Limited spots are available for the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston! 2018-2019 JTFGB applications are open and being accepted on a rolling basis throughout the summer. But first…
What is the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston (JTFGB)?
JTFGB just completed its third successful year and is proud to be a part of the Foundation Board Incubator, which is a project of the Jewish Teen Funders Network, generously funded by Laura Lauder and The Maimonides Fund.
This innovative year-long program is for Jewish high school students from all different denominational backgrounds across the Greater Boston area who want to gain a real understanding and experience of working in the group setting of a foundation. Together, they develop strong leadership and communication skills, learn the ins and outs of professional philanthropy and grant-making through a Jewish lens, and allocate grants to effect real change in the causes they care about most within their communities.
In JTFGB, teens will:
- Assess community needs (both local and global)
- Debate issues that really matter
- Challenge their perspective
- Become a strong team member within groups through consensus-building
- Develop strong leadership skills
- Work closely with real non-profits
- Learn how to solicit and raise funds for relevant causes
- Hear from and meet with different professionals and lay leaders
Before the teens are able to delve into the grant-making process, each of the boards will have a full meeting of consensus-building as they decide on an issue area to focus on, learn more about, fundraise for, research organizations, send RFPs, analyze grant proposals and eventually give grants to at the end of the year. This year, the boards chose some very relevant topics: sexual assault, mental health and substance abuse.
One of the key components of JTFGB is learning how to fundraise and work closely with donors over a four-month campaign period. The money they raise is then turned around and strategically allocated as grants to organizations of their choice. This year the teens did an incredible job:
- $69,312.70 … total amount raised by all of the teens
- $18,955.00 … total amount raised by Board 1
- $28,565.00 … total amount raised by Board 2
- $21,792.70 … total amount raised by Board 3
- 860-plus donors
- 9 grants allocated to different nonprofits located all across the country
Who should apply to be part of JTFGB?
Jewish teens who will be in high school (grades 9-12) in the fall of 2018 who want to make a difference and are interested in learning more about philanthropy, gaining leadership skills and helping to transform the world around them through a Jewish lens.
JTFGB participants by the numbers:
This year, 71 teens were split up into three different foundation boards and each of the boards were demographically diverse:
- 9 … 9th graders
- 24 … 10th graders
- 17 … 11th graders
- 21 … 12th graders
- 14 … teens coming from different towns
- 18 … teens coming from different synagogues
- 23 … teens coming from different high schools
What is the commitment like?
Teens selected for this program are expected to make JTFGB a priority. Participation in the 10 monthly meetings, as well as an all-day kick-off retreat, a parent/teen orientation, weekday site visits to non-profit organizations and an end-of-year grant presentation celebration are mandatory (unless discussed with and approved by staff in advance). All JTFGB meetings are three-and-a-half hours. There may also be two potential workshops and/or social events that take place during the program year that board members would be expected to attend once scheduled. All program dates will be made available in July.
Where will the program be held?
The boards will each meet once a month throughout the year on Sundays either in the mornings or late afternoons at Hebrew College in Newton Centre. The three boards will meet together a few times during the year; however, each board will operate independently while still running a parallel program.
Do you think you would be a good candidate for this program or know someone else who may be interested?
Contact:
Leah Goldstein, Director
Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston
617-559-8803
lgoldstein@hebrewcollege.edu
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