Deadline: 09-Jul-2026
The Digital Heritage Projects Grant supports innovative digital projects that improve access to and engagement with Jewish heritage. Eligible not-for-profit organisations based in Europe may apply for up to £40,000 for an initial 12-month pilot project. The grant can cover up to 70% of the total project budget and supports well-planned digital initiatives with clear goals, rigorous methods, professional staff, and realistic budgets.
Overview
The Digital Heritage Projects Grant encourages organisations to develop innovative digital projects that make Jewish heritage more accessible, engaging, and meaningful for audiences.
The grant supports projects that use digital tools to connect people with Jewish heritage through thoughtful planning, strong methodology, recognised standards, and professional delivery.
Funding is available for an initial 12-month pilot project, with the possibility of applying for additional funding in the future.
Purpose of the Grant
The purpose of the grant is to help not-for-profit organisations use digital approaches to enhance access to Jewish heritage.
The programme supports projects that are strategic, focused, and designed with clear goals.
It aims to encourage high-quality digital heritage work that is professionally managed, methodologically sound, and accessible to wider audiences.
Key Focus Areas
The grant focuses on digital heritage, Jewish heritage access, audience engagement, digital tools, project strategy, clear goals, focused concepts, rigorous methodologies, internationally recognised standards, professional staffing, realistic budgeting, pilot projects, cultural heritage, archives, libraries, museums, universities, research institutes, and not-for-profit heritage organisations in Europe.
What the Grant Supports
The Digital Heritage Projects Grant supports innovative digital projects that help audiences engage with Jewish heritage.
Supported activities may include:
- Digital projects that improve access to Jewish heritage
- Online or digital engagement tools
- Pilot projects with clear heritage goals
- Projects using recognised professional standards
- Digitally focused public engagement initiatives
- Projects led by qualified professional staff
- Heritage projects with strong methodology
- Digital interpretation or presentation of Jewish heritage materials
- Strategic projects with realistic implementation plans
- Projects with clearly defined audiences and outcomes
Applicants should show that the project is well planned and capable of delivering meaningful heritage engagement.
Funding Amount
Applicants may request up to £40,000 for the first year.
The grant supports an initial 12-month pilot project.
The grant will cover up to 70% of the total project budget.
Applications seeking more than 70% of the total project budget will not be considered.
Project Duration
Funding is available for an initial 12-month pilot project.
After the pilot year, organisations may have the possibility of applying for additional funding in the future.
Applicants should ensure that the first-year project is realistic, focused, and achievable within 12 months.
Match Funding Requirement
The grant can cover up to 70% of the total project budget.
This means applicants must show how the remaining project costs will be covered through other sources.
A strong budget should clearly explain:
- Total project cost
- Amount requested from the grant
- Other confirmed or expected funding sources
- Staff and professional costs
- Digital production costs
- Technical or platform costs
- Project management costs
- Evaluation or audience engagement costs
Who Is Eligible?
Applications are open to organisations based in Europe, including both EU and non-EU countries.
However, organisations based in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus are not eligible.
Eligible organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis and provide evidence of their status.
Eligible organisations may include:
- UK charities recognised under UK charity law
- International non-profit organisations
- Not-for-profit libraries
- Archives
- Museums
- Universities
- Research institutes
- Cultural centres
- Heritage organisations
- Other not-for-profit institutions working with Jewish heritage
Not-for-Profit Status Requirement
Applicants must provide evidence that they operate on a not-for-profit basis.
This evidence may include charity registration, legal status documents, institutional documentation, or other proof showing that the organisation is not operating for private profit.
The grant is intended for organisations with a public, educational, cultural, or heritage mission.
Project Quality Requirements
Successful projects should be carefully planned and professionally delivered.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- A clear project strategy
- A focused concept
- Defined goals
- Strong methodology
- Use of internationally recognised standards
- Professional staff involvement
- Realistic budgeting
- Clear audience engagement plan
- Feasible 12-month implementation timeline
- Strong connection to Jewish heritage
The project should not be vague or experimental without a clear purpose. It should have a strong digital heritage focus and measurable outcomes.
What the Grant Does Not Support
The grant does not support certain types of activities or costs.
Ineligible costs and activities include:
- Operating costs for schools
- Operating costs for synagogues
- Operating costs for museums
- Operating costs for heritage or communal institutions
- Building and construction work for museums or similar institutions
- Restoration of Jewish built heritage
- Fine arts projects
- Performing arts projects
- Film production
- Creative writing projects
- Museum-commissioned artwork
- Publication of academic books
- Translation of academic books
Applicants should ensure that their project is clearly digital, heritage-focused, and eligible under the grant conditions.
Why It Matters
Digital tools can help organisations preserve, interpret, and share Jewish heritage with wider audiences.
Many heritage collections, stories, archives, and cultural resources can reach new communities when presented through accessible and well-designed digital formats.
This grant matters because it supports organisations in Europe to develop high-quality digital projects that increase access, strengthen engagement, and encourage deeper understanding of Jewish heritage.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the digital heritage concept, audience, methodology, budget, staffing, and expected outcomes.
Step 1: Confirm Organisational Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that their organisation is based in an eligible European country and operates on a not-for-profit basis.
Organisations based in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus are not eligible.
Step 2: Provide Evidence of Not-for-Profit Status
Applicants must provide evidence of their legal or institutional status.
This may include charity registration, non-profit documentation, or other proof of not-for-profit operation.
Step 3: Define the Digital Heritage Project
The proposal should clearly explain the digital project idea.
Applicants should describe:
- The Jewish heritage material or theme
- The digital tools or format to be used
- The target audiences
- The project goals
- The expected engagement outcomes
- The public value of the project
Step 4: Develop a Clear Strategy
The project should have a well-thought-out strategy.
This should include a focused concept, defined goals, delivery plan, audience engagement approach, and realistic timeline.
Step 5: Explain the Methodology and Standards
Applicants should explain the methods that will guide the project.
The proposal should also show how the project will follow internationally recognised standards where relevant.
This is especially important for digital heritage projects involving archives, collections, documentation, metadata, preservation, or online access.
Step 6: Identify Professional Staff
Applicants should describe the staff or professionals involved in delivering the project.
This may include digital specialists, archivists, curators, researchers, educators, technical staff, project managers, or heritage professionals.
Step 7: Prepare the Budget
Applicants may request up to £40,000.
The requested amount must not exceed 70% of the total project budget.
The budget should be realistic and clearly linked to project activities.
Step 8: Submit the Application
Applicants should submit a complete application with the project plan, budget, proof of not-for-profit status, staffing information, methodology, and evidence of strategic planning.
A strong application should show that the project is innovative, feasible, professionally managed, and clearly connected to Jewish heritage.
Selection Considerations
Applications are likely to be assessed based on quality, feasibility, relevance, and public value.
Key assessment areas may include:
- Clear connection to Jewish heritage
- Innovative use of digital tools
- Strong audience engagement potential
- Well-developed project strategy
- Focused concept and defined goals
- Rigorous methodology
- Use of recognised standards
- Professional staff capacity
- Realistic 12-month timeline
- Realistic project budget
- Compliance with the 70% funding limit
- Evidence of not-for-profit status
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Present a clear and focused digital heritage idea
- Explain why the project matters for Jewish heritage
- Define the target audience clearly
- Show how digital tools will improve access or engagement
- Include a realistic 12-month pilot plan
- Use recognised heritage or digital standards where relevant
- Demonstrate professional delivery capacity
- Keep the budget practical and well justified
- Show how the remaining 30% or more of the project budget will be covered
- Avoid including ineligible costs such as operating expenses or construction work
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes include:
- Submitting a project that is not clearly digital
- Failing to connect the project to Jewish heritage
- Requesting more than £40,000
- Asking the grant to cover more than 70% of total project costs
- Providing an unclear project concept
- Missing a realistic strategy or timeline
- Not showing professional staff involvement
- Ignoring recognised standards
- Including operating costs for institutions
- Proposing building, construction, or restoration work
- Submitting artistic, film, creative writing, or academic book projects that are excluded
- Not providing evidence of not-for-profit status
FAQ
1. What is the Digital Heritage Projects Grant?
It is a grant that supports innovative digital projects designed to improve access to and engagement with Jewish heritage.
2. How much funding can applicants request?
Applicants may request up to £40,000 for the first year.
3. What percentage of the project budget can the grant cover?
The grant can cover up to 70% of the total project budget.
4. What is the project duration?
Funding is available for an initial 12-month pilot project.
5. Who can apply?
Not-for-profit organisations based in Europe may apply, including charities, libraries, archives, museums, universities, research institutes, cultural centres, and other eligible non-profit institutions.
6. Are all European countries eligible?
Organisations based in Europe are eligible, including EU and non-EU countries, except organisations based in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus.
7. What activities are not supported?
The grant does not support operating costs, building or construction work, restoration of Jewish built heritage, fine arts, performing arts, film production, creative writing, museum-commissioned artwork, or publication and translation of academic books.
Conclusion
The Digital Heritage Projects Grant provides valuable support for organisations in Europe seeking to develop innovative digital projects that enhance access to Jewish heritage. With funding of up to £40,000 for a 12-month pilot project and support for up to 70% of total project costs, the grant encourages strategic, professionally delivered digital heritage work. Applicants should submit focused proposals with clear goals, rigorous methods, recognised standards, realistic budgets, and strong evidence of not-for-profit status.
For more information, visit Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe.