Dare to Think Big

The Cutting Edge Grants Initiative encourages creative thinkers, social entrepreneurs and innovative organizations to propose significant and transformative programs of high visibility and impact.

The Foundation is interested in funding cutting edge programs for up to three years that address important needs in the Los Angeles Jewish community.

To determine if your program is the right fit for a Cutting Edge Grant, complete our Eligibility Checklist, or view a list of previous Cutting Edge Grant recipients.

Grant Awards

The Foundation awards grants of up to $250,000. Grant awards will be announced in July 2010.

Application Process and Deadlines

• Grantseekers Workshop - Wednesday, October 14, 2009
  
  Concept paper application forms are not available prior to the Grantseekers' Workshop. If you were unable to attend the workshop but are interested in applying for a Cutting Edge Grant, please submit your request by emailing grants@jewishfoundationla.org and we will send you an application form.
  
  
• Concept Paper Due - Monday, November 30, 2009
• Selected Concept Papers Invited to Apply - February 2010
• Full Applications Due - March 2010
• Grant Awards Announced - July 2010

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

In order to participate in The Foundation's Cutting Edge Grants Initiative, you must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Existing nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) or a collaboration of nonprofit agencies
• Social entrepreneur(s) or group of community activists partnered with an appropriate fiscal receiver.

Program Eligibility Requirements

The following types of programs that benefit the Los Angeles Jewish community are eligible for consideration:

• Cutting edge programs that have not been tested previously in any location
• Programs that have been piloted in Los Angeles, proved to be viable and are proposed for community-wide implementation
• Programs operating elsewhere in the United States that may be suitable for trial replication or adaptation in the Los Angeles area
• A program developed by a social entrepreneur or group of social activists (where a board of directors and/or nonprofit status have not yet been established), designed to lead to a new charitable organization and partnered in the interim with an appropriate nonprofit fiscal sponsor

Selection Criteria for Concept Papers

When selecting programs for funding, we look for the following:

• Programs that offer significant benefits and the capacity to transform the Los Angeles Jewish community
• Programs that are aligned with, and appropriate to, the applicant organization's mission
• Applicants that have substantiated a community need for the proposed program
• Programs with clearly articulated short- and long-term measurable outcomes

Program Exclusions

The following types of programs and applicants are excluded from consideration for this grant category:

• Individuals, private foundations or endowment programs
• Individual synagogues or day schools
• Organizations awarded a previous Cutting Edge Grant that will not be concluded before the year of the new request
• Ongoing general operating expenses, including fundraising campaigns and existing financial deficits
• Programs based on travel
• Capital projects
• Programs not proposed for implementation in Los Angeles

Eligibility Checklist

If you can answer "YES" to ALL of these questions, your program may be eligible for a Cutting Edge Grant:

• Does your organization serve the Los Angeles Jewish community?
• Are you either a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or a group of social entrepreneur(s) with a nonprofit organization serving as your fiscal sponsor?
• Is your program aligned with the mission of the applicant organization or partnering fiscal sponsor?
• Does your program address a substantiated community need and have the capacity to transform the Los Angeles Jewish community?
• Does your program have unique elements that set it apart from existing programs and make it a cutting edge innovation?
• Does your program fall into one of these categories?
  • A program that has not yet been tested in any location
  • A program that has been piloted in Los Angeles, proved to be viable and is proposed for community-wide implementation
  • A program operating elsewhere in the United States that may be suitable for trial replication or adaptation in the Los Angeles area
  • A program that is developed by social entrepreneurs and will lead to a new charitable organization (nonprofit status and/or a board of directors has not yet been established)

Are you certain that you are NOT seeking support for ANY of these?

• A private foundation or endowment program
• A previous Cutting Edge Grant awardee whose Foundation grant will still be active in the same year as the request
• Ongoing general operating support
• A fundraising campaign
• To offset an existing financial deficit
• A program based on travel
• Capital projects
• A program proposed for implementation outside of Los Angeles

God bless the Jewish Community Foundation. You are continuing the Jewish tradition of tzedakah, philanthropy, and in a very accountable way. It was challenging to get the grant because we went through a very thorough screening process. I think the community should understand that they can have a lot of confidence when they give money to the Jewish Community Foundation because the money is being used carefully and wisely.

Rabbi Michael Ravnoy,
Executive Director of the Friendship Circle of Los Angeles

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