UJA-Federation of New York

UJA-Federation was founded in 1917 to support vulnerable populations, particularly those living in poverty. Our mission remains steadfast today: we care for Jews everywhere, New Yorkers of all backgrounds, respond to crises near and far, and shape our collective Jewish future. Together with a network of more than 100 nonprofit partners — including 65+ core partners in New York — we serve diverse populations both locally and globally.

Our vision is to meet the multifaceted needs of individuals, families, and at times, entire communities, to improve and enrich lives. And to do so while addressing unforeseen crises.

Goal One: With our network of 65+ core partners, UJA helps create a better future for children, young adults, seniors, immigrants, people with disabilities, and families affected by chronic poverty.

Goal Two: UJA is committed to strengthening relationships between the Jewish community and our neighbors taking action around issues of common concern, such as public health and community safety.

Goal Three: UJA is committed to the promise of a vibrant and inclusive Jewish and Democratic state working to advance social and economic mobility among all populations & the promise of the start-up nation.

UJA provides talent development programs for our own staff and the cross section of nonprofits and organizations in our eight-county catchment area. We sponsor the following leadership and professional development programs/conferences:Ruskay Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership; High Impact Strategies for the Experienced Manager; Institute for Jewish Executive Leadership;and a Graduate Fellowship program. We fund programs such as The Chesed Leadership Institute delivered by Touro College; JPRO Ignite for early career professionals; the Jews of Color professional network of the Jews of Color Initiative. UJA sends staff to regional and national professional development conferences and offers employee graduate school scholarships. UJA has an online portal called UJAcademy that provides staff with online learning webinars and other resources. We also offer a variety of leadership development for our volunteer leaders through our Leadership Engagement and Board Relations Department.

Adapt. Pivot. Redirect. These words have been our mantra for the last three years, honed sharply by the pandemic. Covid-19 challenged us like never before, but it also created in UJA a powerful new strength: agility. UJA has always been at the forefront of caring for those in need, but this ability to nimbly adapt and pivot with agility has become one of our defining traits. For the past three years, we have addressed crises and emergencies while supporting ongoing initiatives and programs. Meeting the extraordinary needs throughout the pandemic required adaptability on every front. We launched a new digital pantry system to address the overwhelming rise in food insecurity from lost jobs and wages, and we continue to fight pervasive poverty and hunger through this vital tool. We opened the doors to our one-stop, all-inclusive social services hub where people find help and hope for a better life through workforce development and career advancement. We are providing professional services worldwide to address the pandemic’s lingering mental health crisis. When war broke out in Ukraine, we pivoted to bring humanitarian relief in and around Ukraine’s borders and help Ukrainian refugees start new lives in Israel and in New York. When Jewish students at NYC universities were sinking under the weight of family responsibilities, second jobs, and food insecurity, we reimagined campus Hillels as centers for social services, food pantries, and spiritual support. Our focus shifted once again on October 7th. The needs in Israel ranged and continue to range from trauma care to medical equipment supply, from relocating entire communities to managing tensions within shared societies. Skyrocketing antisemitism and anti-Zionism keep us adapting and strengthening our efforts. Formation of the Community Security Initiative in 2018 has resulted in enhanced safety and security of more than 2,400 Jewish institutions in the NY area; efforts amplified in the wake of the Israel/Hamas war.