New York, NY February 6, 2012 - The Natan Fund today announced $973,500 in 47 grants to 48 emerging nonprofits organizations and individuals in Jewish communities around the world. The 2012 grants reflect Natan members’ unwavering commitment to supporting innovative initiatives that are transforming 21st-century Jewish life. “In our ninth annual round of grants, Natan’s grantmaking has grown both broader and deeper,” said David Steinhardt, chair of Natan’s board of trustees. “Natan continually takes risks on new ideas, new people and new initiatives, while at the same time remaining committed to current grantees that are demonstrating success.” Natan received over 350 Letters of Inquiry in 2011 in nine discrete focus areas. Unlike most traditional grantmaking foundations, Natan is a … Continue Reading
Toward the Miraculous Future: A Chanukiya of Predictions for 2012
“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein “Daddy, how do we know it REALLY was a miracle, not just that somebody counted the oil the wrong way?" Morgan Cohen, age 9 For the serious adult student, Chanukah presents interesting questions about Jewish history, the challenge of heroic narrative and the complexities of a Jewish authority. But for a nine year old, a simple question belies its profound impact: was it really a miracle that the oil burned for eight nights? This question, asked last week by my daughter Morgan, has been burning in my head ever since, especially as I prepared my annual list of predictions for the coming year. In many ways, 2011 was a year filled with surprises that, despite the … Continue Reading
Increasing Supply, Not Only Demand
by Shawn Landres People sometimes ask me how Jumpstart balances what appear to be the competing dimensions of our work: global vs. local, research vs. advocacy, startups vs. the “establishment,” and, most fraught of all, funders vs. grantees. The thing is, we just don’t see our work that way. In our effort to help make Judaism & Jewish life vibrant and relevant, we know we gain strength and purpose by working together. Changemakers with shared visions shape the world with the tools they have available, whether those tools are financial or programmatic, operational or intellectual. I was struck by Yoni Gordis’s observation to a roundtable on innovation and philanthropy moderated by Seth Cohen, just published in the October 2011 issue of Sh’ma: “...We’ve done a great deal … Continue Reading
Young Funders: To Innovate or Not to Innovate: That Is the Question
by Erica Schacter Schwartz Is funding innovation economy-sensitive? Does it flourish during good times and wane during an economic downturn? Has the relationship between young funders and innovation been a mere fling that is likely to unravel from the pressures of a new economic reality? Based on conversations with some young funders and professional staff from across the Jewish philanthropic landscape, the answer appears to be “no.” The interest of young funders in innovation seems to be stronger and more long term than a fling. Through collective philanthropic funds, family foundations, and as individual donors, young funders who have pursued innovation during periods of economic growth have continued to pursue innovative projects and organizations during today’s more challenging … Continue Reading
What Will the Jewish Community Do?
by Ruthie Warshenbrot I was surprised and disappointed to hear of the recent closing of one of the Jewish community’s darling innovative organizations, JDub. I have great respect for my colleague Aaron Bisman, and have enjoyed watching JDub’s growth and reach over the past almost-decade of its existence. This big news makes me wonder how the organized Jewish community will react. I suspect that JDub’s closing will result in a flurry of reactions via social media, articles, op-eds, and even obituaries, potentially touching on the following topics: Was arts & culture programming actually a good entry-point to Jewish life, especially for young adults? Many studies emerged just as JDub was gaining popularity that supported its mission, almost verbatim and JDub’s own numbers in its … Continue Reading
Natan Fund Issues RFP for New Media Grants
The Natan Fund has announced a pilot round of New Media grants. Examples of new media include, but are not limited to, mobile applications, social networks, online games, interactive content and digital video and audio. (Applicants are encouraged to use existing technologies in new ways and do not need to develop new technology platforms.) You can download the New Media Request for Proposals and further instructions. Applications are due by 5pm ET on Thursday, June 30, 2011. … Continue Reading
Natan Fund Launches New Media Grant Area with Experiment in Crowdsourcing
With the goal of supporting cutting-edge projects that use new media, Natan is launching a New Media grant area. The grants will support cutting-edge projects that use new media to create new access points to Jewish life and learning, build Jewish communities, and/or inspire and enable people to be a part of Jewish life. In this pilot round of the New Media grants, Natan expects to give away at least $100,000 in grants ranging from $10,000 - $40,000. According to Felicia Herman, Natan's executive director, "We're excited to launch this new grant area with an experiment in crowdsourcing. In keeping with the ethos of the field, and inspired by calls for funders to “open up to new inputs” (as the Monitor Institute puts it in this report), Natan is opening up a draft of the … Continue Reading
Social Capital Keeps Jewish Startup Sector Forging Ahead
Despite the economic downturn and its effect on Jewish philanthropies and nonprofits, the number of new Jewish non-profit organizations continues to rise dramatically, today reaching more than 600 initiatives serving 630,000 people across North America. In addition to money - nearly $200 million per year flows to this startup sector each year - a robust portfolio of education, leadership and organizational development programs is powering the innovation sector and its leaders - and in turn, broadening the reach of their startup initiatives. These are the major findings of the 2010 Survey of New Jewish Initiatives in North America, a project of Jumpstart, The Natan Fund and The Samuel Bronfman Foundation. The survey is intended to help current and potential funders and nonprofit leaders make … Continue Reading
Natan Fund 2012 Grant Areas Open
Natan is now accepting Letters of Inquiry for its 2012 Grants in the areas of: Advancing Inclusiveness in the North American Jewish Community Economic Development in Israel Emerging Models of Jewish Connection in North America Jewish Peoplehood Letters of Inquiry are due at 3:00pm ET on Friday, April 15, 2011. The Request for Proposals (RFP) in each grant area is available on the Natan website, along with eligibility criteria. Within each RFP is a link to the application website. Please note as well: The most recent round of the Birthright Israel NEXT/Natan Grants for Social Entrepreneurs is also open, with proposals due May 6, 2011. Click here for more information and for application materials. In April 2011, Natan will open the application process for our newest grant … Continue Reading
Natan Annouces 2011 Grant Recipients
Natan has announced the awarding of over $950,000 to 47 emerging nonprofit organizations and individuals around the world that are working to strengthen the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Information on all of the 2011 Grants is available on the grants page of the Natan website. Natan has also announced three important changes to their grant areas for the 2012 Grants cycle: They are adding a new grant area, to support cutting-edge Jewish New Media projects. More information on the specific focus of that committee will be forthcoming soon. Gary Rosenblatt of The Jewish Week discussed the launch event for this new committee in his latest column. To augment the existing national Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grants for Social Entrepreneurs program, Natan is piloting a local … Continue Reading
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