UJA-Federation of New York
New York's central Jewish federation, the largest local federation in North America, formed by the 1986 UJA-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies merger. Raised $316.1 million in FY2025 and allocated over $320 million to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. CEO Eric Goldstein (since 2014) is stepping down June 30, 2026; President Linda Mirels and Board Chair Marc Rowan lead the search for his successor.
UJA-Federation of New York is the New York metropolitan area's central Jewish federation and the largest local Jewish federation in North America. A core node inside the Jewish Federations of North America network, UJA-Federation raised $316.1 million in fiscal year 2025 and has allocated more than $320 million to Israel since October 7, 2023, making it one of the first and largest philanthropic funders of Israel's post-war recovery.
How Did UJA-Federation Form?
UJA-Federation of New York emerged from the 1986 merger of the United Jewish Appeal and the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, combining the region's federation function, coordinating Jewish communal services, education and emergency response across the metropolitan area, with one of the largest North American diaspora-philanthropy fundraising platforms.
How Much Has UJA-Federation Raised Recently?
In fiscal year 2025, UJA-Federation raised a total of $316.1 million: $258.1 million through its Annual Campaign, including $203.0 million tied to Israel emergency giving, $36.9 million in planned giving and endowments, and $21.1 million in capital gifts and special initiatives, against total grant expense of $275.8 million. That followed an exceptional fiscal year 2024, when the federation raised $445.4 million, including $40.4 million in planned giving and endowments, and disbursed $263.5 million in grants, reflecting the surge in emergency giving that followed the October 7, 2023 attacks. Across his tenure, outgoing CEO Eric Goldstein's leadership helped the federation raise a cumulative $2.8 billion.
Who Leads UJA-Federation?
Eric S. Goldstein became CEO on July 1, 2014 and announced in July 2025 that he would step down at the end of fiscal year 2026, on June 30, 2026, after 12 years leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the aftermath of October 7, and Israel's 12-day war with Iran. Linda Mirels serves as president, having been appointed July 1, 2023, and Marc Rowan chairs the board; Mirels is leading the search committee for Goldstein's successor. During Goldstein's tenure, UJA created its Community Security Initiative in 2019, which now employs more than 20 people and has helped secure over 3,400 Jewish institutions in New York and beyond.
Where Does the Money Go?
UJA-Federation's allocation pool flows to Israeli organizations and agencies inside the broader Jewish Agency for Israel network, JDC programs internationally, and a substantial local New York-area portfolio covering Jewish education, day schools, camping, poverty relief and services for vulnerable New Yorkers. In the most recent reporting year cited in federation leadership statements, UJA distributed $336 million for grants and programs, including approximately $134 million directed to Israel.
Read Next in The Olam
- JFNA — Jewish Federations of North America, the umbrella network
- Annual Campaign · Federation Campaign · Overseas Allocation — The campaign and allocation mechanics
- The Jewish Agency for Israel · JDC · Keren Hayesod — Principal Israeli and global recipient bodies
- Mega-Donor · Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) — Adjacent philanthropic vehicles