Eligibility and Criteria

Focus area

We support projects that strengthen Jewish communities through education and leadership development. In these areas we aim to promote knowledge transfer and cultivate strong leadership.

Education: our focus will be on bringing people together encouraging them and equipping organizations to strengthen the connection of Jews with their Jewish identity by knowledge transfer. We aim for projects that contribute to strengthening Jewish identity and Jewish communities.

Leadership: our focus will center on leadership initiatives by organizations in which they facilitate their own growth and/or the development of individuals to realize their potential as leaders within Jewish communities.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants: 

Registered legal organizations serving the Jewish community in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Ineligible applicants

Organizations are not eligible if they:

• are registered or established in the Netherlands.
• conduct activities in the Netherlands.
• are connected to the Dutch-Jewish community in Israel.
• are primarily grant-making or funding bodies.
• are state-funded non-Jewish academies.

Important:

• Umbrella organizations are eligible to apply only if they directly implement the proposed project themselves. In such cases, the project must meet all standard criteria for education and/or leadership development. Please note that general institutional support for umbrella organizations is not eligible for funding.
• Preference is given to private organizations over public or semi-public organizations.

Grant terms

Regional and demographic focus: Projects must primarily target the Jewish community in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Duration: Funded projects may have a duration of up to one year. Projects may be shorter but not longer than one year. Projects may start at any time after 1 January.

Applications per organization: Each organization is allowed to submit one application per calendar year.

Maximum request: The maximum amount that can be requested per project is €15,000.

Deadline and format: Applications must be submitted online no later than 1 July and must be written in English, using Latin characters only.

Funding Guidelines

Applicants may request up to 50% of the total project budget from the Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund. The remaining 50% must be covered by other funding sources, such as third-party funding, the own contribution of the applicant's organization, participant contributions.

Exception: For organizations with average annual expenses below €10,000, applicants can request up to 80% of the total project budget. In these cases, the remaining 20% must be covered by other funding sources.

Diversity in funding sources

We strongly prefer projects that combine multiple funding sources, such as:

• Third-party funding (grants from other foundations or donors);
• Own contribution of the organization;
• Participant contributions.

Please be aware that third-party funding and own contribution of the organization are essential. Projects may be rejected if these are not included in the proposal.

Bank account

The bank account must be registered in the name of the applicant organization.

Budget 

The budget must be transparent, well-specified and directly linked to activities. The project's cost estimates should be credible and realistic.

Required documents: 

The following documents must be uploaded:

• Budget (in English, using JHF’s template)
• Financial templates for the past two years (in English, using JHF’s template)
• Curriculum (in English, using JHF’s template)
• Activity report (in English)
• Financial annual reports for the past two years (may be submitted in the local language)
• Safeguarding policy statement (may be submitted in the local language)
• Articles of Association and the official registration/listing of your organization (if not previously submitted or if updated, may be submitted in the local language)
• Auditor’s report, if available (may be submitted in the local language)

Project Criteria

To be approved, projects must meet all the following criteria:

1. Strengthen the Jewish identity of participants and support Jewish community life in Central and Eastern Europe.
2. Have a clear educational and/or leadership development purpose.
3. Ensure fair and equal access to all activities and information for all participants.
4. Be directed at the Jewish community, with a strong emphasis on young people.
5. Be relevant to the local Jewish community.
6. Include clear and concrete goals (avoiding vague language or buzzwords).

A strong preference is given to projects that:

• Focus on informal and experiential education.
• Include in-person activities.
• Promote sustainability by encouraging participants to become active contributors to their communities.

Supported on a case-by-case basis:

• Holocaust education: only supported when clearly linked to Jewish continuity, contemporary community life, family history, or local heritage, connecting the past to the present and future of Jewish life. Projects focused solely on historical commemoration are not eligible for funding.
• Jewish kindergartens: only supported for specific Jewish educational programs.
• Media/Magazines/Newspapers/Exhibitions: only supported if integrated into a broader educational and/or leadership development program and actively used in practice.

Allowed under certain conditions:

• Recreational or social activities: only supported if they directly contribute to a primary educational and/or leadership development objective.
• Short programs or online components: only supported if they demonstrate clear educational and/or leadership development value.
• Formal education approaches: only supported if they demonstrate strong alignment with the Jewish community.
• Projects with a travel element: only supported if they are part of a structured learning program and include meaningful engagement with the local Jewish community.

Not eligible for funding:

• General welfare: humanitarian/emergency relief activities.
• Infrastructure: building renovations, furniture.
• Grave preservation/cleaning/restoration.
• Books.
• Individual Jewish or language lessons outside a broader Jewish community setting.
• Strictly passive learning formats, such as one-way online lectures without interactive components.
• For-profit projects.
• Material support for Holocaust survivors.

Leadership Development Projects

Specific criteria

• Leadership development projects must have a clear Jewish educational dimension and a direct connection to Jewish community life. Generic skills training (e.g. lobbying, public speaking, management) is only supported if it includes specific Jewish content or demonstrates a clear link to community-building.
• Projects may include training for emerging and existing local leaders and volunteers through organizational skills training, including training delivered by external providers, provided that this strengthens the long-term capacity of the Jewish community.
• The project should empower local leaders by building shared expertise and encouraging participants, especially young local Jews, to become active, long-term contributors to their Jewish communities.