The Jewish Funders Network (JFN) and The Foundation for Jewish Camping are delighted to announce a new Matching Grants Initiative for Camper Incentives. The Foundation for Jewish Camping is generously providing up to $2,000,000 in capital in the form of matching funds for this initiative.

This initiative offers dollar-for-dollar matches for first-time (or 3 x increased) grants of $25,000 - $50,000 USD by Jewish Funders Network members to provide financial incentives to Jewish campers attending Jewish overnight summer camps for the first time.

Jewish summer camp can be a transformative experience for Jewish children by providing an intense but enjoyable Jewish experience in which they can bond with other Jewish youngsters and be influenced by Jewish tradition, ritual, and culture-all under the guidance of effective Jewish role models.

The Jewish Camper Incentive Programs Initiative offers donors an innovative and effective strategy to engage Jewish families in Jewish life.

Jewish families face an array of options when deciding how their kids will spend their summer months, with Jewish overnight camps but one opportunity among many. Financial incentive programs encourage Jewish families to choose Jewish nonprofit overnight summer camps by providing grants to first-time and returning second year campers, regardless of financial need. Incentive programs have proven effective at influencing a family’s choice, increasing the number of Jewish children who attend Jewish camp.

With new donor support, Jewish communities, federations, synagogues and overnight camps will be able to attract even more children to Jewish overnight camps for the first time.

• For Application Requirements and detailed Terms and Conditions, please read the Frequently Asked Questions and Eligibility document.

• Applications for matching grants must be submitted by the donor using our online application system. To apply for matching grants for your first-ever gift, please go to the Online Application.

• Download an Information Sheet with important details on how to prepare to submit an application.

        Donor Information Sheet

        Not-for-Profit Information Sheet

• To learn more about non-profit Jewish summer camps please visit the Foundation for Jewish Camping’s website at www.jewishcamping.org

• Camper incentive programs provide non-need based financial incentives to first-time (or returning second year) campers who are attending non-profit overnight Jewish summer camp, for a minimum of three weeks. Click HERE to view existing Camper Incentive programs.

Important Dates:

• Only grants made by donors after May 7th, 2007 will be eligible for matching funds.

• To be considered for funding, applications must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. EST on November 28th, 2007.

• Matching grant recipients and awards will be announced by JFN no later than March 1st, 2008.

• Donor grants must be received by the non-profit organization administering the incentive program by May 1st, 2008.

• For more information contact us at camping@jfunders.org.