Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund Loan Program is a Lifeline

Established in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jewish Community Response and Impact Fund (JCRIF) program was established as an emergency lifeline for Jewish nonprofit organizations facing great uncertainty as to how they could continue to operate while navigating the uncharted challenges of a global crisis.

Administered by the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the JCRIF Loan Program provided short-term, unsecured interest-free loans to ensure cash flow and enable organizations to maintain their essential services over a 3–6-month period. In April 2020, the Mandel Foundation joined a consortium of seven anchor lenders to each commit to investing up to $10 million to initiate a loan pool and provide backing in the event of nonpayment.

Applications for the Loan Program were by invitation only, and applicant organizations were required to meet certain criteria for eligibility, including: a clear plan for paying down the loan in 48 months or less; a strong demonstration that a $500,000-$3,000,000 loan would make an essential difference in their ability to continue operations and would preserve the long-term social and financial value of the organization; and a consensus among the board of anchor lenders that the organization is of importance in advancing the American Jewish community and/or promoting positive engagement with Israel.

Over the course of two years, the program received 112 applications from nonprofit organizations all over the country, including Jewish summer camps, day schools, community centers, federations, and synagogues, among others. In total, the Mandel Foundation invested $7 million into the JCRIF loan fund, which totaled $49 million deployed by the consortium of lenders.

The JCRIF Loan Program succeeded in its goal to help Jewish organizations stay afloat in an extremely precarious time for these organizations and the world at large and $5.8 million has been repaid to the Foundation as of May 2024.

Success stories from the JCRIF initiative include:

Jewish Community of Louisville (JCL) provides cultural, educational, and social activities to approximately 28,000 community members each year. JCL received a $750,000 JCRIF loan in February 2021 after the government-mandated lockdown resulted in a 40% decline in JCL’s monthly membership. The loan allowed JCL to remain operational and provide important services, especially for its senior population. JCL provided over 17,000 kosher meals and 6,100 round-trip transportation services for seniors while also providing additional community programs.

“The financial support came at a time of extreme need and allowed steady and expert leadership to steer our ship through the maze of confusion, fear, uncertainty and concern which were with us and everyone 24 hours every day during that time. We’re forever grateful to the JCRIF organization for your financial assistance and you have a forever friend in the Jewish Community of Louisville.” – Paul Norman, JCL CFO

Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake in Verbank, New York offers a supportive and fun environment where Jewish youth can strengthen their Jewish identity, foster connections with Israel, and build their self-esteem and leadership skills each summer. Sprout Lake, like most Jewish summer camps, faced a financial crisis in 2020, cancelling its programming which resulted in a combination of zero income with ongoing fixed expenses for sites and personnel. The organization was quickly running out of cash until it received a $600,000 JCRIF loan. The loan provided approximately 4.5 months of operating cash, allowing Sprout Lake to retain all employees and lay the groundwork for the eventual reopening of the camp without the burden of long-term financial repercussions.

“Thanks to the critical aid from JCRIF, we successfully reopened our doors in 2021, welcoming back over 700 children to experience the joy of Jewish camping once again. This tangible outcome underscores the invaluable role played by JCRIF in preserving not just our organization, but also the cherished traditions and experiences that make Jewish camping a vital part of our community's fabric.” – Helene Drobenare Horwitz, Sprout Lake Executive Director.