Foundation For Jewish Camp Inc

TO BUILD A STRONG JEWISH FUTURE THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE JEWISH SUMMERS.

COVID EMERGENCY GRANTS - WITH SUPPORT FROM ITS PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS, FJC OFFERED EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANTS TO OVERNIGHT CAMPS STARTING IN THE SPRING 2020 AND CONTINUING THROUGH 2021. THESE GRANTS WERE IN RESPONSE TO FINANCIAL LOSSES RESULTING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. DURING 2021, FJC WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE $2.5 MILLION OF MUCH NEEDED FUNDS TO 12 OVERNIGHT CAMPS. IN ADDITION, FJC OFFERED CAPACITY EXPANSION GRANTS OF $3.6 MILLION TO 50 CAMPS TO ENABLE THEM TO ACCOMMODATE OVER 3,500 ADDITIONAL CAMPERS (THROUGH TEMPORARY STRUCTURES OR ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING STRUCTURES) IN THE SUMMER OF 2021.

YASHAR - THE YASHAR INITIATIVE IS A $12 MILLION MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY THE HARRY AND JEANETTE WEINBERG FOUNDATION. THE GOAL OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY FOR CAMPERS AND STAFF WITH DISABILITIES AT JEWISH SUMMER DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS. ACCORDING TO A 2013 FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMP SURVEY, CAMP PROFESSIONALS HIGHLIGHTED TWO AREAS, AMONG OTHERS, IN WHICH THEY REQUIRED SUPPORT TO BETTER SERVE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES: THEIR NEED FOR FUNDING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY, AND TRAINING FOR STAFF. THIS INITIATIVE PROVIDES DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS WITH ESSENTIAL SUPPORT IN BOTH OF THESE AREAS, AND PROVIDES FUNDING FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, STAFF TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND EVALUATION. THE FIRST ROUND OF GRANT APPLICATIONS OPENED IN WINTER 2018, WITH 16 CAMPS RECEIVING GRANTS IN MARCH 2019. THE SECOND ROUND OF GRANT APPLICATIONS OPENED IN FALL 2019, WITH 15 CAMPS RECEIVING GRANTS IN JANUARY 2020. THE THIRD ROUND OF GRANT APPLICATIONS OPENED IN SUMMER 2020 AND WE OFFERED TWO DEADLINES DUES TO THE IMPACT OF COVID. THE FIRST DEADLINE WAS IN FALL 2020 AND THE SECOND WAS JANUARY 2021. THROUGH BOTH DEADLINES, 13 CAMPS RECEIVED GRANTS. EACH CAMP RECEIVED A CAPITAL GRANT RANGING IN VALUE FROM $25,000 TO $300,000 IN ADDITION TO A CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANT RANGING IN VALUE FROM $20,000 TO $30,000. CAMPS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO ATTEND SEVERAL TRAININGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SPECIALTY CAMPS INCUBATOR III - THE JIM JOSEPH FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AVI CHAI FOUNDATION APPROVED FUNDING FOR 5 NEW SPECIALTY CAMPS IN MARCH 2016 FOR A TOTAL OF $11.7 MILLION. PRIOR TO THE LAUNCH, IN NOVEMBER 2016, THE TWO FOUNDATIONS PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION GRANT TO ADMIT A SIXTH CAMP. DURING 2021, THE INCUBATOR III PROGRAM INCLUDED: ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING, CONSULTING SUPPORT FROM BOTH FIELD OPERATIONS DIRECTORS AND THE JEWISH EDUCATOR AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, COVERING ALL AREAS OF CAMP OPERATIONS, INCLUDING RECRUITMENT, MARKETING, FINANCE AND BUDGET, PROGRAM DESIGN, STAFF TRAINING, AND JEWISH LIFE. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE SIX CAMPS WERE UNABLE TO OPEN FOR THEIR THIRD SUMMER IN 2020. GIVEN THIS, THE JIM JOSEPH FOUNDATION ALLOCATED $985,000 OF THE REMAINING INCUBATOR BUDGET TO GRANT AN EXTENSION FOR CONTINUED CAMP SUPPORT AND CAMP FUNDING THROUGH 2021. THE EXTENSION GRANT CONCLUDED ON OCTOBER 31, 2021. TWO CAMPS - EDEN VILLAGE WEST AND URJ CREATIVE ARTS ACADEMY RECEIVED THE UNSPENT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE EXTENSION.