Maybe you heard the phrase over dinner with friends, spotted CJP’s name on an event invitation, or a neighbor suggested getting involved with “the federation.” You nodded and quietly wondered: What is a Jewish federation, exactly? Is it a place to meet people? A charity? A club?

A Jewish federation raises and pools resources to support Jewish life. In Greater Boston, your federation is CJP (Combined Jewish Philanthropies). It funds a network of programs locally and around the world that enrich Jewish life in Boston, Israel, and beyond. It creates opportunities for you to learn, celebrate, volunteer, and connect. It also helps people through difficult times.

Here’s how a Jewish federation works, what its fundraising enables, and how to get involved.

What is a Jewish federation, in plain terms?

A Jewish federation is a community nonprofit whose resources support Jewish life and help people locally and globally. It funds organizations and programs, connects community partners, and helps coordinate responses to shared needs.

Think about everything that defines a community: gathering places, ways to meet new people, support in times of trouble, and protecting shared spaces. Those needs rarely fit within one organization’s mission. A Jewish federation considers the full needs of a community and helps bring the pieces together, like a wheel with spokes.

In Greater Boston, that organization is CJP. Its roots date to 1895, when five Boston Jewish organizations united to form a federation. Early funding supported families in financial need and new immigrants. Today, CJP’s work connects local needs with a broader commitment to Jewish communities beyond Massachusetts. It’s part of the wider Jewish Federations of North America movement.

The Greater Boston Jewish community is large and varied. CJP’s 2025 Greater Boston Jewish Community Study estimates that 333,100 people live in 138,200 Jewish households. That includes Jewish people and members who aren’t Jewish, too.

If you’re seeking connection or support, a federation is a simple first stop. You might want to find a family activity, a volunteer opportunity, or help during a difficult stretch. CJP can point you in the right direction.

How the annual campaign and allocations work

Where money comes from

An Annual Campaign is a federation’s recurring fundraising effort. People contribute gifts of various sizes to meet needs across the community.

The idea is straightforward: One gift can contribute to work that reaches beyond a single program. Some people give because they care about Jewish education. Others want to help neighbors facing hardship, combat antisemitism, or strengthen ties with Israel. CJP works with them all.

CJP describes its Annual Campaign as a way to support people facing vulnerability, combat antisemitism, and help people connect to Jewish life at home and abroad. Annual giving also provides flexibility to respond as needs evolve.

Not every contribution to a federation goes into the same flexible pool of resources. Emergency appeals and gifts designated for particular purposes can have different uses.

Where money goes

In the federation model, funds raised are granted out each year toward a range of partner agencies, and a large share stays local.

At CJP, that includes grants to organizations and programs. Its work touches community care and safety, Jewish life and learning, and connections with Israel. Research helps inform that work. CJP’s community studies examine how people connect, what they need, and how our community is changing.

CJP is adaptive. It asks: Are people finding the help they need? Do community members feel safe? Do families know which programs exist? Are cost, location, or a lack of connections making participation difficult? Answering those questions helps allocate resources in a target way.

For a closer look at spending and oversight, CJP publishes financial statements and tax filings. Those documents provide financial detail explaining precisely how and where CJP allocates its resources.

What a Jewish federation funds across Greater Boston

The easiest way to understand a Jewish federation is to look at what its work makes possible close to home. CJP supports everyday Jewish experiences and provides aid during difficult moments.

Care and practical support: CJP works with partners on needs including financial hardship, mental health, disability support, and services for older adults. In 2025, CJP and partners including Jewish Family & Children’s Service, JFS of Metrowest, Yad Chessed, and Yachad delivered 2,500 Passover meals. That’s just one concrete example of community fundraising reaching people at home.

Camp and family programs: CJP helps fund Jewish overnight camp scholarships and supports opportunities for children, teens, and college students to explore Jewish life. For a family weighing summer plans, a scholarship can make a meaningful experience more accessible.

Safety and security: Through its Communal Security Initiative (CSI), CJP provides security guidance, training, and support to synagogues, schools, and other organizations. Its Center for Combating Antisemitism also works with community leaders to confront antisemitism.

Community connections: CJP’s JewishBoston.com helps residents and newcomers discover events, local culture, and resources to enrich everyday life.

Explore what CJP funds across Greater Boston to discover more examples.

What CJP funds overseas and in Israel

A Jewish federation’s sense of responsibility extends beyond its own city. CJP supports work in Israel and other countries through relationships with organizations that understand local conditions and can deliver targeted assistance.

In Israel, that includes emergency relief, recovery, and rebuilding. CJP’s Israel work includes support for HaGal Sheli’s surf therapy program, which helps survivors of trauma. Its Israel Emergency Fund launched after the October 7, 2023, attacks and provided direct assistance toward urgent needs and recovery.

CJP also supports the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, known as JDC. In an August 2026 update, CJP described its partnership with JDC to assist vulnerable Jewish communities in Ukraine. JDC’s work in Ukraine includes food, medicine, and home care for people affected by the ongoing war. Meanwhile, in Venezuela, CJP has collaborated with local Jewish community centers to bolster mental health services for earthquake victims and reconstruct damaged homes.

Local and overseas support are parts of the same federation model: combining resources to care for people and sustain Jewish life, close to home and all over the world. The funding source may differ, including annual support and dedicated emergency appeals. CJP does not provide funding to any foreign government.

How you get involved with a Jewish federation

Start with what interests you. You don’t need to arrive with a committee assignment in mind or know the difference between every organization in town.

Instead, look for an event built around something you already enjoy. If you love group activities, explore volunteer opportunities. If you’re looking for family activities, begin with your children’s ages and the kind of experience you’d like to share. There’s lots to choose from. CJP’s ways to get involved include events, volunteer leadership opportunities, professional networks, and programming for young adults in their 20s and 30s. Its newcomer guide also points readers toward synagogues, early childhood programs, schools, camps, and community gatherings.

Take it one step at a time:

• Browse an event calendar and choose one gathering.
• Look for a program for your stage of life.
• Sign up for updates so you hear about future opportunities.

Check each listing for registration details, cost, and any participation requirements. You don’t need to make a donation to get involved.

And if walking into a room of strangers feels intimidating? Contact the organizer first. Asking what to expect is a perfectly reasonable first step.

Frequently asked questions about Jewish federations

What is a Jewish federation?

A Jewish federation is a community nonprofit that brings together resources, people, and partner organizations to support Jewish life locally and globally. Its work includes fundraising, funding services and programs, and responding to community needs. In Greater Boston, the local federation is CJP.

What does a Jewish federation do?

A federation raises and distributes funds, supports and connects community organizations, and helps respond to shared challenges. Depending on the community, that can include social services, education, security, cultural activities, and overseas assistance. It also helps people find ways to participate in Jewish life.

How does a Jewish federation work?

A federation combines charitable support and directs resources toward community priorities through grants, partnerships, and initiatives. Local research can help identify needs. For example, CJP’s 2025 Greater Boston Jewish Community Study found that 14% of Jewish adults in Greater Boston often or always experience loneliness, depression, or anxiety. This underscores the need for accessible, sustained opportunities to connect with our community.

Is a Jewish federation religious or secular?

A Jewish federation is a secular communal nonprofit rooted in Jewish values, rather than a congregation or a particular religious denomination. Its work includes supporting religious, cultural, educational, and humanitarian aspects of Jewish life. You can explore Jewish community through a federation whether or not you belong to a synagogue.

What is CJP?

CJP stands for Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Greater Boston’s Jewish Federation. Founded in 1895, it’s the oldest Jewish federation in the country. Its focus includes caring for the vulnerable in Boston and worldwide; deepening Jewish learning and connection for the next generation; and strengthening relationships with Israel and Jewish communities around the world.

Where does the money a federation raises actually go?

Federation fundraising supports local programs and services as well as work in Israel and other countries. At CJP, examples include care for people in need, Jewish education, security, and assistance to overseas Jewish communities. CJP’s financial statements provide more detail about how it grants and spends funds.

Do you have to be Jewish or a donor to be part of a federation?

You can begin by exploring resources and asking about opportunities without making a donation. CJP’s community includes interfaith households, and its newcomer resources welcome various connections to Jewish life. Eligibility, fees, and giving expectations vary by program or event.

How is a federation different from a synagogue or JCC?

A synagogue is a congregation, usually centered on worship, learning, and communal life. A JCC offers activities and services such as cultural, recreational, and family programs. A federation works across the wider community, raising resources and supporting connections among organizations. Their roles sometimes overlap, and federations also offer programs themselves.

How big is the Jewish community CJP serves in Greater Boston?

The 2025 Greater Boston Jewish Community Study estimates 333,100 people living in 138,200 Jewish households. The number includes household members who aren’t Jewish.

How do I get involved with the Jewish federation in Boston?

Visit CJP’s Get Involved page to explore events, volunteering, professional networks, and social opportunities. JewishBoston.com is another welcoming starting point for local activities, spanning cultural festivals, family-friendly activities, and holiday events.

A place to begin

What is a Jewish federation? In Greater Boston, it’s a way for people to support a shared community and find their place inside it. CJP helps turn that collective commitment into action:

• One starting point: Find connections to a wider network of organizations and volunteer opportunities.
• Pooled resources: Support community needs here and overseas.
• Local touchstones: Discover care, learning, and Jewish experiences close to home.
• Room to explore: You don’t have to make a donation to make a connection. Find an event or program that interests you.

If “what is a Jewish federation?” brought you here, your next question can be more personal: What’s next for me? Explore ways to get involved with CJP, whether you’re hoping to meet people, fill your family calendar, or contribute to a cause.