John emails: Hey Luke,
As an online provocateur, I wanted to make sure you heard the announcement about an innovative grant program for Jewish new media projects.
We just launched the Jewish New Media Innovation Fund, a collaborative program offering a total of $500,000 in grants for digital media projects to promote vibrant and meaningful Jewish life in the 21st century.
The Fund seeks proposals for projects that leverage new media
tools—including video, digital communications, social networks, and
more—to empower Jews to interact with, share, build, and explore Jewish life.
I’m guessing you, someone you know, or the folks who read your blog has a great idea for using new media to engage Jews in Jewish life that is just waiting to be funded.
For more information, please see the attached press release and/or visit http://www.jewishnewmedia.org
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @jewishnewmedia
Washington, D.C. – The Jim Joseph, Righteous Persons, and Charles
and Lynn Schusterman Family foundations announced today the
launch of the Jewish New Media Innovation Fund, a collaborative
program offering a total of $500,000 in grants for digital media
projects that promote vibrant and meaningful Jewish life in the 21st
century.
The Jewish New Media Innovation Fund (Fund) seeks proposals for
projects that leverage new media tools—including video, digital
communications, social networks, and more—to empower Jews to
interact with, share, build, and explore Jewish life.
“Each generation has the opportunity to use the tools of their day to
engage with what it means to be fully Jewish and fully human in the
world,” said Rachel Levin, Associate Director of the Righteous
Persons Foundation. “For our generation, that toolbox includes digital
media as a way to access information, culture, and connection. Our
hope is that this Fund will help accelerate and strengthen the
experimentation that is already happening in pockets around the
country.”
The Fund hopes to better understand how digital media can help
preserve Jewish history, renew Jewish traditions, and revitalize
Jewish institutions. The Fund was launched as a collaborative effort
among the three foundations to better share what they learn with the
broader Jewish community and philanthropic world.
“By partnering with these two highly accomplished and respected
foundations, we believe we can leverage the power of philanthropy,
technology, and social networking to engage young people in leading
richer, more meaningful Jewish lives,” said Sandy Cardin, president
of the Schusterman Family Foundation.
“The Jim Joseph Foundation is supporting entrepreneurial new media
tools focused on engaging young Jews in their identity and in Jewish
education in the broadest terms,” said Phyllis Cook, a member of the
Jim Joseph Foundation Board of Directors.
In this pilot year, the Fund is offering grants to individuals, non-profits,
social enterprises, and for-profit groups. Funding is available for both
start-ups and established projects, where the grant will ensure the
launch of an existing concept or take an established project to the
next level.
An Advisory Board, consisting of experts in the fields of digital media,
Jewish life, and youth engagement will select the winning proposals.
Interested parties must apply online. Proposals are due November
22, 2010. The announcement of awardees is expected in February
2011.
For more information on the Jewish New Media Innovation Fund visit
www.jewishnewmedia.org.
