Yashar: Skills Training Initiative
The Yashar: Skills Training Initiative provides capital funding as well as resources, training, and consulting for Jewish camps to develop and expand skills training programs (previously known as vocational education or Voc Ed), providing meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for young adults with disabilities. Made possible by a $4.35 million grant from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, 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.
*To apply for Cohort 1, camps must have an existing Skills Training program. Those looking to establish a skills training program in the future will be invited to apply for Cohort 2 in Fall 2027.
Grant Components
- Capital grants through this initiative may range from $50,000 to $450,000, with the average grant size being around $300,000. However, the initiative will fund no more than 30% of a capital project (meaning the total minimum project cost must be around $166,000)
- Capital projects may include, but are not limited to, housing, job training facilities like a coffee shop or teaching kitchen, a classroom/gathering space for participants, etc.
- 1:1 consulting to assist with program improvements
- Cohort-based and field-wide trainings
- Annual reporting through the annual FJC Census, Satisfaction Insights surveys, and other reports. Grantees will need to submit a capital completion report when the project is finished as well as continue submitting annual reports for two summers post-capital project completion.
Eligibility Requirements for Camps in Cohort 1
To apply for Cohort 1 of the Yashar: Skills Training Initiative, camps must meet the following criteria:
- Be a United States based day or overnight camp in good standing in FJC’s network and with ACA accreditation
- Been operational for at least five years
- Serve a minimum of 200 campers per summer
- Have established inclusion efforts, demonstrated by one or more of the following:
- Participation in the Yashar Initiative, or
- History of welcoming campers with disabilities, as shown through FJC’s Census and potentially verified through an interview with FJC
- If camp has received a Yashar grant in the past, the capital project must be complete.
- Have completed the 2024 or 2025 Skills Training section in the 2025 FJC Census
- Be able to provide the two most recent years of Form 990 and third-party audited financial statements
- Commit to full participation in all program components, including cohort trainings, coaching sessions, and reporting. All training and coaching sessions should be attended by the camp’s inclusion professional. Certain elements of the program will also require participation from members of the senior leadership team.
Cohort 1: Current Skill Training Program Status Requirements
To participate in the current Yashar: Skills Training Initiative, camps must:
- Currently operate a Skills Training (VocEd) initiative and must have two or more participants in their skills training program.
- Have operated their Skills Training Program for at least two summers
- Maintain a cohort mentality or unit, including designated times when participants come together.
- Employ a staff person responsible for supervising and supporting Skills Training participants. This person should be working full-time during the summer but does not need to be employed full-time during the year.
Inclusivity Commitment
Camps must demonstrate a commitment to inclusion by being welcoming and accommodating to all campers, regardless of affiliation, denomination, religious background, race, or economic status.
Timeline
- Applications close: December 2, 2025
- Decisions announced: Mid-January
- First cohort meeting: Mid-February
- Cohort will run through 2027
- Reporting continues for two summers post capital project completion
Additional FAQ’s Forthcoming