We are delighted to publish “Participatory Grantmaking in the Jewish Community and Beyond” as part of our Guides for Intelligent Giving series.

Authored by Third Plateau Social Impact Strategies and funded by Crown Family Philanthropies, the new guide offers a comprehensive look at participatory grantmaking (PGM), a practice that seeks to make philanthropy more inclusive of and responsive to the needs of communities being funded. JFN’s new guide details the philosophy, mechanics, and benefits and dilemmas of PGM, exploring its relevance for all grantmakers, with a particular focus on its potential role in Jewish philanthropy. It also offers cases studies, as well as extensive resources for those considering incorporating elements of PGM into their work.

Watch "Participatory Grantmaking in Action"

Watch "Exploring Participatory Grantmaking in the Jewish Community"

Authored by JFN member and impact investor Michael Lustig, this is the first-ever guide to Jewish impact investing, investment in ventures that aim to be financially profitable while also achieving specific social or environmental goals.

This free, downloadable guide provides a brief overview of impact investing concepts and defines and characterizes what makes Jewish impact investing unique. The guide, part of JFN's Guidebooks for Intelligent Giving series, also features illustrative case studies and a list (one that will be updated on an ongoing basis) of various Jewish impact investing resources and specific investment options.

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Listen to a podcast about impact investing

Thousands of young adults in Israel lack a family support network. When young Israeli adults from dysfunctional or struggling families, or those who have been in State boarding schools or foster care, reach the age of 18, they become adults by law and are expected to integrate into society on their own. Without further support, they face steep odds against breaking the cycle of poverty and achieving their potential.

This guidebook explores the tremendous potential of an educated philanthropic investment in the arts as an engine for social change in Israel.

Greenbook Volume 4 aims to inform the vital conversation about the role of Jewish overnight camps in fostering Jewish identity and commitment.

Investing in the environment is no longer about nature conservation alone, but more broadly about investing in social justice, equality, education, and societal-environmental health.

Hitchadshut Yehudit (Jewish Renewal) refers to programs that offer Jewish Israelis opportunities for learning, cultural expression, identity exploration, spirituality and prayer, and social action. All are explicitly based on Jewish values, texts and traditions, and infused with pluralism and autonomy.  

The first Greenbook is “Jewish Day School Financial Sustainability and Affordability: A Guide for Funders,” by Daniel M. Held, a doctoral student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. It was reviewed by an advisory group of active day school funders.