Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) is now accepting proposals for a second round of the Competitive Edge program. This initiative provides capital investment and training support to a cohort of up to five Jewish overnight camps to plan and implement new specialty tracks in their traditional camps to launch in summer 2022. Grants will provide capital investment to build or upgrade program facilities and equipment, increase staff capacity, along with workshops to develop cutting-edge programs, refine marketing and recruitment strategies. The Gottesman Fund has generously renewed their commitment to Competitive Edge with a new $1.2 million grant.

The lack of Jewish specialty options has driven many parents and their children to choose from among the many available secular summer programs, rather than attend a Jewish camp. Through Competitive Edge, Jewish camps will offer innovative specialty programs (intensive tracks or a “camp within a camp”), enabling them to successfully recruit and retain new campers who may have otherwise pursued secular summer experiences. These new tracks will provide high-level skill building in a multitude of areas – such as culinary arts, game design, surfing, arts, music, or robotics – within a camp’s existing program.

Proposals will be accepted from camps across North America through April 27, 2020. For application instructions, visit https://jewishcamp.org/the-competitive-edge/.

Founded in 1965, The Gottesman Fund is managed by members of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman family and is dedicated to enhancing and perpetuating Jewish life in the United States, providing significant support to domestic medical, educational and cultural institutions, and supporting projects in Israel which improve the quality of life for its visitors and residents.