awarded in amounts of up to $850,000 but have been larger in some cases.
Jewish and Israeli education are this funder’s largest areas of giving.
Seed the Dream tends to support medium- to large-sized organizations that are well established in the Jewish community.
This funder accepts applications by invitation only.
For additional information about past grantmaking, see the funder’s recent tax filings.
This foundation can be reached via email at info@seedthedream.org
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