For Jewish residents of Western Massachusetts only:

September 1, 2007 -August 31, 2008

Welcome to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Year Round Youth Experience Grant. Please read these grant guidelines. If you qualify for a Year Round Youth grant, please fill out an application and submit it to the Foundation at least  four weeks prior to the event.

What is the goal of Year Round Youth Experience?
The Year Round Youth Experience grants provide funds for youth from Western Massachusetts to participate in Jewish activities outside of the region. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation believes that Jewish teens in Western Massachusetts will benefit from participation in Jewish teen activities that take place outside of Western Massachusetts. By sharing Jewish experiences with Jewish teens outside of the region, local teens connect to the broader Jewish community and bring their experience back to Western Massachusetts.

Who is eligible?
Any teen, up to the age of 18 (or any teen who is currently in high school) and is presently living in Western Massachusetts who wants to participate in an organized Jewish event (an event that is sponsored by a recognized Jewish institution such as USY, NFTY, SPFTY, NCSY, or BBYO, JCC, National Havurah Committee, Young Judea, Jewish Retreat Centers, Shabbaton Events, etc) that is taking place outside of the region can apply for Year Round Youth Experience funds.

What activities are funded?
Subsidies are available for programs that take place outside of Western Massachusetts and are sponsored by a recognized Jewish institution such as: national Jewish youth movements(USY, NFTY, SPFTY, NCSY, or BBYO) JCC, National Havurah Committee, Young Judea, Jewish Retreat Centers, Shabbaton Events, synagogue schools and Jewish day schools and other Jewish events hosted by recognized Jewish institutions.

How much money can I apply for?
Applicants may apply for 50% of the cost of the event up to $500, plus half the cost of membership dues.

How do I apply?
After you have carefullly read through the guidelines, please fill out an application.  All applications must be accompanied by documentation of the program that describes the event, how much it costs, when it will take place,  who is organizing it, and confirmation of enrollment in the event. Applications for Regional Events must be received four weeks prior to the event. Applications for all other events must be received three weeks prior to the event with all of the proper signatures and documentation included.  Applications are available to download here.  Any application received after the event will NOT be accepted.

Applicants must fill out the entire application with the appropriate documentation in order to be processed.

The Foundation requires a copy of the fees of the event as welll as verfication of enrollment.  Verification of enrollment can be a copy of a bill, a copy of the application to the event, or a letter from the organization leader.

How do I submit the application? * Make sure you have carefully read through the guidelines before filling out the application.
Submit your application by mail or fax to: 
Rachel Jackowitz The Harold Grinspoon Foundation
380 Union Street, Suite 200
West Springfield, MA 01089
Phone: (413) 439-1942
Fax: (413) 732-2632

What if I am unable to attend the event I received HGF funding for?
If for any reason the grantee does not attend the event that he/she received  funding for, he/she must return the funding to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.

Questions?
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Rachel@hgf.org or (413) 439-1942

Click here to download a Year Round Youth Experience Application.