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Helping to create vibrant Jewish life in Western Massachusetts and beyond... The Harold Grinspoon Foundation's (HGF) mission is to enhance the vibrancy of Jewish life in Western Massachusetts and beyond through education and experiences that impart the knowledge and values of our heritage and the joys of being Jewish. The Foundation not only funds institutions and programs that directly transmit Jewish learning to young people, adults, and families in Western Massachusetts, but also is increasingly playing a role nationally and in Israel in promoting Jewish continuity. (Harold Grinspoon, through a separate foundation, the Harold Grinspoon CHARITABLE Foundation, is also involved in charitable activities for the general community for energy conservation, education and entrepreneurship, mostly in Western Massachusetts. Information on this separate foundation can be found at www.hgcf.org).The Harold Grinspoon Foundation acts as both a funding organization to other institutions and as an initiator of its own programs. It strives to develop innovative and successful programs that can be replicated by other Jewish communities and philanthropists. Most recently the Foundation has focused on Jewish outreach through its PJ Library, which gifts Jewish children’s books free to families with young children in Western Massachusetts and works with sponsor/donors for this program in dozens of other communities throughout the country.
HGF also created the Grinspoon Institute for Jewish Philanthropy which focuses on developing the boards and increasing the fundraising capacity of Jewish overnight camps. While it continues to expand programs in Western Massachusetts, HGF also increasingly supports formal and informal Jewish education nationwide and in Israel.
In addition to the PJ Library, it actively works with philanthropists to replicate four of its programs in their own local communities:
- The B'nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Program which allows B'nai Mitzvah youth to establish philanthropic funds in their name and give tzedekah annually.
- Grinspoon-Steinhardt Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education.
- The Campership Incentive Program to encourage families to choose Jewish overnight camp for their children.
- Tuition Incentive Programs for Jewish day schools, to decrease tuition costs to families and increase day school enrollment.
The Foundation runs several programs supporting Jewish life in Western MA, including:
- The PJ Library
- Resource Center for Jewish Education
- Teen Initiative
- B'nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Program
- Sulamot: Family Education Initiative
- Jewish Arts & Culture Initiative
- Incentive Grants for Jewish youth to participate in Year Round Youth Experiences
- Incentive Grants for travel to Israel
The Foundation is expanding its horizons and funding to include programs that have a large-scale national impact, and that benefit Jewish life abroad, with a focus on Israel.
**The Foundation accepts grant applications by invitation only** |
