Jim Joseph Foundation Announces $3,613,000 in New Grants to Create More Jewish Learning Experiences and to Support Jewish Educators

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The San Francisco-based Jim Joseph Foundation, which seeks to foster compelling and effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews in the United States, announced today that up to $3,613,000 were awarded at its June 23 – 24, 2013 Board of Directors meeting. Grantees included George Washington University, Regents of the University of California at Berkeley, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies North America, and the Institute of Southern Jewish Life.

Established in 2006, the Foundation awards grants within three strategic priorities: 1) Increase the number and quality of Jewish educators; 2) Expand Effective Jewish Learning for Youth and Young Adults; and 3) Build a Strong Field of Jewish Education. A full breakdown – based on these and other categories – of the Foundation’s more than $270 million in grants can be found in its portfolio analysis.

Details of new grants awarded:

George Washington University: Experiential Education and Jewish Cultural Arts: A New Program to Prepare Educators
Total Awarded: Up to $1,475,000 over six years
Purpose: To support the launch of the first phase of a new dual degree graduate program that combines experiential education with Masters of Arts (MA) in Museum Education and Jewish Cultural Arts dual degrees.

Regents of the University of California at Berkeley: Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israeli Law, Economy and Society
Total Awarded: Up to $1,200,000 over five years
Purpose: To support UC Berkeley’s Institute for Jewish Law and Israeli Law, Economy and Society, specifically programmatic activities on campus and provide capacity support to transition the Institute from a start-up initiative to a permanent institution on the Berkeley campus

Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies North America Inc: Bridge Funding and Business Planning
Total Awarded: Up to $548,000 over one year (total from previous Foundation grants is up to $3,108,615)
Purpose: To support the Pardes Educators Alumni Support Program, which provides a network, educational resources, ongoing training, and one-on-one support to graduates of the Pardes Educators Program

Institute of Southern Jewish Life, Inc.: Support for the Institute of Southern Jewish Life Education Fellowship
Total Awarded: Up to $250,000 over two years
Purpose: To support salaries, benefits, professional development, and other expenses of the Institute of Southern   Jewish Life Education Fellowship program

Says Al Levitt, president of the Jim Joseph Foundation, “Each grantee is helping to create a future that includes vibrant Jewish living and learning in communities across the country. For this to become a reality, communities need dynamic educators and a range of effective Jewish learning opportunities. These institutions, through their efforts in a variety of educational settings, are true partners in our efforts to achieve these goals. We are excited to work with them to engage, educate, and inspire more Jewish youth and young adults.”

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By investing in promising Jewish education grant initiatives, the Jim Joseph Foundation seeks to foster compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews in the United States. Established in 2006, the Jim Joseph Foundation has awarded more than $270 million in grants to engage, educate, and inspire young Jewish minds to discover the joy of living vibrant Jewish lives. www.jimjosephfoundation.org