Kehilla, Hebrew for community, is at the heart of our work. Our grantmaking has always focused on supporting and strengthening the Jewish community, at home and in Israel. In the wake of the attacks on October 7—and during the holiday season—we encourage everyone to connect with and lean on their community, and Koret could not be prouder of our kehilla.

As a new school year begins, Koret is inspired by the work of our education and civics grantees, whose passion and drive for change push them to continually discover new opportunities for growth and better serve the next generation.

Seventy-five years ago this past month, the modern state of Israel was born. In the decades that followed, the resilience and ingenuity of the Israeli people has inspired. Since the foundation’s inception, Koret has supported Israel in a variety of ways. Today, Koret’s efforts are focused on strengthening the bonds of the Jewish people and supporting the U.S. – Israel relationship.

Koret has announced $6M in new grants to support local arts and cultural organizations over the next three years. More than 40 such institutions will benefit from Koret’s investment in the next generation of artists, audiences, and patrons.

Koret recently renewed its commitment to local veterans with a $1.5 million investment in the Koret Veterans Initiative over three years. First launched in 2019, this initiative helps Bay Area veterans address barriers to success.

An educated citizenry is key to a well-functioning democracy. Only through robust civic education can we ensure a stable, democratic future. That’s why Koret launched a $3.7 million Civic Learning Initiative to ensure that K-12 civic education across the Bay Area is engaging, robust and impactful.

Over the past nearly two years, COVID-19 taught us many lessons about what really matters. Among them was how vital it is to have access to high-quality local arts and cultural programming. Across the Bay Area, concert halls, art galleries, and exhibition spaces were the first to shutter in March 2020, and many of them remained closed well into 2021. But now, as the Bay Area continues to reopen, the art world is poised to make a comeback.

Over the past nearly two years, COVID-19 taught us many lessons about what really matters. Among them was how vital it is to have access to high-quality local arts and cultural programming. Across the Bay Area, concert halls, art galleries, and exhibition spaces were the first to shutter in March 2020, and many of them remained closed well into 2021. But now, as the Bay Area continues to reopen, the art world is poised to make a comeback.

The Koret Foundation is committed to supporting a strong US-Israel relationship, and one way we do this is by funding research collaborations between top Israeli and US academic institutions.

2020 was a challenging year and clearly not what anyone expected, and yet we have been inspired by the ingenuity and strength of our grantees, who have risen to the occasion and found new and expanded ways of serving the community.

As we enter the holiday season, we are reminded of the importance of caring for our community members who are most in need. The Koret Food Program is one of the Foundation’s longest-standing initiatives. Since 1981, we have provided more than $11 million in grants to 24 Bay Area nonprofits that offer food, support, and basic necessities to the most vulnerable in our community.

The Koret Foundation seeks to strengthen the US-Israel relationship through bridge-building activities, including academic collaborations, trips to Israel, leadership development, and education programs. One of the signature grants in this portfolio is to Shalem College in Israel for the Koret Jewish Peoplehood Project.