NEW YORK – Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) announced today that Jeffrey M. Solomon, vice chair of TD Bank and former chair and CEO of Cowen, began his tenure as the organization’s new board chair. Solomon, a long-time advocate for the Jewish camp movement, has served on FJC’s board since 2016 and succeeds Jim Heeger, whose leadership as chair has been instrumental in guiding FJC through a period of significant growth.

“Jeff’s leadership expertise and personal passion for Jewish camp have proven invaluable over his decade on the board. FJC is thrilled to welcome him as board chair as we work to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “I’m also deeply grateful to Jim Heeger for his stewardship: Jim’s wisdom and commitment played a crucial role in the growth of FJC and Jewish camp, especially as the field recovered from the pandemic and navigated years of war and rising antisemitism.”

“I’m honored to have had the opportunity to partner with Jamie, FJC’s staff, and the rest of the board to expand access to and enhance the quality of Jewish camp,” said Jim Heeger, outgoing board chair of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “I’ve worked with Jeff for many years, and I’m confident that his blend of leadership acumen and love of Jewish camp will enable FJC to dramatically scale its impact in the coming years.”

Solomon currently serves as a vice chair of TD Bank and is an executive vice president of TD Bank Group. He brings decades of experience in the financial sector, and is a passionate advocate for small businesses, including as a former vice chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee.

Solomon traces his leadership philosophy, which focuses on empathy and making a difference in the lives of others, to his experience as a camper, counselor and program director at Emma Kaufmann Camp in the 1970s and ‘80s. He is deeply involved in the Jewish community, serving on the executive committee of UJA–Federation of New York and as vice chair of the board of the Tree of Life Inc., which aims to rebuild the Tree of Life Synagogue and combat identity-based hate in all its forms. He was also the founding chair and remains on the board of Lost Tribe, the largest Jewish teen social media platform.

Solomon begins his tenure as chair during a period of significant momentum and growth for Jewish camp and FJC. A record high of nearly 200,000 young people participated in Jewish camp this past summer. FJC is also preparing to roll out its 2026 Strategic Vision, which will detail a roadmap to ensure that every Jewish camp is built to last and that every Jewish child has access to exceptional Jewish camp experiences.

“Jewish camp changed my life, instilling in me values such as empathy and fostering the critical leadership skills I’ve leaned on throughout my career,” Solomon said. “As incoming board chair of Foundation for Jewish Camp, I look forward to working with Jamie, the board, and FJC’s staff to ensure every Jewish child can have the same foundational, immersive, joyful Jewish experience that I did.”

Originally from Pittsburgh, Jeffrey and his wife Linda, who was also his prom date, reside in New York and have three grown children. His current term as FJC’s board chair is through 2029.

About Foundation for Jewish Camp

Foundation for Jewish Camp grows, supports, and strengthens the Jewish camp movement so camps can deliver exceptional experiences for campers, staff, families, and communities, engaging them in lifelong, joyful Judaism. Learn more at jewishcamp.org

Remarks by outgoing Board Chair, Jim Heeger.

West Palm Beach, FL – When asked, many of you will quietly tell others that “FJC is the best board I have been on” or say, “this the most fun board ever”. Well, why is that so? These answers captured the essence –

All of us have a love and appreciation for Jewish camp.

We each have a deep “why” and deeply understand why camp is important to us.

We represent a diverse group of very sharp and committed leaders with a broad range of experience.

We get important work done that supports an entire field, rather than a single organization or set of users.

And… We genuinely like each other and have fun together.

While I can only speak to the last 14 years, our Board culture really goes all the way back 25 years to the beginning. We can start by thanking Elisa and Rob for their vision and then recognizing a list of outstanding CEOs including Ramie Arian, Jerry Silverman, Jeremy Fingerman, and now Jamie. Paired with an equally outstanding group of Chairs including Skip Vichness, Peter Weidhorn, and Julie Platt, you see a pattern of consistent strong leadership. It has been my privilege to serve and be a small part of this legacy.

When thinking about how much FJC has achieved over the last four years under extraordinarily difficult global circumstances while also going through a top-level leadership change, the list of accomplishments is long and outstanding. Tonight, I selected a Top Ten List to celebrate with you…so here’s my

“FJC’s Top Ten Accomplishments 2022-2025 That Made Me Proud, Grateful and/or Just Plain Happy”

Number 10 – Record-breaking field convenings. Leaders Assembly 2022 in Atlanta not only set a new attendance record, but the energy was palpable as camp professionals came together for the first time as a group post-COVID restrictions. Topping that success was 2024’s Camp Summit in Chicago with the first opportunity for the field to publicly convene as part of a combined FJC and JCamp180 event.

Number 9 – The pivot on Israel post October 7, 2023. Post-10/7 Jeremy quickly pivoted the organization to focus on four areas to meet the challenge: mental health for camp professionals, Israel education, security at camps, and respite opportunities for Israeli kids to come to North American camps. Jeremy quickly raised another $2.5M to support these special efforts.

Number 8 – Celebrating Jeremy’s service as CEO. After 15 dedicated years, Jeremy stepped away and we got to celebrate the legacy of our longest-serving CEO. Over his tenure, Jeremy raised over $250 million for the camping world, opened 20 new specialty camps, and brought the system through an existential crisis during COVID.

Number 7 – Achieved all-time record camp attendance post-COVID. Four years after the COVID crisis, we broke the all-time attendance record for camps in our FJC system. More than 200,000 campers and seasonal staff attended residential and day camps last summer.

Number 6 – Broke fundraising records not once, but twice in back-to-back years 2024 and 2025. 2024 marked our largest fundraising year ever at $26 million and then in 2025 we hit $39 million, another 50% higher. In addition, over the last four years we have initiated AND completed our $18 million Elevating Excellence Campaign that delivered on our goal to increase individual giving dramatically.

Number 5 – A new strategic plan for the first time in 7 years. Jamie initiated the year-long process with ABW Partners that resulted in our new dynamic plan with audacious goals for the field, clear priorities for scaling them, and a new organizational paradigm for getting work done.

Number 4 – Attracted great new board members and cultivated new board leadership. Nine of you on this board are new since 2022 and you bring experience and perspectives that will enable the organization to scale dramatically. Our new executive committee, an exciting mix of old and new leaders, is positioned to lead FJC to a new level.

Number 3 – Participated in four great summer board trips. We learned on the ground from an outstanding group of camps in Colorado, Washington state, the Berkshires and Texas while bringing the magic of camp to the Jewish communities in Denver, Seattle, Lenox and Austin. Not to mention having so much fun doing it!

Number 2 – Selected Jeff Solomon to be our next board chair. Nothing is more important for a Board Chair than to line up a successor, and I am super excited that Jeff will be our next leader. He brings energy, enthusiasm, and connections to the role. He will also be an excellent partner for the management team as they tackle our new strategy. Jeff, I look forward to all you will accomplish and am prepared to help in any way I can.

And the Number 1 Accomplishment from the last four years That Makes Me Proud, Grateful and/or Just Plain Happy – Selected Jamie Simon to be our new CEO! When leadership changed in 2022, Jeremy recognized the importance of recruiting a seasoned camp leader to be his #2 and he was able to land one of the best in Jamie. In a short period of time, she made a huge impact on FJC, the field, and our strategy. I have been fortunate to be a partner of hers for the last three years, having been infused with her sense of urgency, her optimism, and her deep sense of dedication. I am deeply appreciative that our Search Committee saw her amazing qualities and saw fit to recommend her as our CEO. She has already raised the profile of Jewish camping with our funder community, and I see only more opportunity ahead. Jamie, it has been a privilege to work alongside you.

Finally, to each and every one of you, thank you for your dedication, participation, and commitment to FJC. Each of you, in your own way, has brought your personal skills, talents, and treasures to our work, and the field is better for it. Thank you for your support of me for the last four years. Here’s to an even bigger and brighter future for Jewish Camp. Let’s make sure every Jewish child has an opportunity to experience it!

Authored by Jay Deitcher for ejewishphilanthropy.com

With the cost of living rising ever higher in America, so too is the price of summer camp. Despite this, a record number of children attended camp this year, according to a new census released by the Foundation for Jewish Camp. The study found that this was, in part, made possible by $47.2 million in financial aid, allowing tens of thousands of children to attend camp who otherwise would not have been able to.

“At a time of upheaval, when there’s a lot of unknown and a lot of fear, camps are building a better world, one community and one person at a time,” Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp, told eJewishPhilanthropy. “Camp is promoting Jewish identity, Jewish leadership and Jewish community, and that is really what people are craving. It is a safe place to be prideful and joyful about your Jewish identity.”

The report, titled “2025 State of the Field Census Part I: The Business of Operating Jewish Camp,” shows that attendance at FJC’s network of 168 day camps and 161 overnight camps increased 5% since last year to nearly 200,000 children and staff, setting a new all-time record, 9% over the 2019 pre-pandemic rate. The census, which was released last Thursday, focused on the business aspects of Jewish camping, with the second part of the report due to be released in February, exploring demographics, enrollment patterns, camp capacity, seasonal staff compensation and the impact of camp on campers and staff.

Rising costs remain the top concern for both overnight and day camps, with this year’s expenses increasing 5% over last year’s. Everything has ratcheted in price, including staffing, security and food. “Things are expensive, and so running a camp is no exception,” Simon said, adding that camps “worked tirelessly to keep tuition relatively stable, even as the broader economy drives up operating costs.”

Partially because of these rising costs, families requested more than $58 million in financial aid, with camps distributing $47.2 million — $33.5 million for overnight camps and $13.7 million for day camps — a more than $7 million increase from the year before. The financial aid was provided by the camps themselves, local federations, philanthropic partners and FJC. Without the assistance, 37% of families said they could not have afforded camp, according to the census.

Next year marks the twentieth anniversary of FJC’s One Happy Camper initiative, which aims to attract new campers by offering $1,500 grants for their first and second years at camp. The grants are provided regardless of need and can be paired with other forms of financial aid. Since launching, FJC has provided over 130,000 OHC grants.

With a growing number of campers, camps need to increase their capacity — adding beds, staff housing and other infrastructure. In the past five years, 53% of overnight and 21% of day camps have completed new buildings or refurbished old ones, and in the next five years, 58% of overnight and 36% of day camps hope to complete capital projects, the survey found. To stay competitive, camps are also improving their swimming pools, art centers, outdoor amphitheaters and synagogues.

Many of these projects were supported by the Gottesman Fund, which awarded $15 million last December to FJC — the largest grant it has ever received — to help the more than 300 Jewish summer camps expand their capacity and modernize their facilities. Some campgrounds have not been updated since the 1950s.

“Ensuring that these infrastructures are updated so they can exist for another 50, 100 years is really critical,” Simon said. “One camp told me that because of the Gottesman grant, [camps] are going to be able to serve 100 more kids this summer, and so in 10 years, that’s over 1000 kids.”

Even with the increased costs of running camp and with investments in improving facilities, camp revenue increased 6% over last year. One way camps are generating revenue is through off-season programming, with 65% of overnight camps and 62% of day camps offering programming across the calendar and nearly half of overnight camps and over half of day camps hoping to expand their year-round programming.

Year-round program not only allows camps to spread “the magic of camp beyond the summer,” Simon said, it also allows camps new ways to increase revenue by offering programming on weekends, breaks and after school.

The most popular year-round programming remains family camp, allowing babies and toddlers to experience camp alongside older siblings, parents and grandparents. “You can get people connected to the Jewish community from a young age and become lifelong campers,” Simon said. In addition, camps are offering bar and bat mitzvah programming, after-school programs, men and women’s retreats, young adult weekends and Israel/Palestine dialogue sessions.

Post-Oct. 7, camp remains space for hope, Simon said. “When one kid goes to Jewish camp, they are going to live a Jewish life. When hundreds of thousands of young people are going to Jewish camp, they’re building the Jewish future, and our Jewish future is bright.”

Freedman brings extensive philanthropic leadership experience to FJC

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) announced today that Matt Freedman, who has more than three decades of philanthropic experience, will serve as the organization’s new Chief Advancement Officer beginning in January 2026. Freedman was selected after a competitive, nationwide search and will lead the strategic direction and execution of all FJC philanthropic and marketing initiatives.

“Matt is a thoughtful, smart, and grounded leader whose deep expertise in fundraising strategy, donor relations, and organizational advancement will be a tremendous asset to our work,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “We are thrilled to welcome Matt to the team as FJC works to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement.”

Most recently, Freedman served as the Chief Development Officer at The Y in Central Maryland, where he was responsible for all philanthropic activity for the organization. He has also previously held leadership positions at The Jewish Federations of North America and The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. At FJC, Freedman will oversee FJC’s fundraising and marketing teams, with a focus on major gifts, institutional giving, and expanding the organization’s reach.

Freedman joins Foundation for Jewish Camp during a period of significant momentum and growth. A record high of nearly 200,000 young people participated in Jewish camp this past summer. FJC is also preparing to roll out its 2026 Strategic Vision, which will detail a roadmap to ensure that every Jewish camp is built to last and every Jewish child has access to exceptional Jewish camp experiences.

“As a parent and as a communal professional, I have seen up close how camp transforms the lives of young people,” said Matt Freedman, FJC’s incoming Chief Advancement Officer. “At a moment when Jewish identity, especially for young people, can feel scary and complicated, I am grateful for this opportunity to return to Jewish communal service specifically in support of Jewish camp, which creates joy and builds resilience. I believe Jewish camp is central to the Jewish future and it is a privilege to join the FJC team.”

Freedman will continue to be based in Baltimore and officially begin his role on January 5, 2026.

About Foundation for Jewish Camp

New report shows nearly 200,000 young Jews participated in summer 2025 and a narrowing gap between financial aid requests and distribution

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) today released the findings of 2025 State of the Field Census Part I: The Business of Operating Jewish Camp, highlighting record attendance at Jewish camps this past summer as well as field-wide mobilization to boost financial aid and renovate camp infrastructure. Jewish camps engaged nearly 200,000 young campers and staff in summer 2025 — a 5% increase over the previous year and all-time record. The report also details expanded financial aid distribution of $47.2 million, as FJC, camps, and community partners work to narrow the gap between requested and distributed aid.

“More young Jews are participating in Jewish camp than ever before, which means a record number of young Jews are connecting to their Jewish identity, building leadership skills, and having fun,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “Amid rising operating costs, increased financial need, and aging infrastructure, FJC is stepping up to provide families and camps with critical support so that every Jewish child can access the transformative experience of Jewish camp.”

The report’s key findings include:

Increased Participation — 198,730 campers and young adult staff participated in Jewish camps across FJC’s network of 168 day camps and 161 overnight camps. This all-time record is nearly 9% higher than 2019’s pre-pandemic high, and nearly 30% higher than 2021, the first year camps moved to resume operations after COVID.
Camps Expand Aid Amid Rising Requests — In 2025, families requested $56 million in financial aid, partly driven by higher camp operating costs. At the same time, camps increased aid distribution to $47.2 million, narrowing the gap between requested and distributed aid. 37% of families who receive direct tuition aid say they would be unlikely to attend camp without it.
Investment in Facilities and Year-Round Engagement — Most overnight camps and more than a fifth of day camps have completed new buildings or renovated existing ones in the past five years. Even more are planning upcoming projects. As camps look to modernize infrastructure, many are also seeking to expand offerings outside of summer. Nearly half of overnight camps (49%) and over half of day camps (58%) are interested in providing additional programmatic and retreat offerings to engage campers, families, alumni, and communities throughout the year.

FJC continues to support camps, campers and staff, and families with resources that expand access to and improve the quality of Jewish camps. FJC’s signature One Happy Camper® (OHC) program provides incentive grants of up to $1,500 to help camps attract new campers and increase camper enrollment, with over 130,000 OHC need-blind grants distributed since the program’s inception. FJC’s $15 million Capital Expansion initiative in partnership with The Gottesman Fund, announced last year, is providing funding for critical infrastructure upgrades to staff housing, program spaces, and camper banks.

Part I of FJC’s annual Census, released today, focuses on the business of camp. The second part of the Census, coming in February, will dive deeper into camper and staff demographics, enrollment patterns, camp capacity, seasonal staff compensation, and the impact of camp on campers and staff. Together, these data points serve as the foundation for FJC’s 2026 Strategic Vision, which will detail a roadmap to ensure that every Jewish camp is built to last and every Jewish child has access to exceptional Jewish camp experiences.

Read the full report here: https://jewishcamp.org/census2025

About Foundation for Jewish Camp

Data underscores camp as a primary engine for Jewish talent pipeline

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp today highlighted new findings from Leading Edge’s State of Jewish Nonprofit Talent: 2025 report, identifying Jewish camp as the number one shared experience among Jewish communal professionals. The report underscores camp’s role as an incubator for talent and a foundational entry point in the Jewish leadership pipeline.

“This new data from Leading Edge confirms the path to Jewish leadership often begins in the bunk. I’m living proof of this impact, having journeyed from camper to counselor to Jewish communal leadership,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “If camp is the birthplace of our future leaders, then investing in camp is one of the most effective ways to ensure a vibrant, sustainable future for the entire Jewish community.”

“Jewish camp is an early and powerful touchpoint for future Jewish communal professionals,” said Gali Cooks, President & CEO of Leading Edge. “Our data shows Jewish camp is one of the most consistent experiences shared by professionals in our field today. The task now is to grow that impact by leveraging camp and other Jewish community experiences even more to build talent excellence across the sector.”

The report reveals that two thirds of Jewish employees in the nonprofit sector participated in Jewish summer camp and comes amid a surge of young adult engagement in camp. This past summer, nearly 39,000 young adult staff worked at Jewish summer camps. FJC is actively nurturing this Jewish talent pipeline through funding and professional development programs designed to support leaders at every stage of their career.

FJC’s Cornerstone Fellowship has trained over 6,000 senior counselors, empowering them to bring meaningful Jewish content to their campers and gain skills they take back to their college campuses and home communities. FJC also offers the Yitro Leadership Program, a strategic investment in cohort-based professional development experiences for camp leadership in middle management roles, and the Camp Management Fellowship, which brings high quality and timely training to seasonal camp supervisors.

FJC’s investment in young leaders ensures they view Jewish communal work as a viable and inspiring career path and helps them develop critical competencies such as facilitating difficult conversations and building resilient communities. Data from FJC’s Character at Camp initiative, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, suggests that Jewish camp nurtures a sense of leadership and communal responsibility as part of camp culture, helping campers and staff be active leaders in creating and sustaining values-led communities.

About Foundation for Jewish Camp

FJC’s mission is to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement, leveraging more than $20 million of philanthropic giving annually to scale programs and resources that benefit more than 300 Jewish day and overnight camps across North America. Learn more at jewishcamp.org.

About Leading Edge

Leading Edge mobilizes Jewish organizations to become places where great people deliver great impact. Learn more at leadingedge.org.

Five-year grant will help young adults with disabilities build job and life skills at Jewish camps

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) today announced a new, $4.35 million grant from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to support camps in engaging young adults with disabilities. The Yashar: Skills Training Initiative will enable Jewish camps to provide these young adults, who are at higher risk for economic vulnerability, with camp experiences and job training opportunities that will increase workforce readiness at camp and beyond.

“Every Jewish person should have the opportunity to make Jewish camp a part of their lives,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “While most camps offer programs for children with disabilities, fewer options exist for young adults. This new support will enable camps to provide these young adults with workplace skills, confidence, and community. We’re extraordinarily grateful to The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation for their partnership.”

Approximately 80% of Jewish camps run programs for campers with disabilities. Many were launched and supported by FJC’s original Yashar Initiative, which was also funded by the Weinberg Foundation and provided $12.35 million to boost accessibility at 46 camps. Yashar helped increase the total number of campers with disabilities at Jewish camps by 8%, and led children with disabilities to report feeling a similar sense of belonging as children without disabilities.

While many campers go on to give back to their community and continue their own growth as staff members, only 1% of overnight camp staff and 3% of day camp staff have a disability. Less than one-fifth of Jewish camps offer skills training programs, previously known as vocational education or VocEd.

Research suggests individuals with disabilities are disproportionately affected by economic vulnerability in the Jewish community, and that physical and financial barriers reduce participation in Jewish life. The Yashar: Skills Training Initiative will bolster post-camper pathways and deepen engagement in the Jewish community for young adults with disabilities, building on the success of the initial work of Yashar.

“The Foundation is committed to ensuring that all members of the Jewish community can meet their needs and thrive,” said Jon Hornstein, a program director at the Weinberg Foundation. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Foundation for Jewish Camp and to support this project, which will help young adults with disabilities develop the skills, confidence, and independence to succeed in the workforce and beyond.”

The Yashar: Skills Training Initiative will give approximately 10 camps resources, training, consulting, and guidance to provide meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for young adult Jews with disabilities to build practical skills, confidence, and independence that extend beyond the camp setting.

Camps will receive an average of $300,000 in capital funding to go toward creating accessible spaces such as kitchens, classrooms, and housing that will be used for a camp’s skills training program. Camps will also receive support and consulting to strengthen and grow their programs, with a focus on increasing recruitment, enhancing training curricula, appropriately supporting participants, integrating participants into camp staff culture, and preparing participants for future employment.

Skills training programs focus on affective skills, such as communication, teamwork, time management, conflict resolution, and independent living, as well as employment skills specific to workplace environments like coffee shops, cafes, grocery stores, and specialty areas around camp. Together, affective skill-building and on-the-job training set up young adults with disabilities for long-term success.

Applications for the first round of funding are now live. The first cohort will be announced in early 2026 and primarily engage camps looking to expand and enhance existing skills training programs. There will be a second cohort, with applications opening in Fall 2027, focusing on camps interested in starting new skills training programs.

About Foundation for Jewish Camp

Three emerging leaders join FJC’s 21‑month fellowship

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) recently welcomed its newest cohort of FJC Fellows; part of a paid, 21‑month program for recent college graduates that develops the next generation of Jewish camp leaders. Fellows spend the summer in leadership roles at Jewish camps in FJC’s network and the academic year working full‑time at FJC’s New York headquarters, contributing to field‑wide initiatives that strengthen day and overnight camps across North America. The fellowship is a core pillar of FJC’s investment in cultivating talent and leadership throughout the Jewish camp ecosystem, with tens of thousands of young leaders working at camp each summer.

“Investing in emerging talent is how we ensure that Jewish camp continues to be a transformative experience for generations to come,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “This fellowship gives promising leaders hands-on experience at camp and at FJC, pairing mentorship with meaningful responsibility. We’re thrilled to welcome this new cohort and to support their growth as they help advance our mission.”

FJC Fellows support leadership, education, wellness, inclusion, research, marketing, and development initiatives; participate in professional development; and gain exposure to nonprofit management. Past fellows have gone on to serve in senior positions at Jewish day and overnight camps, work at other Jewish organizations, or pursue masters degrees in social work and Jewish education.

All fellows in the 2025 cohort are based in New York City and began in early September.

Lauren Berger (she/her) — Lauren was most recently a lead pre-school teacher at the JCC of Milwaukee and served as the Operations Assistant for the Wisconsin Region BBYO, as well as participating in FJC’s Camp Management Fellowship. She will be participating in the fellowship with Camp Interlaken JCC, where she has spent many years, and also worked this past summer at Camp Wise to diversify her camp experience. Lauren is a Cornerstone alum and past Cornerstone event intern.

FJC Fellowship Focus: Leadership Development

Bradley Epstein (he/him) — Bradley recently graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Jewish Studies. He joins us from Beber Camp and is also a Cornerstone alum, former event intern, and a member of the Cornerstone Alumni Board.

FJC Fellowship Focus: Jewish and Israel Education

Steph Sussman (they/them) — Steph recently graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration. They come to us from Camp Ramah in California and are an alum of both Cornerstone and the Camp Management Fellowship.

FJC Fellowship Focus: Wellness, Inclusion, and Belonging.

“As both colleagues and mentors, we’re excited by what this cohort already brings to the table — and even more excited by what they will learn and build over the next two years,” said Julie Finkelstein, Senior Director of Programs at Foundation for Jewish Camp. “From leadership development to Jewish learning to wellness and belonging, these fellows will contribute directly to the programs that make Jewish camp safe, joyful, and deeply meaningful.”

About Foundation for Jewish Camp

Multi-year initiative made possible by The Gottesman Fund; new round of applications ongoing.

NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) today announced initial project completions and impacts from $4 million in capital expansion grants provided to 12 camps. The funding — which went towards projects including staff housing, program spaces, and camper bunks — represented the first round of grants under a multi-year, $15 million initiative in partnership with The Gottesman Fund. Critical infrastructure upgrades will enable camps to welcome more kids and ensure Jewish camp remains a top choice among summer opportunities. Applications for the second round of funding under the initiative are in progress.

“Camps moved quickly from funding to shovels in the ground, and we are already seeing the benefits to the camper and staff experience,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “The first phase of grants met a clear field need and set a strong foundation for growth. We are deeply grateful to The Gottesman Fund for making these projects possible, and we look forward to awarding the next round of grants so that more camps can expand capacity, modernize key spaces, and deliver transformative summers for young Jews.

Enrollment at Jewish summer camp is at all-time highs, with an estimated nearly 200,000 young people attending a day or overnight camp across North America this summer. While serving as a testament to the field’s recovery since the pandemic, high enrollment is stretching camps’ current infrastructure. FJC estimates that at least a quarter of its camps are operating at or near full capacity. Many have been developing plans to increase their ability to serve more young people, and additional support is essential in helping them carry out these plans

At its biennial Leaders Assembly in December 2024, with a record audience in attendance, FJC announced a $15 million commitment from The Gottesman Fund to help camps build critical infrastructure projects so they can welcome more campers, recruit and retain exceptional staff, and deliver safe, modern, climate‑resilient facilities. Each individual grant can be up to $750,000 and can cover up to 50% of a project’s total cost.

More than 70 camps submitted interest forms for the first round. Altogether, they requested nearly $40 million in funding from FJC to support over $180M in capital projects, illustrating the vast need among Jewish camps for financial assistance with capital projects. After a competitive review, 27 were invited to apply, and 12 were ultimately awarded a total of $4 million.

Grantee Camp	Summer Location	Brief Project Description
Camp Moshava Indian Orchard	Honesdale, PA	Purchase of land and building camper and staff housing and program spaces.
URJ Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute (OSRUI)	Oconomowoc, WI	Rebuilding tent housing and dining spaces, as well as outdoor program areas.
URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp	Utica, MS	Building new Counselor-In-Training (CIT) camper housing.
Camp Ramah in Wisconsin	Conover, WI	Building a new staff housing building.
Camp Morasha	Lakewood, PA	Building new staff housing & camper bunks.
Camp Judaea	Hendersonville, NC	Building and renovation of camper bunks post Hurricane Helene.
Camp Young Judaea – Texas	Wimberley, TX	Building new camper bunks.
Camp Ramah Darom	Clayton, GA	Building a new CIT camper village.
Camp YJ	Amherst, NH	Building and refurbishing camper bunks.
J & R Levinson Day Camp – JCC Pittsburgh	Monroeville, PA	Building new outdoor programming and sensory spaces, as well as a dining hall.
Lessans Camp JCC – Bender JCC	Rockville, MD	Renovation of camp program spaces in Bender JCC.
Camp Zeke	Lakewood, PA	Building new program space: Sports and Arts pavilion.

One third of these first-round projects are already complete or nearly complete — at URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp, URJ OSRUI, Camp Moshava Indian Orchard, and Camp Ramah in Wisconsin — with the remainder anticipated to wrap up by next summer.

At URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Mississippi, new housing for counselors-in-training, also known at URJ as Solelim, is already making a big impact.

“Our experience with the Bayit has been an incredible upgrade to our Solelim program. The communal living environment fostered meaningful connections and learning in the lounge, and those skills truly shined when our counselors‑in‑training were paired with cabins and campers throughout the summer,” said Anna Herman, Executive Director of URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp. “Inspired by this experience, many Solelim are eager to return next summer as counselors, strengthening our leadership pipeline and ensuring a dedicated future staff.”

The process for the second round of Gottesman grants is in-progress. A subset of camps among those who submitted an interest form will soon be invited to submit full applications and FJC anticipates notifying awardees and issuing initial payments by December 2025.

About Foundation for Jewish Camp
FJC’s mission is to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement, leveraging more than $20 million of philanthropic giving annually to scale programs and resources that benefit more than 300 Jewish day and overnight camps across North America. jewishcamp.org

About The Gottesman Fund
Founded in 1965, The Gottesman Fund is managed by members of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman family and is dedicated to enhancing and perpetuating Jewish life in the United States, providing significant support to domestic medical, educational, and cultural institutions, and supporting projects in Israel which improve the quality of life for its visitors and residents.

Partnership builds on decades of collaboration to expand access to and strengthen the impact of Jewish camps across the region.

BOSTON — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) and Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) today announced a new FJC New England regional center, with additional financial support from The Krupp Foundation. The center will work to deepen support for Jewish day and overnight camps across the region; help camps deliver safe, joyful, and meaningful Jewish experiences for thousands of young people; and offer new scholarship opportunities for campers. Recruitment for a New England regional director is now underway.

The new center will increase the number of Jewish kids going to camp and provide camps with the resources they need to thrive. Together, these steps build the foundation of Jewish life and a vibrant Jewish future: Jewish camp is a proven pathway for identity, community, leadership, and growth — values that will be woven throughout the regional hub’s work.

FJC’s New England regional center builds on a longstanding partnership between FJC and CJP. Since 2008, CJP has partnered with FJC on its signature One Happy Camper® (OHC) program, which provides need-blind incentive grants for first-time campers. To date, FJC and its over 100 partners have awarded more than 130,000 OHC grants. This summer, CJP distributed over $900,000 in OHC grants and need-based scholarships, helping more than 400 new and returning campers experience the magic of Jewish camp.

“FJC is thrilled to partner with CJP to open our new regional center in New England, our first hub in collaboration with a federation,” said Jamie Simon, CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “Regional centers boost participation in professional learning and grant opportunities, and bolster local philanthropic relationships to better support camps. Having a leader on the ground enables us to tailor support to local trends, pilot ideas, and scale what works across the field. We are also grateful for The Krupp Foundation’s commitment to making this vision possible.”

FJC’s regional model embeds local expertise and relationships to serve camps and communities more effectively. Since launching its first center in Los Angeles in 2019, FJC has expanded to the Midwest (Chicago) and Southeast (Atlanta), with each center tailored to its local ecosystem but united in convening stakeholders, strengthening staff, providing local funding to camps, offering advisory support, and inspiring families to send their kids to Jewish camp. The New England center will be FJC’s fourth, and will bring the organization’s approach to the region’s dozens of day and overnight camps.

CJP works to make camp more accessible for families and supports the professionals serving those families. The New England center will build on CJP’s OHC grants and scholarships, further ensuring that Jewish camp remains a valuable aspect of the teen community’s experience in Greater Boston. This initiative aligns with CJP’s broad commitment to meaningful, relevant, and joyful Judaism and Jewish Peoplehood.

“We are a community that is deeply committed to inspiring our future generations, and CJP has a longstanding commitment to young families and teens,” said Rabbi Marc Baker, CEO of CJP. “In this moment, our partnership with FJC will strengthen the power of Jewish camp as one of the most joyful and transformative expressions of Jewish life. This center will inspire, nurture, and empower the next generation of Jews in New England and beyond.”

As part of the new effort, The Krupp Foundation will provide additional support that helps launch the center and expands scholarships for New England overnight campers. This investment reflects a growing coalition of local partners who see Jewish camp as a powerful pathway for identity, community, and leadership.

“Jewish overnight camp offers something increasingly rare: a safe, immersive environment where young people build joyful, lasting connections to Jewish life,” said Douglas and Judi Krupp, founders and board members of The Krupp Foundation. The Krupp Foundation is proud to partner with FJC and CJP to ensure more children and families have access to this transformative experience.”

About Foundation for Jewish Camp

FJC’s mission is to grow, support, and strengthen the Jewish camp movement, leveraging more than $15 million of philanthropic giving annually to scale programs and resources that benefit more than 300 Jewish day and overnight camps across North America. jewishcamp.org

About Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Founded in 1895, Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) is Greater Boston’s Jewish Federation and was created with the purpose of building vibrant Jewish communities and igniting positive change at home, in Israel, and around the world. As a philanthropic organization driven by Jewish values, learning, and culture, CJP mobilizes communal philanthropy and provides grants, builds partnerships, and brings Greater Boston’s diverse Jewish community together. For more information, please visit www.cjp.org.

About The Krupp Foundation

The Krupp Foundation is a multigenerational family foundation based in Boston and New York. Guided by a deep commitment to the Jewish values of social justice, The Krupp Foundation supports organizations and leaders working to build and sustain vibrant, inclusive, and connected communities across three primary program areas: Environment, Education, and Jewish Life. While grounded in these core areas, The Krupp Foundation aspires to remain open and responsive to emerging needs and opportunities that may lay outside of its strategic priorities.