Online, Hybrid, or In-person — NCEJ Funds Them All!

We are flexible on format – we fund online, hybrid, and in-person – or a combination! Plus, you can change the format after your grant has been awarded — just let us know.

We give grants for marketing, program materials, and related expenses for Intro-type classes, interfaith family engagement, and other programs geared to people who don’t identify as Jewish who are interested in learning more about Judaism. We fund adult and family programs; single session seminars and multi-month series, first-time and well-established programs. Visit our Programs page to learn more about what we fund.

We prioritize programs that are promoted to a wider audience. This can include banners, flyers, and postcards, as well as digital advertising and email marketing. Visit our Marketing Gallery to see examples of the types of marketing we have funded.

There are no deadlines, and applicants will be notified within 45 days. For more details, visit our Grant Process page.

Congregation Beth Israel Vancouver Canada’s successful initiative to interfaith families includes some innovative ideas others can emulate

BI Neighbourhoods is a year-long program designed to engage young families who are new to Jewish traditions, including interfaith families and people who have recently converted. At each event, there is time for Jewish learning and education, suitable for all ages. BI also provides take-home baskets with Jewish-themed items to help families bring Judaism into their homes.

Rosh Hashanah take home kit – BI Neighbourhoods

The BI Neighbourhoods program has been successful in reaching interfaith families, and helping them engage with the Jewish community and synagogue life. The program connects these families to the rabbis, the synagogue, and to each other. The take-home kits are a tangible way of strengthening the connection to Judaism.

BI seeks to ensure that its programs have a “low-cost barrier to entry” so that it is extremely easy for families to join in.

“We are continually identifying new families that we can reach out to and connect to our programs… We try to send families home with new knowledge of traditions that they can incorporate easily at home.”
– Debra Bulmash, Coordinator

Hand-delivered Holiday Baskets

BI creates holiday baskets and delivers them directly to participants so that they can learn about Jewish traditions and have items available in their homes to celebrate each holiday. Hand-delivery removes an impediment to receipt of the kits, and helps families feel more a part of the BI community.

An Optional Program Fee

Last spring, for the first time, BI had a small suggested donation for the Passover kit. Approximately 70% of people paid $10 and 10-15% of people paid more than the suggested amount ($18-$20), helping to cover some of the cost for others, and the remainder paid $0-$5. Over 80 families purchased kits.

For details contact Debra Bulmash.

Miles-Nadal Jewish Community Centre Toronto to offer year-long series focusing on lifecycle moments under its “Jewish &” program umbrella

Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre – Sing-Along Workshops

This is the third NCEJ grant Miles-Nadal has received for interfaith/intercultural programming for “Jewish &” folks and families. Lauren Schreiber Sasaki, Manager of Jewish engagement and inclusion, noted that:

“We know that moments like birth/coming of age/commitment/grief are doorways through which interfaith folks are most open to stepping into Jewish life and community… We want to lay the groundwork for understanding core Jewish concepts and customs, (and) offer a warm welcome into community.”

Also new this year, Miles Nadal will be offering pre-holiday song workshops. There is nothing more joyful and uniting than joining a community in song, and similarly – nothing more isolating than not knowing the words and melodies to be able to join in. The sing-along workshops will serve to prepare newcomers to Judaism to join in in song and songful prayer.

Marketing: The program will be promoted through online marketing and creative social media campaigns – facebook/instagram sponsored ads, monthly Spotify playlists and a greeting card campaign.

For details contact Lauren Schreiber Sasaki.

Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary widely advertised its Fall “Jewish Essentials” class

Jewish Essentials kit – The Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary

Jewish Essentials is the pathway to Judaism for individuals in Wake County, NC who are interested in conversion as well as interfaith couples and others who want to learn more about Judaism. Jorie Slodki, Grants and Content Manager, stated in the application that “With the return to in-person classes, we want to advertise widely in order to ensure a robust class size.”

Marketing: The class was promoted through email newsletters, Facebook posts and ads, newsletters from local congregations, the ShopLocalRaleigh website, and flyers and mailings to potential participants.

The Federation also provided holiday kits which enhanced the experience of the class and helped make students feel part of the community. They included supplemental readings, a printed guide to the Jewish holidays, a mezuzah, and holiday items like dreidels and challah covers.

For details contact Jorie Slodki.

Looking for ideas that you can use in your community?

Recent Grants

• Congregation Sha’ar Zahav – San Francisco
• Jewish Silicon Valley
• Project Kesher – NYC
• Congregation Keneseth Israel – Allentown PA
• JCC of Greater Pittsburgh

Please share this grant-giving notice with your colleagues, or pass their names on to us. We accept applications throughout the year.