Jewish Helping Hands 2023-2024 Tikkun Olam Grant program

Every act of tikkun olam—of repairing the world—is a spark that will light the way for the future.

Jewish Helping Hands launched its Tikkun Olam Grant program in 2012 to advance our goal of inspiring and supporting tzedakah, justice and righteousness, throughout the world.  Our goal is to help vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad through a variety of programs focused on economic development and social empowerment, with a particular focus on those demographics that have been overlooked and/or marginalized.

In cooperation with local communities, JHH supports programs that are sustainable and scalable through financial and hands-on support. Our objective is to promote organizations and projects that will make a tangible and lasting difference in the lives of the populations they serve. With each of our grants, JHH also intends to share its experience and expertise, so as to help further our joint mission.

• Table of Content
• About Jewish Helping Hands
• Jewish Helping Hands Tikkun Olam Grant program
• Aim and Benefits of Jewish Helping Hands Tikkun Olam Grant program
• Requirements for Jewish Helping Hands Tikkun Olam Grant program Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Jewish Helping Hands

Jewish Helping Hands reaches out to needy and vulnerable populations, sponsoring projects that make a difference where help is most needed. Working both in the United States and abroad, JHH projects provide ground-level financial and hands-on support, in an effort to meet the basic necessities of a decent life. In each community where JHH works, local residents determine what would be most helpful. JHH works by supporting projects that make a tangible, substantial difference in the lives of people in need. These projects are accomplished with modest resources—both human and financi... continue reading

Jewish Helping Hands Tikkun Olam Grant program

Aim and Benefits of Jewish Helping Hands Tikkun Olam Grant program

Tikkun Olam Grants are awarded annually. A typical grant award may be up to $5,000. Grant recipients may reapply to have their grants renewed. Organizations can apply for additional grants for new projects.

Requirements for Jewish Helping Hands Tikkun Olam Grant program Qualification

JHH values programs and projects that aim to bring about positive change for groups of all backgrounds and religious affiliations.

JHH will consider making grants to individuals or organizations that show clear promise to achieve one or both of the following:

• Respond to unmet needs of those who are poor and/or marginalized

• Promote self-help and empowerment within communities

JHH does NOT make grants to capital, building, or political campaigns, fellowships, or programs administered by for-profit entities.  JHH grants CANNOT be used to subsidize administrative salaries or expenses, as we require 100% of all grants to be used for the intended program. Additionally, JHH grants CANNOT be used to subsidized conference fees, expenses, or travel.

In the 2023/2024 Grant Cycle, we are focusing primarily on projects that provide the basic necessities for a decent life:

• Women’s Empowerment

• Education

• Food

• Shelter

• Clothing

• Water

• Health

• Internet Connectivity

• Gender Equity

We are also focusing especially on projects in these areas:

• East Africa

• Central America

• North America

• Any Impoverished Jewish Communities

• Israel

Potential partners are those who look to take on what may appear to be intractable problems, to address the needs of overlooked or ignored populations, and to use their creativity and personal commitment to find solutions where others may be convinced there are none. We seek partners who will continue to persevere and continue to help people in need.

At JHH, we look to support those who will create partnerships with other organizations and local populations to enlarge the circle of involvement and inclusiveness.  Effective applicants will show respect for the opinions and ideas of others, and will work to draw them in to the circle of concern.

JHH especially seeks to partner with grassroots organizations who utilize resources local to their communities especially when those projects support the safety and health of the community members.

To ensure that our funding makes the most impact, JHH will give preference to organizations with smaller budgets (operating budgets under $750k dollars) and projects that would otherwise not be possible without our assistance.

WHO SHOULDN’T APPLY FOR A TIKKUN OLAM GRANT?

JHH will NOT support overhead or administrative salaries and expenses.

JHH will NOT make grants to capital, building, or political campaigns, scholarships, fellowships, or programs administered by for-profit entities, or micro-loan programs.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Step One: (to be completed by September 13, 2023)

Please submit the initial inquiry form

Grant Inquiry Form

Step Two: (to be completed by December 5, 2023)

Selected organizations will be notified by November 7th, 2023. If your organization is selected, you will be invited to submit a Full Application. 

We may bee unable to notify those organizations not chosen.

The Full Application should begin with a Letter of Application (LOA) not exceeding 3 pages in length.  The LOA should describe the needs to be met, the objective of the program or project, the proposed methodology of the program or project, and the expected impact (i.e., the number of people to be impacted/areas to be served.)  The LOA should also indicate whether the proposed project or program would duplicate an existing service within the community and, if so, how it would improve upon an existing service.

In the LOA please be sure to include the following:

• Full name and contact information of the sponsoring organization and/or the individual responsible for the proposal

• Mission of the project or program

• Method for measuring success

• Target constituency

• Specific objective of the program or project

• Complete operating budget for the project and the sponsoring organization.

• Details of how those benefitting from the project or program are/would become directly involved in the orchestration of the project

As attachments to the LOA, you must include:

1.     A proposed operating budget for the project or program, including the amount of funding requested from JHH and the amount of funding expected from other sources.

2.     If applicable, please also attach the organization’s general operating budget and an IRS determination letter of not-for-profit status (or non-US equivalent).

We encourage all grant applicants to consider partnering with other local groups, and to include information on such partnerships when applicable.

Step Three: (January 9, 2024 - March 14, 2024)

The Grant Making Committee of JHH will notify finalists of their application status.  During this time period, all finalists will be invited for interviews, either in person or via Skype/telephone.  Additionally, JHH may make site visits to finalists.

Step Four: (May 1, 2024)

The Grant Making Committee of JHH will contact the grant recipients.  At this time, the duration and details of the grant will also be announced.

For more details visit: JHH website.