Through AJWS, your tzedakah builds momentum for powerful movements for justice.
In 2018...
85¢ of every dollar
went to our programs to build a better world.
$30 million*
invested to advance human rights and end poverty in developing countries.
$390 million
granted cumulatively to thousands of social change organizations since our founding in 1985.
*$15.3 million in additional grants were made through a donor-advised fund to organizations promoting human rights globally.
In 2018, AJWS supported 453 social change organizations fighting poverty and promoting human rights.
Together, they’re changing millions of lives.
AJWS met the challenges of 2018 by focusing deeply on four key issues:
AJWS helps organizations grow, form alliances, and build strong movements for justice.
of our grantees are new organizations founded within 5 years of their first AJWS grant.
of our 24 in-country experts provide our grantees with capacity-building support to develop their leadership, infrastructure, programs and more.
of our grantees engage in advocacy to advance laws and policies to promote human rights.
of our grantees are members of networks or coalitions that work together to effect more change.
In 2017 and 2018, AJWS grantees and the movements they’re part of have helped shape laws, policies and precedent-setting court cases to protect human rights locally, regionally and nationally.
Guatemala
Court finally serves justice for victims of Guatemala’s forced disappearances, convicting military officers of crimes against humanity
Impact: Brings hope to hundreds of thousands of families yearning for justice
El Salvador
Salvadoran government bans metallic mining
Impact: Water free from cyanide for 6.3 million Salvadorans
Kenya
African court sides with indigenous people over logging industry, preserving ancient forest
Impact: 35,000 Ogiek Kenyans reclaim their land
India
Anti-gay law overturned in India
Impact: Victory for all LGBTI Indians in a population of 1.3 billion
Kenya
Kenyan court rules that multi-billion dollar oil project must mitigate environmental harm
Impact: Reparations paid to 4,600 villagers whose land was harmed; mitigation efforts will potentially affect millions in the future
India
Indian court overturns Muslim law that allowed husbands to divorce their wives simply by saying “divorce”
Impact: 90 million Muslim women in India gain greater agency over a key life decision
Disaster & humanitarian response around the world in 2018
Rohingya genocide
Burma, Bangladesh
East Africa Hunger Crisis
South Sudan,
Kenya, Uganda
Earthquakes
Nepal, Mexico
Flooding and Landslides
Democratic
Republic of Congo, India, Sri Lanka
Hurricane Matthew
Haiti
AJWS is working to advance gender equality and end child marriage in India. We’re investing in communities, advocacy and research to change harmful social norms, so women and girls can make their own choices and pursue their goals.
In 2018, AJWS supported:
AJWS unites the power of 170,000 supporters from all 50 states and around the world. Adding up the impact of our community—from the young professionals of Global Circle to the legacy donors who support our work in perpetuity through planned giving—we are changing millions of lives together.
Jewish Engagement for Justice
1,800 Rabbis in our clergy network
15 Global Justice Fellows—rabbis honing their leadership for social change
413 Alumni of the fellowship fostering activism from pulpits and communities across the U.S.
200,000+ Downloads of our Haggadah and other Jewish social justice resources
“Four stars”
by Charity Navigator for 16 years
All 20
of Better Business Bureau’s standards for charity accountability
“A" Rating
by CharityWatch (formerly American Institute of Philanthropy) since 2004
Award:
“2017 Email Fundraising Appeal of the Year” by Direct Marketing Fundraiser’s Association