Jewish Teen Foundation FAQs
Which ages/grades can apply to JTF?
Teens entering 9th-12th grades are welcome to apply.
What is the time commitment to be a participant?
Meeting times are available under the “Program” tab for Board Members, and under the “Leadership” tab for the Leadership Council, as well as the approximated time commitments outside of the scheduled meetings.
Board meetings are held on Sundays from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.
JTF makes every effort to avoid scheduling meetings on Jewish holidays, school finals, vacations, and other large community events that interest teens and Jewish families.
When are applications open?
The 2024-2025 JTF application is open now until May 1! The earlier you get your application in, the better, as we will begin scheduling interviews until Mid-May.
When are interviews?
Interviews are scheduled on a rolling basis until Mid-May. As soon as your teen fills out the application and completes the next steps, we will be in touch via email about scheduling an interview.
When are applicants notified of acceptance to JTF?
Teens applying for the 2024-2025 JTF Board will be notified by the beginning of July.
How many times can a teen participate in JTF?
There are no restrictions on the number of years a teen may participate in JTF. Teens are encouraged to partake for multiple years, as each years’ mission changes, and participating in multiple years increases the opportunity to take a deeper dive into various issues and populations.
Philanthropic skills, such as fundraising, require constant practice and improvement. It is one thing to get a one-time donor, but how do you foster that relationship over two years or more? Each year, your skills become more refined and dynamic.
Following your first year on the JTF Board, you can apply to join the Leadership Council to deepen your learning and establish your skills as a leader and mentor.
The Leadership Council is an opportunity for second, third, or fourth-year members to gain additional leadership training and experience by preparing for and leading meetings, mentoring peers, and making executive decisions on behalf of the Board.
What is the financial commitment for participation in JTF?
The program fee is $1,000 to support the staff and operating costs of the program.
Financial assistance is available to families on a case-by-case basis. Contact Rachel Halevi for more information regarding financial assistance.
How Jewish is JTF?
No prior Jewish knowledge is required. We are here to learn and grow together! Everything we do is Jewish and here is how:
- We begin by fortifying our knowledge of Jewish rituals, values, and text.
- We move beyond knowledge to implementation, identifying and practicing the utilization of our faith in all our words, actions, decision-making, and relationships.
- We consistently seek to evolve as Jews, elevating expectations of ourselves, and our capacity for good. This is driven by our compassion for others and ourselves, through humble and sincere words and behaviors.
What is the educational framework of JTF?
Awareness of:
- The complexity of issues in their community
- The history and root causes of issues
- The diversity of past and current solutions attempted by the community
- The demographics of populations affected by an issue
- The scope of philanthropic contributions of community members and foundations
- The past, present, and potential of one’s personal relationship to Judaism
Access to:
- Individuals affected by the issue
- Individuals and organizations financially investing in solutions
- Individuals and organizations working to address the issue in and out of the Jewish community
- Innovative decision-makers and thought-leaders
Opportunity for:
- Dramatically increased knowledge about community issues
- Igniting a lifelong passion for philanthropic and social justice
- Identification and activation of personal abilities/talents
- Future professional or volunteer participation in the nonprofit/philanthropic worlds
- Making a real impact in their community and the lives of others
- The practical implementation of Jewish values in all aspects of their work
- The identification and enhancement of natural and learned leadership abilities
How long has JTF been around?
Since 2004, JTF has pioneered the successful model of engaging a full spectrum of Jewish teens in philanthropic social action drawing on centuries of Jewish wisdom and practice. Over the past 17 years, our 800+ teen Board members have collectively raised over $2.2 million dollars and funded over 300 grants to local, Israeli, and global nonprofits they are passionate about. Causes our teens have supported include at-risk youth, people experiencing homelessness, protecting the environment, education, and healthcare to global Jewish vulnerable communities.
