National Center to Encourage
Kensington, MD · EIN 52-1194529. Reported 178 grants totalling $1,733,420 to 105 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. National Center to Encourage did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $3,775. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,000 and $10,000; the smallest was $200 and the largest $150,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Reform Judaism | New York, NY | $296,900 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Vanguard Charitable | Warwick, RI | $210,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Joint Distribution Comm | New York, NY | $160,175 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Various Synagogues Various Synagogues | All in Uscanada, MD | $124,358 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Institute for Southern Jewish Life | Jackson, MS | $105,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sutton Place Synagogue Nyc | New York, NY | $64,100 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Jewish Federation North America | New York, NY | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Keneseth Israel Congregation | Allentown, PA | $38,600 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mishkan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $35,200 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Sha'ar Zahav | San Francisco, CA | $33,600 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Center for Jewish Life Beth David | Miami, FL | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hillels Int | Washington, DC | $28,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Israel Reform Movement | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal | Philadelphia, PA | $23,600 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Project Kesher | New York, NY | $20,868 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hillel Minsk Schusterman Intl Center | Washington, DC | $20,300 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jcc Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nj Rabbinical Assembly | Ontville, NJ | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Shabbat With Friends | Santa Fe, NM | $16,200 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| New London Synagogue | London, London | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hillel Intl | Washington, DC | $15,454 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Schechter Instituteukraine | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| American Jewish U La | Bel Air, CA | $13,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Finchley Progressive Synagogue | London, London | $13,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Buffalo Jewish Federation | Williamsville, NY | $12,400 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Society for Humanistic Judaism | Farmington Hills, MI | $12,100 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| American Jewish University | Sherman Oaks, CA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rabbinical Assn Kansas City | Overland Park, KS | $11,750 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Silicon Valley Jcc | Los Gatos, CA | $11,400 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Jewish Learning Venture | Jenkintown, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Myzuzah | Chevy Chase, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sandra Kaplan Bet Din Los Angeles 441 | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ujrurj Am-Lat | San Paulo, San Paulo | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Congregation Bnai Amoona-Mo | Saint Louis, MO | $8,600 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Temple Bnai Israel Monroe | Monroe, LA | $7,075 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Congregation Beth Israel Austin | Austin, TX | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jewish Fed Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Temple Bnai Torah Wa | Bellevue, WA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hebrew College | Auburndale, MA | $6,200 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ohavi Zedek Synagogue Vt | Burlington, VT | $6,150 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Beri Foundation Ukraine | Kyiv, Kyiv | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Haver-the Boulder Rabbinical Counci | Boulder, CO | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Judiasm Your Way | Denver, CO | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Schechter Institute-Ukraine | Philadelphia, PA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Temple Beth El Aptos-Jcc Santa Cruz | Aptos, CA | $5,900 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Charleston Jewish Federation | Charleston, SC | $5,600 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jewish Federation Nashville | Nashville, TN | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Memphis Jcc | Memphis, TN | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Natl Women Reform Judaism | New York, NY | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Progressive Judausm Center of Georg | Tbilisi, Tbilisi | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Jewish Community Alliance Southern Maine | Portland, ME | $5,200 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Jewish Enrichment Center | Chicago, IL | $5,200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Intro Phoenix | Scottsdale, AZ | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Temple Israel Boston | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Congregation Ner Tamid Nv | Henderson, NV | $4,600 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Jewish Fed Central Ny | Dewitt, NY | $4,200 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Jewish Folkshul | Lafayette Hill, PA | $4,100 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Gr Hartford Bd Rabbiscong Beth Isr | West Hartford, CT | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bethesda Jewish Congregation | Bethesda, MD | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Congregation Beth Hatikvah | Summit, NJ | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hillel Intpoland Foundation | Washington, DC | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kol Ami Tuscon | Tuscon, AZ | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Temple Emanu-El Tuscon | Tuscon, AZ | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim | Alexandria, LA | $3,400 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Temple Beth Shalom | Hudson, OH | $3,350 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Westside Jcc Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $3,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Jewishcolorado Pj Library | Denver, CO | $3,100 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Temple Israel Albany | Albany, NY | $3,100 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| 18DOORS | Natick, MA | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Emanuel Synagogue Ok | Oklahoma City, OK | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jewish Fed San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sid Jacobson Jcc | Greenvale, NY | $2,800 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Makom Community Pa | Philadelphia, PA | $2,700 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Temple Beth El Muncie | Muncie, IN | $2,700 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| The Kitchen | San Francisco, CA | $2,700 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Russian American Jews | Eagan, MN | $2,600 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Congregation Neve Shalom Metuchen N | Metuchen, NJ | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Raleigh-Cary Jcc | Raleigh, NC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Route 613KEDMA | Great Neck, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jhubjewish Federation Cleveland | Cleveland Heights, OH | $2,485 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Congregation Bnai Israel-Nm | Albuquerque, NM | $2,400 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Paul Jcc Ecc | St Paul, MN | $2,300 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Temple Sinai Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Women Reform Jud Wrj Natl | New York, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Your Jewish | Hopkins, MN | $1,900 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Punk Torahdarshan Yeshivah | Midlothian, VA | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Congregation Kol Emeth-Il | Skokie, IL | $1,600 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ma'yan Tikvah Ma | Wayland, MA | $1,555 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Temple Beth El Huntington | Huntington, NY | $1,400 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Or Ahavah -Fl | Lutz, FL | $1,300 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Jcc Syracuse Pj Library | Syracuse, NY | $1,170 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Kedusha Project | Oklahoma City, OK | $1,030 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Agudas Achim Congregation | Coralville, IA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Friends of Jewish Renewal Poland | Beverly Hills, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hillel Buffalo | Amherst, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ruach Hamaqom | Burlington, VT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kehillah Richmond Rva | Midlothian, VA | $900 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Congregation Children of Israel Athens Ga/Pj Library | Athens, GA | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Congregation of Moses Mi | Kalamazoo, MI | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kol Rinah-Ca | Sacramento, CA | $700 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rocky Mountain Rabbin Cncl | Denver, CO | $600 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Virginia Tech Hillel | Blacksburg, VA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kehillah Richmond | Midlothian, VA | $400 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shir Tikvah | Troy, MI | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
37 of 105 (35%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 50%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 40 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30 | $348,250 | $2,750 |
| 2022 | 36 | $269,525 | $3,500 |
| 2023 | 35 | $310,117 | $4,000 |
| 2024 | 40 | $379,780 | $4,250 |
| 2025 | 37 | $425,748 | $5,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
37% of its giving went to organizations in New York. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $3,775. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in New York.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from National Center to Encourage's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 9821 La Duke Drive, Kensington, MD, 20895. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 52-1194529 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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