The Community Engagement Fund Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor held its first round of deliberations earlier this fall, and it is clear there is a great deal of collaborative energy in the Washtenaw County Jewish Community. The proposals considered demonstrated some of the many ways individuals and organizations are connecting and creating on behalf of our community.
The Community Engagement Fund is supported by the Jewish Federation’s Annual Community Campaign to encourage organizations and individuals to work collaboratively on new, innovative initiatives to cultivate a strong, engaged, connected, caring, vibrant and enduring Jewish community in Washtenaw County.
The Federation is pleased to announce that the congregational collaboration known as JCOR (Jewish Congregations Organizing for Resettlement) received a Community Engagement Fund grant to underwrite the costs of its benefit concert held December 11. JCOR is a collaboration between six local congregations and Jewish Family Services to support refugee resettlement in Washtenaw County.
While there were several other very interesting Community Engagement Fund proposals submitted, they did not fully meet the requirements and intent of the fund in the this first round. The fund’s committee has reflected on establishing better clarity and additional levels of conversation for future prospective grantees. Deadlines for the next two rounds of funding have been extended to allow for increased communication with applicants.
“We learned a lot during this first round of deliberations,” said Federation Executive Director Eileen Freed. “I look forward to having more conversations in the community about ways in which the Community Engagement Fund can be a mechanism for the Jewish community to be both creators and beneficiaries of their own vision of community.”
There will be a second round of Community Engagement Fund granting in the spring of 2023. Deadline for submission is March 31. Grant requests of $1000-$5000 will be considered and must be submitted by a partnership of three or more collaborators. Applicants should submit a letter of intent to McKenzie Katz (mckenzie@jewishannarbor.org) by March 13. Decisions will be made within one month of the grant deadline.
In addition to the Community Engagement Fund, the Jewish Federation is now accepting proposals for grants from the Zelma Weisfeld Fund for Culture & Education. Grant requests of up to $3750 for Jewish cultural and/or educational initiatives will be considered and must be submitted by a formal or informal partnership of three or more collaborators. The deadline for this grant application is January 31. Potential grantees are asked to submit a brief letter of intent by January 13 to McKenzie Katz (mckenzie@jewishannarbor.org) and will be contacted for a conversation prior to the full proposal deadline.
The Zelma Weisfeld Fund for Culture & Education is made possible through a bequest from Zelma Weisfeld z”l.
The grant selection committee, comprised of community volunteers, will evaluate proposals by how closely they adhere to the fund’s principles of cross-communal collaboration, creativity & innovation, and joy & connectivity. The funding is intended to incentivize programs and initiatives that bring the community together. Preference will be given to new ideas and one-time programs. For programs that are intended to extend beyond the funding period of the grant, applicants must demonstrate how the program will be sustainable financially in the future. It is intended that projects receiving funding will be implemented within one year of approval unless an extension is approved by the committee.
The full Request for Proposal and an application for submission for both grants is available at www.jewishannarbor.org. For more information or to inquire, contact McKenzie Katz at mckenzie@jewishannarbor.org or (734) 677-0100 x245.