Jewish Family Services broadened accessibility to the youth mental health service offerings available in the Rochester Jewish community to provide in-person services at synagogues, day schools, and childcare centers.
As the community’s convener and oldest funder in the Rochester Jewish community, the Federation is uniquely positioned to mobilize our community to experiment, imagine and intentionally innovate, sparking new initiatives to take root, foster collaboration among communal organizations to build a flourishing Jewish community.
Our IGNITE! Jewish Community Impact Grants began in 2023, with a focus on sparking innovation and amplifying the impact of our community’s giving to the Federation’s annual campaign.
In its first year, IGNITE! Grants empowered new initiatives to take root and increased collaboration between communal organizations. By building upon current frameworks or designing new avenues to engage our diverse and dynamic community with Jewish life, Federation’s investments in innovation & impact are building the foundation for a flourishing Jewish future in Rochester.
Purpose
The purpose of IGNITE! Jewish Rochester Community Impact Grants is to empower and inspire new initiatives, spark collaborations, propel innovative programs and support and nourish a strong Jewish Rochester.
Made Possible by our Community
IGNITE! Grants are truly a community effort – sourced from funds raised from the Rochester Jewish community through generous contributions to the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign.
Who may apply?
• Rochester Jewish community organizations (classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3) of the Internal Revenue Code) (i.e., Jewish not-for-profit organizations).
• Rochester Jewish community religious institutions (classified as tax-exempt under Section 170 (b) (1) (A) of the Internal Revenue Code) approved by the Federation (i.e., synagogues).
• Individuals (with the support of a Federation-approved organization as a sponsor and with the sponsoring organization’s explicit approval).
Contact Us
Leah Goldman
Chief Planning & Program Officer
lgoldman@jewishrochester.org
585.241.8635
Community Impact Grants
Amount: up to $25,000 per project
Funding available for: “Innovative” projects that impact the Jewish community, meaning programs new to the Rochester Jewish community; or, a refinement, redesign or expansion of an existing program.
Duration: One year (can be renewed up to two pending approval)
Examples: Jewish teen travel programs, interfaith outreach programming, Jewish learning initiatives, Jewish or Israeli culture initiatives, intergenerational programming, etc.
Micro Grants
Amount: up to $2,500 per project
Funding available for: Initiatives seeking to experiment and/or test an idea in the Rochester Jewish community or a small-scale program.
Duration: One year (can be renewed up to two pending approval)
Examples: Small-scale or pilot programs, musical acts or speakers, technology needs, etc.
2023-2024 IGNITE! Jewish Community Impact Grant Recipients
Caring for People in Need
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Expanded Youth Mental Health Services*
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Mothers and Babies
An evidence-based postpartum depression prevention and stress management curriculum for mothers with babies that promotes Jewish values and personal connections.
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Parenting Center Exploratory Committee
Evaluating the viability of a collaborative and accessible Parenting and Wellness Center in Rochester.
Building a Vibrant and Flourishing Jewish Community
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Collaborative Teen Engagement Program*
Temple Beth El, Temple B'rith Kodesh and Temple Sinai expanded their collaborative teen collaboration programming to include two additional age groups, 4th and 5th graders.
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Jewish Identity Trip to Washington, D.C.*
With the goals of increasing Jewish pride, engagement and activism University of Rochester Hillel students travelled to Washington, D.C. to reflect on what it means to be an American Jew - past, present, and future, visiting the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the Sixth and I synagogue and meeting with Congressman Joe Morelle.
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“Grow Rochester” Tuition Matching Fund*
The goal of the fund is to incentivize current Derech HaTorah of Rochester parents to make donations supporting the school’s subsidized tuition – each dollar raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Federation, up to $25,000.
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Tuition Matching Fund*
The goal of the fund is to incentivize current Hillel Community Day School parents to make donations supporting the school’s subsidized tuition – each dollar raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Federation, up to $25,000.
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Portable Green House
To build upon their gardening program, Hillel Community Day school purchase a portable greenhouse with the goal of the school garden generating 25% of the produce used for school lunches in addition to enabling students to grow vegetables in the winter.
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Alumni Shabbat Weekend
Camp Seneca Lake hosted a young alumni Shabbat weekend to reignite alumni ruach (spirit) and encouraging increased Jewish engagement -- participants received a beautiful wood challah board to encourage Jewish tradition at home.
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Compost Program
In line with the Jewish responsibility of l'vadah ul'shamrah, "to till and to tend" (the Earth), funding supported an investment in materials for a new compost system to minimize the camp’s carbon footprint, educate campers on how Judaism relates to the environment and our obligation as Jews to care for the environment.
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Eruv Maintenance and Repair
Supporting repairs to the community’s eruv infrastructure in Brighton, including professional inspection, necessary replacements, and continued upkeep to maintain the integrity of the eruv.
Combatting Antisemitism and Ensuring the Safety and Security of the Jewish Community
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Community Holocaust Database and Cemetery Map*
The Holocaust Committee of the Friends of Mt. Hope Cemetery is creating a central, comprehensive, community-wide database of all Rochester Holocaust survivors buried in Rochester cemeteries, which will be used as a Holocaust educational tool.
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Jewish Pride Event to Combat Antisemitism
ROC Against Antisemitism will host a culturally and socially-relevant program embodying Jewish pride via entertainment (comedian, musician or thought leader).
