2024 Community Impact Highlights
We are excited to share this year’s Community Impact Report, a testament to the incredible strength, compassion and commitment that defines our Jewish community. This year’s Community Impact Report is five distinct themes:
Expand and strengthen an engaged, vibrant and flourishing St. Louis Jewish community
Secure the well-being and safety of individuals within the St. Louis Jewish community
$8.7 Million invested into Jewish communities in St. Louis, Israel and around the world in 2024
Together AS ONE, we support a network of remarkable Jewish organizations, driven by our mission, vision and values, and united by the shared goal of strengthening our community, improving lives and uplifting one another.
$7 Million
in community impact investments
$1.4 Million
in supporting foundations
$294,087
in endowments and other grants
Vibrancy
AS ONE We Support Early Childhood and Families with Young Children
FED FACT:
In addition to early childhood initiatives, Federation invests more than $475,000 toward local day schools who provide Jewish education for kindergarten and beyond. These schools include Epstein Hebrew Academy, Esther Miller Bais Yaakov, Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School and Torah Prep School.
families engaged in partner programming
%
of families increased connections with other Jewish families
%
of families feel part of a larger Jewish community
IMPACT STORY:
The St. Charles Jewish Festival saw nearly 3,800 people in attendance — a 27% increase over the prior year.
AS ONE We Engage College Students
unique students engaged
students engaged for the first time
FED FACT:
During the extraordinary circumstances on college campuses post 10/7, Federation leadership remained steadfast in ensuring critical funding reached community partners who engage with college students in St. Louis and Columbia, MO.
WELL-BEING & SAFETY
AS ONE We Help Create a Safety Net for Economically Vulnerable Populations
IMPACT STORY:
MERS Goodwill clients praised Rabbi Daniel Sentell for his knowledge of diverse job fields, his expertise in modernizing resumes, handling obstacles to employment searches and for his compassionate nature.
CLIENTS RECEIVED FOOD from the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry
individuals received help through JFS’s Care Connect program provided $108,000+ in cash assistance
FED FACT:
Federation offers interest-free loans to Jewish residents of St. Louis. These “General Needs” loans may be used to cover unanticipated expenses, including household needs, debt consolidation, life cycle celebrations and more. – Learn more at STLJLA.ORG
AS ONE We Prioritize the Safety and Security of our Community
COMMUNITY PARTNERS supported by Federation’s Community Security Program
cities outside of St. Louis are supported by Federation’s Community Security Program
hours of security provided
security grants obtained
IMPACT STORY:
Security needs continued to grow in 2024. Three additional community partners joined Federation’s Community Security Program, and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis expanded staffing with the hiring of additional security guards and a new, full-time Security Coordinator.
Connection to israel
AS ONE We Strengthen Connections to Israel
IMPACT STORY:
In 2024, more than 65 Israel-related programs were hosted by community partners with additional promotional and coordination assistance from the Federation’s Israel Center.
INDIVIDUALS engaged in Israel-related programming
%
of participants report an increased connection to Israel
%
of college students report an increase in knowledge related to Israel
AS ONE We Support a Vibrant, Democratic Homeland for the Jewish People
NEARLY
$4.5 Million
raised locally in Israel Emergency Response Campaign
FED FACT:
St. Louis was one of the first communities to participate in the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Communities2Gether initiative. In 2024, our partnership areas expanded to take in and support the evacuated families of Kibbutz Nahal Oz who were one of the communities attacked on October 7, 2023.
MORE THAN
$860 Million
raised across the Jewish Federations of North America
Infrastructure
AS ONE We Help Create a Safety Net for Economically Vulnerable Populations
UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS reached by the Jewish Light
HOUSEHOLDS receive the Jewish Light printed newspaper
%
of respondents agree the Jewish Light is a valuable way to learn about the Jewish community, local organizations and resources
IMPACT STORY:
A key finding of a survey completed by 945 people through The Morning Light showed the importance of the Jewish Light as a community connector. Respondents felt the news source was even more impactful if they did not belong to a synagogue.
FED FACT:
Kehilla, which means Community in Hebrew, is the name of the Federation’s new and improved Community Calendar. The Kehilla Calendar can also be found on the Jewish Light’s website ensuring all the events and happenings in St. Louis are on one Kehilla Calendar!
View and subscribe to the bi-weekly Kehilla Newsletter Here
AS ONE We Attract and Retain High Quality Professional Staff for Jewish Organizations
FED FACT:
Federation began an 18-month pilot program called ElevatEd designed to recruit and retain early childhood educators and further professionalize this critical field for our youngest learners.
STUDENTS benefited from ElevatED
EDUCATORS benefited from ElevatED
combatting antisemitism
AS ONE We Educate to Combat Against Antisemitism
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS reached through JCRC’s Student to Student program
ACROSS 8 DISTRICTS partook in ADL’s No Place for Hate
IMPACT STORY:
Students who participate in No Place for Hate are 80% more likely to report bias incidents in their school and schools that participate in No Place for Hate are likely to see a 60% reduction in disciplinary referrals over 3-5 years.
IMPACT STORY:
98% of Museum participants surveyed report understanding the importance of treating all people equally and 97% of participants believe it is their responsibility to make a positive difference in the world.
students, teachers, & chaperones participated in the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum’s Impact Lab
individuals participated in a Museum tour
2024 Community Investments
To see a full list of our investments in each of our Community Partners, download our 2024 Impact Report.