Do you have an idea for a program or an event but don’t have the gelt to get it off the ground? Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT have #socent grant money on hand for you! You will need to comply with the details of the grantors goals and procedures, which we have put out below for you to review. But assuming you are kopesetic , your ideas can get a great deal of needed Chanukah Gelt. Heck, you might even be able to get a Jewlicious Festival* started in your part of the universe.
The Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grants for Social Entrepreneurs will award grants of up to $10,000 for ongoing programs that create vibrant Jewish communities. 
Past grantees’ projects include anything from a challah baking CSA’s to Jewish literary gatherings to online haggadot. 
So don’t sit on your latkas – check out the info below! Applications are due by 12pm ET on December 20th. Be sure to review the Grant Guidelines as you prepare to apply.
Purpose of the Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grants for Social Entrepreneurs
One of Birthright Israel NEXT’s most important goals is to enable all Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni and their peers to create their own events and programs that connect them to other Jews and the larger Jewish community. To that end, Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT offer financial grants to help offset the costs of these programs. Examples of programs include, but are not limited to, local Israel advocacy seminars, Jewish cultural events, Israeli cultural festivals, social action/Tikkun Olam projects, etc.
This joint venture aims to provide budding social entrepreneurs who are Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni, or their peers, with additional grant opportunities for long-term initiatives and/or ongoing programs. Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT seek to fund innovative ideas developed and implemented by Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni and their peers – either on their own or in partnership with existing Jewish organizations and resources.
Young adults, not only Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni, are eligible for a Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT grant. Applicants may request up to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) in funding. All funding decisions related to the Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grant for Social Entrepreneurs are decided at the sole and exclusive discretion of the Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grant Committee. The decisions of the Committee are not subject to appeal.
Eligibility
Young adults, not only Taglit-Birthright Israel alumni, aged 30 and under who live in the US are eligible to apply for a Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grant.
In any given year an applicant may apply for more than one Grant; however, to ensure diversity in programming, the proposed programs/initiatives must be distinct and not directly related to each other. The maximum amount of Grant funding that can be awarded to an applicant in one year is Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000).
Generally, Grants will not be awarded for programs/initiatives that are substantially similar to prior Grant-awarded programs in the same community. However, applications to replicate programs/initiatives that were successful in other communities are welcomed.
Although Birthright Israel NEXT encourages applicants to explore partnering with other organizations and resources, Grants must be used for programs/initiatives initiated and substantially produced and executed by Grant recipients.
To be eligible for a Grant, the program/initiative must advance the goals of Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT.
Funding Priorities
Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grants must support the missions and ethos of Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT.
The Committee funds programs/initiatives that are innovative and a program’s creativity will factor significantly in the Committee’s consideration.
The Committee welcomes programs/initiatives that engage underserved or unaffiliated Jews.
The Committee considers the quality, reasonableness, and feasibility of the proposed project.
The Committee weighs the program’s/initiative’s potential impact on the target audience.
Preference will be given to comprehensive, well-planned proposals.
The Committee will not discriminate in awarding funding based on Jewish affiliation, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or status as a military veteran.
Funding Restrictions
Program/Initiative Grants cannot be spent on:
Programs/Initiatives that do not support the missions and ethos of Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT.
Items, materials, or travel expenditures not included in the approved Grant proposal.
If budget amounts, items, materials, or travel expenditures are altered or change during the course of the administration of this Grant, any reimbursement related to these specific changes is dependent on additional written approval from the Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grant Committee.
It is the responsibility of the Grantee to seek out and receive proper written approval prior to expenditure of Grant funds on such items.
If approval is not received, any expenses deviating from the approved Grant budget shall not be reimbursed.
Marketing materials that are not pre-approved by the Birthright Israel NEXT National Office.
Travel outside of North America and any personal travel fees.
Stipends or wages for the Grantee (or other organizers).
Any first- or business-class travel arrangements (e.g. airfare, Acela train tickets, etc.) for guest speakers, facilitators, or attendees.
Controlled substances, including, but not limited to, alcohol.
Direct donations to charitable organizations.
Please note that all allocated funds will be disbursed exclusively to the Grantee.
Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grant Procedure
Grant notification and contract
Applicants must submit a completed application and all supporting materials to Birthright Israel NEXT by the application deadline.
The application will be reviewed by the Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grant Committee. Notification of acceptance or rejection will be emailed to the applicant.
After a Grant proposal is approved, the Grantee and the Birthright Israel NEXT staff member overseeing that Grant will work together to establish goals and milestones for the program.
The Grantee will receive a funding contract (typically for a 9-month Grant period, but deviating as needed) that must be signed and returned to the Birthright Israel NEXT National Office. Program goals and milestones will be included in the contract.
Grant payment procedures
Upon receipt of the signed contract, Birthright Israel NEXT will issue an initial check directly to the Grantee (and only the Grantee)—for sixty percent (60%) of the total amount of the Grant.
A second installment of up to twenty five percent (25%) of the Grant will be given to the Grantee contingent on making progress towards the agreed-upon goals of the program, reaching the interim milestones stated in the contract, and completing a brief Interim Report Form. Typically this will occur in month-four of the Grant period, but can occur earlier or later depending on progress toward goals and milestones.
The final payment of up to the remaining fifteen percent (15%) of the Grant will be awarded at the end of the Grant period, based on the program’s actual expenses and contingent upon reaching the agreed-upon program goals and milestones and completing a Final Report Form.
Within two (2) weeks of the Grant period end date, the Grantee must submit a full expense evaluation detailing all of the actual costs incurred, along with all receipts and invoices detailing and reinforcing such expenses. If Birthright Israel NEXT does not receive the complete evaluation and associated receipts within this timeframe, Birthright Israel NEXT reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to rescind or withhold the final disbursement. During these two (2) weeks, the Grantee is also responsible for completing an online Final Report Form and scheduling a program/initiative debriefing with the assigned Grant administrator at Birthright Israel NEXT. At such time, the Grantee MUST also provide the Birthright Israel NEXT office with copies of all high-resolution photos taken and/or recordings made at Grant-associated meetings, planning sessions, and events.
In the event that the final (actual) Grant-related costs are less than the awarded Grant, the final Grant disbursement will be adjusted to reflect the lower cost. The Grantee shall, within thirty (30) days of submitting his/her full expense evaluation, receipts, and Final Report Form, reimburse Birthright Israel NEXT for any amount of Grant disbursements received which exceeds the amount owed to the Grantee based on final Grant-related costs.
Grant regulations and requirements
All Grantees are required to comply with instructions from the Birthright Israel NEXT National Office. Failure to comply may result in the annulment of the Grant allocation.
Birthright Israel NEXT has the right to contact a Grantee for twelve (12) to twenty four (24) months after the final Grant disbursement to learn about the longer-term impact of the Grant.
No Grant-related events, programs, or associated activities shall: i) support the candidacy of any particular political candidate; ii) demean, disparage, or otherwise defame any group, organization, company, or individual.
During the Grant period the Grantee must communicate regularly with the Birthright Israel NEXT staff member overseeing that Grant.
All print and online advertising and marketing materials must include the official Natan logo and the official Birthright Israel NEXT Grant logo, both of which will be provided at a designated resolution level. All advertising and marketing materials must comply with the Birthright Israel NEXT branding guidelines and must be approved by Birthright Israel NEXT.
As part of the Grant application and administration process, Birthright Israel NEXT reserves the right to review any print and online material created for the program/initiative. The Grantee shall inform Birthright Israel NEXT of all such print and online material created for the program/initiative.
Birthright Israel NEXT reserves the right, at its sole discretion and not subject to appeal, to rescind the Grant in the event that: i) the program/initiative content is substantively different from that submitted for approval; ii) the Grantee releases advertising, marketing, or other materials which have not been approved by Birthright Israel NEXT as contemplated herein; or iii) the Grantee violates any of the other terms, conditions, rules, regulations, or requirements of the Grant. In the event of such a rescission, within thirty (30) days of the rescission, the Grantee shall be responsible for reimbursing Birthright Israel NEXT for all disbursed portions of the Grant, regardless of actual costs incurred up to that point.
Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT seek to support innovative, grassroots ideas. They also appreciate the benefits of leveraging existing organizations and resources, and encourage applicants to find organizations in their target communities that can serve as strategic partners for their programs. All partner organizations must be approved through the Grant application process.
If a partner organization is co-branding the program, the partner organization must substantially match the funding awarded through the Birthright Israel NEXT/Natan Grant. Birthright Israel NEXT reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to refuse partnership and co-branding connected to any Grant program.
Grant programs/initiatives may be featured on the grants page of the Natan website and on the Birthright Israel NEXT website.
By accepting the Grant funding, the Grantee gives Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT the right to use, without compensation, the Grantee’s name, likeness, and biographical information, in connection with the Grant and all Grant-related events, programs, and activities, including within all publicity and marketing materials created by Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT. By accepting the Grant funding, the Grantee additionally gives Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide, fully paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual license to use, copy, reproduce, publish, retain, translate, except, transmit, modify, adapt, edit, and distribute all textual and visual depictions of the funded activity/project and all Grant-associated events, programs, and activities, in all publicity, marketing, and promotional materials (including but not limited to Natan’s and Birthright Israel NEXT’s websites, National and Local newsletters, social networking sites, etc.).
Preparing to Apply
As a general rule, the better the planning in advance, the more likely that a program/initiative will be successful. Before completing an application for a program/initiative, answer the following questions:
What is the goal (or goals) of the program/initiative?
Is there an important need or issue which the program/initiative will address?
How will the program reflect the missions and ethos of Natan and Birthright Israel NEXT?
Who is the targeted audience for the program/initiative?
What resources will be required for the program/initiative?
People to plan the program/initiative?
People to staff the program/initiative?
Speaker fees or honoraria?
Advertising and Marketing materials?
Promotional gifts given to attendees?
Venue fees?
Photographing and/or videoing the event?
Office supplies?
Transportation costs?
Are there Jewish institutions in your community that could provide resources/assistance to you?
What is the timeline for the program/initiative (from Grant approval through the post-event evaluation/debriefing)?
What is a reasonable budget for the program/initiative?
What other organizational and/or financial resources are available besides the program program/initiative?
How should the program/initiative be marketed to potential attendees? To the larger community?
How will the attendees’ contact information be recorded?
How will the program/initiative be evaluated to determine whether it was successful?
After you have answered the above questions, you are ready to apply.
Application Process
Complete the online Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grants for Social Entrepreneurs application.
Email any additional supporting materials, to the Birthright Israel NEXT National Office at [email protected] . Make sure to specify, in the subject-line of the email, that you are writing regarding the Grant application.
The application will be reviewed by the Natan/Birthright Israel NEXT Grant Committee. Notification of acceptance or rejection will be emailed to the applicant.
Feel free to contact the Birthright Israel NEXT National Staff with any questions or concerns.
Birthright Israel NEXT looks forward to helping turn ideas into effective programs!
