Foundation for Jewish Camp Announces Scaling Impact Grants to Support Innovative Projects
Five pilot programs to test new approaches to talent, Jewish identity, and belonging
NEW YORK — Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC) today announced the recipients of its Scaling Impact Grants, awarding $40,000 to five camp projects designed to elevate the Jewish camp experience. Inspired by the 2024 Leaders Assembly theme, Scaling New Heights, these grants aim to empower day and overnight camps to pilot initiatives with the potential to be scaled across the field.
“FJC and the more than 300 day and overnight camps in our network are constantly learning from each other — drawing on individual insights to build collective wisdom,” said Jamie Simon, interim CEO of Foundation for Jewish Camp. “We’re excited to help these five programs bring their creative ideas to life and pilot new ways to boost belonging, leadership, and Jewish joy and identity.”
The five grantee programs include:
- Camp Ben Frankel: Growing Attendance From Interfaith Jewish Families At Jewish Camp — In partnership with other experts, Ben Frankel will develop programs, training, and community events to welcome and engage campers from interfaith families.
- Camp Havaya: Bringing Belonging, Dignity, Justice, and Joy (BDJJ) to Jewish Camp — Havaya will pilot affinity spaces for campers and staff of color, launch a BDJJ Youth Fellowship, and hire a Director of Belonging to embed practices supporting Jews of Color in camp culture.
- Camp Moshava IO: Hitpatchut B’Manighut: Leadership Evolution & Development — A new leadership curriculum and staff coaching role will help young staff strengthen facilitation, problem-solving, and group management skills, cultivating the next generation of Jewish leaders.
- Capital Camps: Reimagining Jewish Learning through Innovative Torah Reading— Campers will explore the full breadth of Torah, including parshiot not typically read during the summer. The project will pair interactive Jewish programming with each week’s Torah portion and create opportunities for year-round connection through community gatherings and service projects.
- URJ Camp Kalsman, Shwayder Camp of Temple Emanuel, Habonim Dror Camp Tavor, & Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa: Restorative Justice Community of Practice — These camps will work to deepen their understanding of restorative justice and how it can be employed to support the camp community, including through the development of new policies and practices.
“These ambitious projects demonstrate how Jewish camps act as incubators of innovation,” said Julie Finkelstein, Senior Director of Program at Foundation for Jewish Camp. “Each camp is tackling challenges that are integral to the future of Jewish camp and the entire Jewish community. We look forward to seeing the results and ripple effects of their hard work in the years to come.”
Grant recipients will implement their programs in summer 2025 and 2026, and come to Leaders Assembly 2026 ready to share their findings with hundreds of fellow Jewish camp professionals as well as lay leaders, advocates, and friends. For more information about Foundation for Jewish Camp and the Scaling Impact Grants, visit FJC’s website.
About Foundation for Jewish Camp
Foundation for Jewish Camp advocates for over 300 day and overnight camps that provide nearly 190,000 campers and counselors each summer with a meaningful, personal, and lifelong connection to Judaism. FJC is the only public 501(c)(3) charitable organization solely focused on Jewish camp. Learn more at jewishcamp.org.
