Cherna Moskowitz Foundation

The Cherna Moskowitz Foundation is a closely held family private foundation with an identity anchored in Jewish philanthropy and strong support for Israel and Israeli institutions. Named for and led by Cherna Moskowitz — who simultaneously serves as President, Secretary, and Treasurer without compensation — the board is entirely composed of family and close associates: her children David Moskowitz and Daniel Moskowitz serve as directors alongside Laurie Hirsch and Oren Ben Ezra, all unpaid. This structure signals an intensely personal, relationship-driven grantmaking culture where trust and demonstrated alignment precede funding.

The foundation's guiding philosophy — 'He who has saved one life, it is as if he has saved the world' — is a Talmudic reference that reflects a deeply Jewish identity suffusing the entire grant portfolio. The 990 data reveals a sharply focused mission: supporting Israel-based institutions and the American Friends organizations that channel resources to Israeli religious education, security, healthcare, archaeological preservation, and community development. Central Fund of Israel — which passes donor-directed funds to Israeli charities — has received $6.174 million across two grants, representing the single dominant beneficiary relationship in the tracked data.

For first-time applicants, the most important recognition is the gap between the foundation's public-facing website (which highlights general American philanthropy: disaster relief, cancer research, youth programs) and the actual 990-documented grantmaking (overwhelmingly Israel-centric by dollar volume). Proposals that don't connect to Jewish community, Israel, or Jewish religious education are unlikely to succeed regardless of merit or presentation quality.

There is no formal application portal, no published RFP cycle, and no disclosed deadline. The foundation's sole stated process is a written request submitted to the Hallandale Beach, Florida address. Successful applicants almost certainly arrive through personal introductions or established organizational relationships, given the board's composition and the nature of the funded organizations.

Organizations new to this funder should begin by identifying connection points to existing grantees — whether through shared rabbinic leadership, Israeli institutional partnerships, or New York-based Orthodox community networks — before submitting a cold written request. Grant sizes span $5,000 to $5+ million, leaving room for smaller organizations seeking initial engagement as well as established multi-year partners.

The Cherna Moskowitz Foundation's grantmaking has followed a volatile trajectory that reflects its dependence on annual family contributions rather than a stable endowment payout. Annual giving peaked at $15.3 million in fiscal year 2019 — when 48 individual awards were recorded — before declining to $9.3 million in FY2018 and dropping sharply to approximately $3.8 million in both FY2022 and FY2023 (15 awards each). Fiscal year 2024 shows a meaningful rebound to approximately $6.4 million distributed across approximately 7 grants, signaling recovery and consolidation into fewer, larger relationships.

Total assets have grown consistently from $44.9 million (FY2020) to $61.3 million (FY2024), supported by substantial family contributions: $11 million received in FY2023, $10 million in FY2022, and $8 million in FY2021. Net investment income has remained modest at $435,000–$774,000 annually, confirming that giving capacity is almost entirely contribution-driven.

Analyzing the tracked grantee pool ($9.235 million across 26 grants), the average grant is $355,192. The foundation's stated typical grant range spans $5,000 to $5.15 million, with a median of $50,000 and an average of $412,033. This distribution reflects a two-tier strategy: small 'relationship' grants ($5,000–$86,000) to a wide network of aligned organizations, and large 'anchor' grants ($500,000–$6M+) to a short list of trusted strategic partners.

By program area, the 990 grantee data is Israel-focused by a wide margin. Central Fund of Israel alone accounts for 66.9% of tracked giving ($6.174 million). Jewish religious education — including Yeshivat Shavei Hevron, Beit El Yeshiva Center, Yeshivat Hesder Sderot, Bimad Alon Moreh, Beis Midrash of Queens, and the Old City Cheder in Jerusalem — collectively received approximately $576,000 across eight grants. Israeli security and military support (Friends of the IDF Rabbinate, Friends of Mishteret Yisrael, Friends of Nahal Haredi) received approximately $120,000. Healthcare support via American Committee for Shaare Zedek received $130,000. The Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation received $1 million. Interfaith and advocacy work (Proclaiming Justice to the Nations) received $70,000. Domestic U.S. grants — George Mason University Foundation ($30,000) and Greater Miami Jewish Federation ($5,000) — total less than 0.4% of the tracked grantee pool.

Geographically, 16 of 26 tracked grants went to New York-incorporated organizations, consistent with the foundation's declared geographic focus. Virginia (3), Tennessee (2), and Florida, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas (1 each) round out the state distribution.

The Cherna Moskowitz Foundation occupies an asset tier of approximately $61 million, a level it shares with four foundations classified under the same Philanthropy & Grantmaking NTEE category. Despite similar asset sizes, the giving philosophies and accessibility of these foundations vary considerably.

Among its asset peers, the Cherna Moskowitz Foundation stands out in two ways: it publicly discloses its application pathway (written request), and its 990 grantee data provides a clear window into funding priorities that most same-tier family foundations obscure. The Imago Dei Fund — though faith-based — operates invitation-only, making Cherna Moskowitz more accessible in principle for aligned applicants. The foundation's year-to-year giving volatility (ranging from $3.8M to $15.3M) is unusual relative to peers that typically operate on more predictable payout schedules. Organizations prioritizing consistency should weigh this variability; those with Israel-focused missions should treat the written-request pathway as a genuine entry point unavailable from most comparable foundations.

No press releases, media coverage, or formal announcements from the Cherna Moskowitz Foundation were found for 2025 or 2026. The foundation maintains a minimal public profile and does not issue press releases or publish annual reports. Its website (chernamoskowitzfoundation.org) and the associated personal site (chernamoskowitz.org) document grants made primarily in the 2011–2019 period, with no content reflecting recent grantmaking.

The most significant recent development visible in the financial record is the recovery in giving following a two-year trough. After peak giving of $15.3 million across 48 awards in FY2019 and $9.3 million in FY2018, the foundation distributed approximately $3.8 million each in FY2022 and FY2023 — possibly reflecting strategic restraint or transition in giving priorities. FY2024 data confirms a rebound to $6.4 million, though distributed across only approximately 7 grants — the fewest on record in the available dataset — suggesting deepened relationships with a concentrated set of grantees rather than a broad re-engagement.

Assets grew from $59.9 million (FY2023) to $61.3 million (FY2024), supported by $7.1 million in total revenue, indicating that family contributions to the foundation continue actively. No leadership changes are documented in any available filing; Cherna Moskowitz has served continuously as President, Secretary, and Treasurer across all years with data. David Moskowitz, Daniel Moskowitz, Laurie Hirsch, and Oren Ben Ezra have served as directors throughout. Notably, the grantee record includes a $1 million grant to the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation — the foundation established by Cherna's late husband Dr. Irving I. Moskowitz in 1968 — indicating ongoing coordination between the two related family philanthropies.

The Cherna Moskowitz Foundation's application process is among the most minimal of any same-tier private foundation. Its sole disclosed requirement is a 'written request' — there is no online portal, standardized form, published deadline, or stated grant cycle. This simplicity is both an opportunity and a challenge: access is theoretically open, but the complete absence of formal structure means relationship and alignment are the real gatekeepers.

Timing: No grant cycle deadlines are published. Given that large contributions are received by the foundation throughout the year and that grantmaking appears to occur across fiscal years, submitting a written request in fall (September–November) is advisable to align with likely year-end review and decision activity. Avoid holiday periods.

Mission alignment is non-negotiable: The 990 record is unambiguous — the foundation prioritizes organizations supporting Israel through religious education (yeshivot, Jewish day schools), community security, medical care, archaeological and heritage preservation in Jerusalem and the Old City, and interfaith advocacy for Israel. U.S.-based 'American Friends of' organizations functioning as funding vehicles for Israeli institutions are the most consistently funded vehicle. Domestic U.S. programs with no Israeli or Jewish community connection are extremely unlikely to receive meaningful funding.

Language to use: Frame proposals around the preservation of Jewish identity, the security and development of the Land of Israel, and the transmission of Jewish religious values across generations. Reference the foundation's guiding principle — 'He who has saved one life, it is as if he has saved the world' — and ground your request in stories of individual beneficiaries. Quantitative metrics may be less persuasive than narrative accounts of human impact.

Grant size strategy: First-time applicants should calibrate initial requests conservatively. The tracked grantee data shows a median of $50,000 and a cluster of relationship-entry grants in the $10,000–$86,000 range. Large grants ($500K+) appear reserved for long-standing strategic partners. Requesting $25,000–$75,000 for a pilot or specific program may be more productive than leading with a major ask.

Relationship pathway: Given the family-run board, warm introductions through the U.S. Orthodox Jewish community in New York or South Florida carry disproportionate weight. Organizations already in the grantee network — particularly American Friends entities connected to Israeli yeshivot, Ir David, or the IDF Rabbinate — can serve as informal references.

Contact: Mail written requests to Cherna Moskowitz Foundation, % Cherna Moskowitz, 215 N Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Phone: (954) 454-6640. No public email address is disclosed.