The Jewish Venture Philanthropy Fund announces the opening of its 2019 grant cycle on February 1. (Submission deadline: March 1.) The Fund seeks to support the Jewish community in North America and Israel by searching out and supporting those unique ideas that are backed by passion and by leadership with a plan to strengthen and positively impact our Jewish community.

JVPF is a Los Angeles-based giving circle (housed at Jewish Funders Network, and a JFN member organization) that has given away over $2.7 million over the past 19 years, with 2-3 grants averaging $60,000 each year. Its members are a group of Jewish business and community leaders in the Los Angeles, who are diverse in age, gender, experience and affiliations within the community and beyond.

JVPF looks to leverage its grant dollars by partnering with grantees whose programs or projects have a proven success record, but are in need of capacity building assistance to take that program/project to the next level. JVPF’s recent grantees include U.S.-based organizations such as Jewish Women’s Theater, JQ International, ETTA and Food Forward. It’s recent Israel-based grantees include Yotzmot Atid, Itim, Gesher and Hashomer Hachadash.

For more detailed information about past grantees, applications deadlines and JVPF’s specific grant-making criteria — visit www.JVPF-LA.org.