Jewish Community Foundation
Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund
Investing together in a stronger future for Jewish Milwaukee.
Overview
The Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund (JWEF) is a community endowment fund for Jewish women in Milwaukee. In 1993, a group of 41 women gave a collective gift of over $100,000 to establish this permanent fund within the Jewish Community Foundation (the endowment development program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation). The interest generated each year is used to fund grants to Milwaukee nonprofit organizations – both Jewish and non-Jewish – that directly benefit women and children. The grants process is administered by Women’s Philanthropy of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and a committee of JWEF members who volunteer their time.
Our Impact
The Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund responds to critical needs in the Milwaukee community by making grants focused on programs relating to women’s health care, women’s economic self-sufficiency, and children at risk. Since 1995, the Fund has awarded grants of over $514,600 benefitting 81 local agencies and has grown to over 220 members.
Details
How You Can Join
You can join the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund with a one-time gift of $1800 (or $500 for women 35 and under), payable over two years. Members are welcome and encouraged to continue giving to the Fund going forward.
There are several ways you can increase your gift or become a member of JWEF.
- Click here to make your gift online (please include “Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund” or “JWEF” in your submission).
- If you want to use your Donor Advised Fund (DAF) at the Jewish Community Foundation, you can use the Fund Portal or however you normally recommend grants from your DAF.
- Contact Jen Milkman at 414-390-5722, at the Jewish Community Foundation, to learn more about how to make your JWEF contribution.
For more information, contact us.
Support JWEF
Help the Fund grow in fun and meaningful ways!
Member Birthday Card Fundraiser:
JWEF members can send a special birthday card to other JWEF members every year.
Order September – December 2026 Here
Greeting Card Fundraiser:
Purchase a pack of greeting cards featuring art by local Jewish artist, Amy Gelfman. Purchase greeting cards.
Mah Jongg Fundraiser:
Order Mah Jongg cards through JWEF to have a portion of the sale donated back to JWEF. Contact JWEF Co-Chairs for more information.
Donate directly or donate through your Donor Advised Fund:
- Send a check made out to the “Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund (JWEF)” to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation at 1360 N Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Contact Melissa Taylor to make an online donation.
- Contact Jen Milkman at 414-390-5722, at the Jewish Community Foundation, to arrange for a fund transfer to the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund.
2026 Grant Recipients
ACTS Housing
$10,000 for the Women’s Homeownership Empowerment Cohort, a six-month, in-person financial empowerment and homeownership readiness program designed primarily for women and women-led households from low- to moderate-income backgrounds.
Journey House
$10,000 for Journey House’s THRIVE (Transforming, Healthy, Reliable, Inspiring, Valued, and Employable) Career Internship Program which is a workforce development initiative that prepares low-income women and young adults for stable, high-demand healthcare careers.
Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC)
$6,600 for the HERC Teacher Fellowship Regional Speakers Bureau Program which empowers Wisconsin K–12 teachers to serve as regional ambassadors for Holocaust education and will help grow the program from six fellows to twelve statewide by 2027 as well as expand its successful Wausau model into additional rural communities.
REDgen (Resilience Education for the Next Generation)
$8,000 for the Youth QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training program in Milwaukee middle and high schools through its peer-led school chapter model that equips students with the skills and confidence to recognize warning signs of suicide, support peers in crisis, and connect them to help.
JWEF Grant Application
The Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund will accept grant applications in January 2027. Selected applicants will be notified in June 2027. Questions? Please contact us.
Connect
Deb Carneol Fendrich serves as Senior Director of Affinities and Women’s Philanthropy at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. In her Women’s Philanthropy role, she leads strategy and execution for engagement, leadership development, and campaign efforts, overseeing volunteer leadership and donor stewardship. She also guides signature programs such as VALOR and International Women’s Day and stewards the growth of Women’s Philanthropy giving societies including Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Societies.
In her Affinities role, Deb partners with and supports the Federation’s Affinity Directors, helping them execute their visions through strategic guidance around campaign, engagement, and leadership development, while fostering cross-affinity collaboration and building strong lay leadership pipelines.
Outside of work, Deb enjoys singing, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with friends, her husband Ben, their daughters Logan and Micah, and their dog, Maya.
