# Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut

Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut is an Endowment / Foundation based in Southbury, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Southbury, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Southbury, CT, United States
- **Founded:** 1947
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.jfed.net
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/jewish-federation-of-western-connecticut

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Founded in 1947, the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization serving 44 municipalities from Litchfield County through Greater Waterbury. Executive Director Rabbi Paul F. Resnick guides an endowment and annual campaign that fund local agencies, synagogues, and schools through per-student stipends — while sending camperships and scholarships directly to families. The Federation's physical center is the Walzer Family Jewish Community Campus at 444 Main Street North in Southbury. The Federation allocates across three grant categories: local, educational, and international. Local grants fund food programs, winter clothing for children, and bereavement support services for individuals and families. Educational grants provide yearly stipends to both synagogue schools and day schools based on enrollment, alongside direct college scholarships and overnight summer camp scholarships. Internationally, the Federation maintains a targeted partnership with the Afula-Gilboa region in northeastern Israel, funding economic development and relief efforts. Domestic partners include the Harold Grinspoon Foundation's PJ Library program, and the Federation holds membership in the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) network. The Federation's professional leadership includes Roy Walzer, Vice President and primary benefactor of the Walzer Family Jewish Community Campus, whose personal assets include a biotech portfolio and a collection of vintage Porsches alongside a Williams FW07/D Formula 1 car. Former Executive Director Gary Jones, a Connecticut attorney, previously held the top staff role. July 2025: The Federation amplified a humanitarian aid package approved by Israel for Ukraine, signaling ongoing international programming alignment. The Federation converts annual campaign proceeds into direct distributions without an intermediary fund-of-funds layer, making it a hybrid community foundation and grantmaking endowment with a defined geographic mandate. Its structural distinction lies in combining Jewish community voice functions with explicit investment in facilities — notably the Walzer Family campus — rather than operating as a pure pass-through grantmaker.

## Sectors

- Education
- Community Building
- Philanthropy
- Hunger & Shelter Relief

## People

- Roy Walzer — Vice President and Primary Benefactor of the Walzer Family Jewish Community Campus
- Rabbi Paul F. Resnick — Executive Director
- Gary Jones — Former Executive Director

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut?

The Federation does not publicly disclose an investment committee roster. Vice President Roy Walzer brings personal biotech-investing experience, but the entity functions as a grantmaking foundation rather than a dedicated fund manager, so investment decision-making processes are not public.

### How does the Federation source the organizations it funds?

It funds a defined geographic community: 44 municipalities in Western and Northwestern Connecticut plus a specific partnership region, Afula-Gilboa in Israel. Grant applications for local, educational, and international programs are accepted via its website, with published deadlines for college scholarships, Israel scholarships, and camperships.

### Where does the Federation's endowment funding come from?

Funding derives from community donations to its annual campaign, alongside specific benefactors — most notably Roy Walzer, who funded the Walzer Family Jewish Community Campus. Named philanthropic vehicles such as the Jeffrey & Carol Philanthropic Fund also contribute.

### What is the Federation's relationship with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation?

The Federation partners with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation as a co-investor in the PJ Library program, which delivers Jewish-themed children's books to families at no cost. This is a programmatic partnership, not a pooled investment vehicle.

### Who sits on the professional leadership team?

Rabbi Paul F. Resnick serves as Executive Director. Roy Walzer serves as Vice President and the primary benefactor behind the Federation's physical campus. Gary Jones, a prominent Connecticut attorney, is the former Executive Director.

## Related profiles

- [Jensen Investment Management](https://altss.com/profile/jensen-investment-management)
- [JGC Wealth Management](https://altss.com/profile/jgc-wealth-management)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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