Deadline: 20-Feb-2026
The Professional Development for Camp Leadership Grant supports residential Jewish camps in Europe by funding high-quality training for camp leaders. The grant strengthens leaders’ Jewish knowledge, confidence, and teaching skills to deliver meaningful, engaging, and immersive Jewish educational experiences for campers.
Professional Development for Camp Leadership Grant Overview
The Professional Development for Camp Leadership Grant provides financial support to enhance the capacity of camp leaders to design and deliver impactful educational programming. The program focuses on strengthening Jewish learning within camp environments, ensuring that campers experience Judaism as engaging, relevant, and meaningful throughout their time at camp.
Purpose and Objectives of the Grant
The grant aims to build confident, knowledgeable camp leaders who can effectively integrate Jewish content into daily camp life. It prioritizes structured learning, mentorship, and peer collaboration to improve both leadership quality and educational outcomes.
Key objectives include:
-
Strengthening Jewish learning components within camp leader training programs
-
Supporting mentoring systems for new or emerging camp leaders
-
Facilitating shared Jewish learning with peers from other institutions
-
Enabling learning visits to other European Jewish camps
-
Funding expert training visits or support from a dedicated Jewish educator
-
Designing Jewish-content camp activities aligned with training outcomes
Why This Grant Matters
Residential Jewish camps provide a unique, immersive environment where children explore Jewish identity through lived experience. Well-trained camp leaders play a critical role in shaping this experience. By investing in leadership development, the grant ensures that Jewish education at camp is intentional, well-structured, and grounded in strong Jewish knowledge, rather than being incidental or informal.
Funding Amount and Duration
Funding ranges from £10,000 to £20,000 per year. Grants may be awarded for up to three years. The grant can cover up to 85% of the total project budget. Both new initiatives and enhancements to existing programs are eligible, provided the funding is clearly allocated to strengthening Jewish knowledge and delivery skills.
Who Is Eligible to Apply
Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations based in Europe, both within and outside the European Union. Organizations located in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus are not eligible. Applicants must provide proof of non-profit status. Organizations in the process of obtaining non-profit status must secure it within three months of notification, or the grant offer will be withdrawn.
What Activities Can Be Funded
The grant supports professional development activities directly linked to Jewish education and leadership capacity-building. Eligible activities include leadership training programs, mentoring structures, peer learning exchanges, expert-led workshops, educational site visits, and the development of Jewish-content programming during camp sessions.
How to Apply
Applicants should develop a clear project proposal outlining objectives, activities, timelines, and expected outcomes. The proposal should demonstrate how the project will strengthen Jewish knowledge and improve educational delivery by camp leaders. Applicants must submit a detailed budget showing how grant funds will be used and confirm compliance with eligibility requirements. Funding requests should clearly indicate the percentage of total costs covered by the grant.
Common Application Tips
Applicants should clearly link activities to measurable improvements in Jewish educational quality. Vague descriptions of training or programming are often weak points. Proposals are stronger when they include structured learning goals, defined leadership competencies, and evidence of organizational capacity to manage multi-year projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of camps are eligible?
Residential Jewish camps operating in Europe are eligible to apply.
Can existing programs apply for funding?
Yes, existing programs can apply if funds are used specifically to strengthen Jewish knowledge and delivery skills.
How much funding can one project receive?
Projects can request between £10,000 and £20,000 per year for up to three years.
What percentage of costs does the grant cover?
The grant can cover up to 85% of the total project budget.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
No, only not-for-profit organizations are eligible.
Is a dedicated Jewish educator required?
Not mandatory, but funding can be used to support or host a dedicated Jewish educator if relevant to the project.
Conclusion
The Professional Development for Camp Leadership Grant plays a vital role in strengthening Jewish education within residential camps across Europe. By investing in skilled, confident, and knowledgeable camp leaders, the program ensures that campers benefit from rich Jewish learning experiences that are engaging, immersive, and impactful, both during camp and beyond.
For more information, visit Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe.
