Chances are that your non-profit or community organization have a real fighting chance at applying for and being awarded grant money to help a) UNDERWRITE your new website or “online or digital marketing” campaigns; b) DEPLOY community engagement programs that seek to get youth or underprivileged audiences into the fold; c) DEVELOP new education-based platforms and curriculum ranging; d) CREATE new business models for leadership development and organizational structure, business plans, strategic planning and more; and the list goes on. SO… go do your research. Let us know how we can help. To get you started see some of the below resources.

FEDERATION CASH GRANTS

http://www.jewishla.org/pages/federal-cash-grants As part of its response to the economic recession, The Jewish Federation created an Emergency Cash Grants Program to provide grants to Jewish families in Los Angeles in urgent need of financial support. Grant funding is being provided via Jewish program partners to Jewish individuals and families in financial need who as a result of changed circumstances due to the economy face an urgent crisis. If you are in need of a grant, please contact one of the organizations listed below who will guide you through this process (you cannot apply to the Federation directly for this grant). This program has been seeded with money from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles and the Federation. Grant applicants should contact: JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE’S CENTRAL ACCESS 1-877-275-4537 (which can also provide resources, referrals and guidance on financial assistance) In addition, the following organizations accept applicants who are current or potential clients only:

• Beit T’Shuvah
• Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters LA
• Jewish Free Loan Association
• Jewish Vocational Service
• Milken JCC
• Tomchei Shabbos

You may also contact your rabbi at a Board of Rabbis of Southern California affiliated synagogue. If you are a Jewish organization that would like to participate in this program, please emailfedcashgrants@jewishla.org.

Small Grants + Collaborative Programs = Impact: NEI

Jan 29, 2013 | Esther Kustanowitz, Program Coordinator, NEI http://www.jewishla.org/blog/entry/small-grants-collaborative-programs-impact-nei-microgrants/ When you first hear the name “NextGen Engagement Initiative” you might assume that this program is like many other community programs designed to engage Jewish young adults – involving massive parties, or gatherings around Jewish food, holidays and culture. But NEI is something different. It operates on a more “micro” level, strengthening a population that’s classically underserved – Jewish professionals who are working in smaller community organizations to engage L.A. Jews in their 20s and 30s. Through NEI, a partnership between The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles through their Cutting Edge grants program, our Federation convenes a network that meets regularly – in-person and virtually – for peer support, expert guidance and professional development. Part of this small-but-mighty program is the NEI Microgrants initiative. Running since 2009, NEI Microgrants have provided small grants ($1-5K) for programs ranging from Chanukah parties to a food justice lecture series. Only NEI network members in-good-standing are permitted to apply, and programs must represent collaborations or partnerships between two or more NEI network organizations. (Once that requirement is met, the program’s partners may, and are encouraged to, collaborate with organizations outside the network.) NEI Microgrants are sponsoring the following programs in 2013:

• Artists’ Community Retreat (LimmudLA, partnering with Six Points Fellowship, East Side Jews, Silverlake Independent JCC, NuArt, JQ International and Reboot) – A retreat on the East Side of Los Angeles to gather those who are involved in Jewish arts and culture work for networking and focused discussion. (held January 2013)
• SEDER Art Microgrant Initiative (NuArt, Federation’s Birthright Israel Experience, and others TBD) – A meal-based initiative committed to creating a path for rethinking how contemporary Jewish art and culture is financed and experienced communally. Participants come for a meal and presentations by Jewish artists, vote on their favorites, and the winning artist receives a microgrant of funds generated by the admission price.
• Shul Crawl (Silverlake Independent JCC/East Side Jews and 9 local synagogues) – A series of organized outings to different area synagogues. Participants will also be provided with a specially-designed program packet of materials about Jewish customs.
• LGBT and Ally Birthright Trip, Summer 2013 (JQ International and Birthright Israel) – The first Federation-sponsored Birthright Israel trip designed for GLBTQ and allies. This grant supports targeted marketing and student internships to recruit for and to promote the trip.
• Jewish Film Festival (Sinai Temple-ATID and American Friends of Tel Aviv University) – Programming at the Jewish Film Festival targeting young adults, including a special workshop with invited industry speakers.

The message of the NEI Microgrants initiative, as well as the NEI network as a whole, is that we are stronger together than we are independently, and that each individual in this crowd of professionals has wisdom and experience to share that can strengthen individual and collective efforts and help us work through our challenges. By knowing each others’ faces, projects and passions, we are inspired to collaborate and feel the support of community. NEI is part of The Jewish Federation’s commitment to engaging young adults in ways that are relevant, innovative and meaningful.  If you are a Jewish professional whose work centers on 20s and 30s engagement in Los Angeles and would like to learn more about NEI, contact NEI@JewishLA.org. ######

LOOKING FOR FUNDING

Mar 14, 2012 | The Wire http://www.jewishla.org/blog/entry/looking-for-funding The Jewish Venture Philanthropy Fund-Los Angeles (JVPF), in collaboration with The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, is pleased to announce its 2012 (Round X) Request for Proposals. JVPF is a group of individuals who have pooled their financial resources and business planning skills to fund and support new and innovative programs that are consistent with Jewish values. JVPF places a special emphasis on incorporating business principles and ensuring the sustainability of the organizations it funds. Grants range from $20,000 – $150,000 and are typically paid out over two to three years. JVPF expects to make grants during the 2012 cycle totaling approximately $250,000. Submissions are due by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 and should be submitted electronically toJVPF@JewishLA.org. For more detailed information, please click here to download a pdf document with our Background, Criteria, and Guidelines for submission as well as a cover sheet and click here for a list of Frequently Asked Questions. For more information on JVPF, visit www.jvpf-la.org. If you have further questions about the Jewish Venture Philanthropy Fund, please contact Scott Minkow at SMinkow@JewishLA.org or call (323) 761-8326. ##### http://www.jewishfoundationla.org/grants

Overview

Grantmaking is the heart of what we do. For nearly 60 years The Foundation and its donors have provided grants to programs and institutions, both Jewish and in the community at large, locally and around the world. In spite of difficult economic conditions, The Foundation and its donors distributed $54 million in grants in 2011.

Grantmaking activities include:

Donor Recommended Grants

When donors establish a Family Support Organization or Donor Advised Fund at The Foundation, they are able to recommend grants directly to the organizations and programs they wish to support. Donors can recommend grants to virtually any nonprofit organization. They may also view a list of programs we’ve supported in the past.

Community Grants

The Foundation offers various types of competitive grants to nonprofit organizations on both an annual and biennial cycle. Social entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations interested in applying are asked to participate in a rigorous application process. Grantseekers will find detailed information and guidelines in each of these grant categories Cutting Edge Grants,General Community Grants, Israel Grants and Capital Grants. Additionally, The Foundation provides a number of Special Grants each year. These grants enable The Foundation to support important community projects and fulfill endowment restrictions. ######

Foundation Strategy

Primary Strategic Focus The Jim Joseph Foundation’s strategic grantmaking is based on the following interests and beliefs:

• Strong support for excellence in the education of Jewish youth and young adults in the United States throughout critical stages of their development.
• Highly qualified Jewish educators are essential to the success of most Jewish learning experiences.
• A broad definition of educators, including day and congregational school teachers and heads of school; camp counselors and directors; pre-school teachers; family educators; parents; rabbis; youth group workers, among others.
• Increasing the number of exceptionally well trained, Jewishly literate educators who are committed to continuous learning and dedicated to the profession.
• The importance of building upon the strength of existing programs of education, in addition to encouraging innovative approaches to Jewish learning.
• Supporting efforts that develop professional, peer, and youth leadership.

The Foundation focused on ages 13 – 23 in its initial years of grantmaking, concentrating on the greater metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Washington D.C. It has since expanded its grantmaking interests to organizations supporting so-called “emerging adults,” ages 23-30. While focusing on national initiatives, the Foundation continues to look especially carefully at funding opportunities in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Related Strategic Focus The balance of approximately 40% of the Foundation’s annual grantmaking for Jewish learning is not limited to, but may include:

• Grants made in partnership with other funders enabling the Foundation to help realize its vision through leveraging its resources.
• Grants as investments in research and development that will inform the Foundation’s ongoing philanthropic practice and contribute to learning in the field.
• Grants for seed funding of novel, innovative projects furthering the Foundation’s mission.

The Jim Joseph Foundation invests in promising Jewish education grant initiatives. We partner with effective organizations that seek to inspire young people to discover the joy of living vibrant Jewish lives. ######

COLLEGE CAMPUS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT GRANTS

Dec 04, 2012 | David Harris, Campus Activities Coordinator http://www.jewishla.org/blog/entry/college-campus-student-engagement-grants-for-2012-2013/ College campuses are places of great opportunity for young Jews, but also present substantial challenges to Jewish identity and engagement. Our College Campus Activities Committee, a group of committed lay leaders from The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, is charged with examining how Jewish students are impacted by Jewish life on campus. For the last two years, our College Campus Activities Committee, Chaired by Virginia Maas, collaborated with Federation professionals to develop a Student Engagement Grant initiative designed to support individuals or organizations committed to working to strengthen Jewish campus life. During the grant cycle, the committee focused on drawing applications from organizations in which our Federation did not have previous campus-based relationships, as well as renewing grants from past recipients – a strategy which yielded a batch of 46 proposals. After much consideration, we made some difficult decisions and funded 15 programs for 2012-2013 –representing four new organizations, six returning organizations and nine campuses.

We are proud to announce the 2012-2013 Grantees*:

• Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity – CEO Roundtable
• Chabad at USC – Birthright Follow-up Initiative
• Hillel 818 – F.A.C.E. Internship, L’chaim Tovim
• Hillel at UCSB – LEAP Student Leadership Development
• Loyola Marymount Hillel –Student Engagement Fellows
• Fowler Museum at UCLA – Lights and Shadows exhibition
• UCLA Center for Jewish Studies – Service Learning Course in Applied Jewish Studies
• Hillel at Santa Monica College – Students Making Change Hillel Internship
• Hillel at UCLA – Social Justice Initiative 2012-13, Jewish Medical Student Network
• USC Hillel – Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative, Spirituality/Sexuality Retreat and Follow-up Programs, and African-American Jewish Engagement Initiative
• Tzofim (Israel Scouts)/JAFI – Mishelanu

* Some organizations had multiple programs funded by our committee The Jewish professionals on college campuses face many challenges in their work. By providing these programming grants to campus professionals, we hope to expand the reach and scope of the opportunities these organizations give to their students and communities. For more information on how our Federation supports Jewish life on campus, contact David Harris, Campus Activities Coordinator, at DHarris@JewishLA.org, or click here to view our available campus activites.