The National Center for Encouraging Judaism* has awarded $25,000 to The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) to in turn help smaller federations run programs that help others learn more about Judaism. JFNA will fund up to five outreach initiatives geared towards nonJews, such as programs targeting interfaith couples/families, interfaith younger couples who are dating, participants in PJ Library, and similar programs where there are both Jewish and non-Jewish participants.

Eligible initiatives include:

• Those that are intended as an ongoing series to offer attendees a variety of learning opportunities that can build upon each other.
• Those that use teachers from the community who work with those who are interfaith or interested in converting, including those teaching “Introduction to Judaism” courses.
• Partnerships with groups whose client/member base may likely include nonJews who could be interested in learning more about Judaism, such as interfaith families with children at a Jewish Community Center childcare facility.

The grants are intended to provide opportunities for communities that do not otherwise have the resources for such programs and/or where such programs would add a new dimension to outreach efforts. The funds will also benefit communities with low synagogue affiliation rates or communities with smaller, less affluent synagogues.

Grant Award Schedule

Awards will be made by March 2018 for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Grants will be awarded by JFNA before March 31, 2018, and programs will begin in April.

About NCEJ Grants

* NCEJ offers direct grants to synagogues and other Jewish nonprofits in the U.S. and abroad who want to run programs helping nonJews learn more about Judaism. We also fund larger organizations across the country that in turn provide subgrants to other organizations in their specific networks who want to implement such programs.

For more information contact Executive Director Ellen Gerecht via email here, or call 301-802-4254.