Ally Challenge Grant Recipients

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Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ (CJP) Center for Combating Antisemitism (CCA) today announced the recipients of its fiscal year 26 Ally Challenge Grants, the second year of its program to seed and grow grassroots, hyperlocal projects that build cross-community relationships to combat antisemitism across Greater Boston. The grants support community partnerships that promote understanding across religious, civic, and educational institutions.

“Collaboration and community building are imperative to preventing and addressing antisemitism,” said Melissa Garlick, Director of CJP’s Center for Combating Antisemitism. “In a moment where Massachusetts’ Jewish community is feeling vulnerable to existential threats on both a local and global level, enabling meaningful, bridge building connection at the community level is more important than ever. After the attacks of October 7, 2023, and the accompanying surge of antisemitic incidents across the world and here in Massachusetts, we saw more community members, leaders, and hyperlocal grassroots groups step up to ensure that local communities advance values of safety, inclusion, and understanding.”

FY26 Ally Challenge Grant Recipients:

Concord-Carlisle Against Antisemitism: A grassroots community-based initiative, funding will promote Jewish visibility, education, and community allyship for Concord and Carlisle residents and students through digital outreach, community events, and partnerships with local institutions.

Lexington United Against Antisemitism: With an interfaith, volunteer-led approach, Lexington United Against Antisemitism (LUAA) advocates for the well-being of Jewish residents through community education, relationship-building, and action. CCA's support will enable LUAA to deepen and broaden its engagement with local and neighboring houses of worship and civic organizations.

Newton Interfaith Leaders Association: Funds will support a project to advance allyship training workshops for local interfaith clergy and lay leaders.

Parents Diversity Council Bedford: The grant will support a project within the organization to deepen connections and learning between Jewish and non-Jewish Bedford residents through community-wide events that increase awareness and understanding of antisemitism.

CCA leads efforts across Greater Boston to counter antisemitism through education, training, advocacy, and cross-community partnerships. It is the central hub for communal efforts to respond to the rise in antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate across Greater Boston and bring nationally proven strategies to the local level. The Ally Challenge Grants extend that work into Concord, Lexington, Newton, and Bedford, building the cross-community relationships that complement CJP's Jewish safety resources in Greater Boston at the institutional level. In 2024, CCA provided $1.7 million in strategic grants to local partners focused on preventing antisemitism in public education institutions, civic spaces, workplaces, and local college campuses. Funds distributed will continue to empower new channels of allyship and deepen relationships among established allies to make antisemitism socially and politically unacceptable.