The Covenant Foundation

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Letters of Inquiry that fall outside The Covenant Foundation's parameters for funding will not be considered. Please read the following information carefully and contact the Foundation if you have questions.

The 2012 Covenant Grants

The Covenant Foundation invites applications for innovative programs in Jewish schools, community organizations, and other institutional settings. These grants will provide funding to help creative Jewish educators develop and implement significant and financially responsible approaches to Jewish education that are potentially replicable in other settings. Covenant Grants may also be awarded for projects whose purpose is to disseminate particularly effective existing programs.

Jump to: About Signature and Ignition Grants | Applying for a Covenant Grant | Project Director | Eligibility |Selection Criteria | Past Recipients | Important Dates and Links

About Signature and Ignition Grants

Although there are two Covenant Grant categories, Ignition and Signature, applicants should submit only one letter of inquiry in only one grant category in any given year. Applicants for Covenant Signature Grants may request up to $250,000 for up to five years of support although this large of a grant is unusual. A more typical grant does not exceed $150,000, with generally no more than $50,000 per year. There is no minimum dollar amount associated with a Signature Grant.

Ignition Grants are designed to explore new, untested ideas or to determine how established practices can become even more effective. An Ignition Grant is appropriate for an exciting idea that is not yet ready for a multi-year Signature Grant, perhaps because it is still in the planning stage or because the organization needs time to develop necessary capacity and expertise. Any organization that receives an Ignition Grant may apply for a Covenant Signature Grant after submission of the final report. Applicants for Covenant Ignition Grants may request up to $20,000 for one year.

Applying for a Covenant Grant

The application process is composed of two parts. First, applicants should submit a brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and background information about the sponsoring organization. Letters of inquiry must be received by Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. EST. The Covenant Foundation Grants Selection Committee will then review all letters of inquiry.

By the end of May 2012, the Committee will invite those applicants whose letters are judged to be most promising to submit full proposals. The Foundation must receive these proposals, the second part of the application process, no later than Thursday, July 3, 2012, by 5:00 p.m. EDT. The Committee will also notify applicants not invited to submit full proposals by the end of May 2012. The Foundation will notify all those who submitted full proposals of the outcome of the Selection Committee’s deliberations in late December 2012.

Project Director

The role of the project director is pivotal in the success of the grant. Each proposal must identify a single project director who will supervise all aspects of the project throughout the grant period. The Foundation makes a special investment in each project director in the form of professional development and support. Furthermore, it treats every cohort of project directors as a community of colleagues. Applicants for Signature Grants should be prepared to attend a two-day meeting of project directors in February 2013 and each February thereafter for the duration of the grant. Project directors for all grants should expect to participate in communications with the Foundation throughout the grant period.

Eligibility

Any institution, agency, or organization, such as day schools, congregational schools, central agencies of Jewish education, Jewish community centers, summer camps, museums, and other institutions concerned with the issue of Jewish education are eligible. Only a tax-exempt, non-profit organization may serve as the sponsoring organization of a Covenant Grant.

Covenant Grants will not be made to support feasibility studies, assessment studies, or basic research in Jewish education. Nor will the Foundation contribute to capital expansion projects, student scholarships, or ongoing operating support.

Selection Criteria

All proposals will be assessed by the Covenant Foundation Selection Committee for the significance of the issues addressed, potential contribution to the field, the importance and clarity of their educational objectives, the quality of the proposed program, and the feasibility of its implementation. The Committee will also discuss expected short- and long-term outcomes of the project. Additionally, the Committee will consider the extent to which the program will benefit other groups beyond those immediately served and whether there are any plans for dissemination.

The Committee seeks to know how the program will be funded after the grant period ends, if it is to continue. Grants are generally not eligible for renewal at the end of the grant cycle.

Past Recipients

The best guide to the range of projects that receive Covenant Grants is the list of current and past grant recipients on our website. Over the past 20 years, The Covenant Foundation has awarded 178 Signature Grants and 32 Ignition Grants to support innovation and excellence in Jewish education. We encourage you to add to this wonderful enterprise.

Important Dates and Links

The letter of inquiry is due on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, by 5:00 pm EST. Due to the volume of letters received; we cannot make exceptions to this deadline.

The Covenant Foundation will be in contact with all applicants in May 2012 regarding the status of their grant application.

The outcome of the 2012 Covenant Grants process will be announced in December 2012.

Links:

• Complete the Online Portion of the Letter of Inquiry
• Past Covenant Grant Recipients
• About The Covenant Foundation
• Grants Checklist And Frequently Asked Questions

Contact information:

2012 Grants Selection Committee 
The Covenant Foundation 
1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 304 
New York, NY 10020-1702

grants@covenantfn.org
212-245-3500