We're excited to announce that last week the Harold Grinspoon Foundation board of trustees approved a major increase in funding for the overnight camps affiliated with JCamp180!
JCamp 180 will double its commitment on the current Forward Together and Endowment Accelerator grants, making a new $50M commitment to support nonprofit Jewish overnight camps across North America: $10M in matching grants each year over five years to support more than 100 Jewish overnight camps. New funding levels will start in 2027. Read our press release: The Harold Grinspoon Foundation Announces $50M Challenge Grant to Support Jewish Camps Over 5 Years.
Forward Together and the Endowment Accelerator will continue to support three areas: physical/capital improvements, general unrestricted uses, and endowment building.
Read on for answers to frequently asked questions:
What does this mean for my camp?
JCamp 180 will be meeting all of its 2026 grant obligations for Forward Together 2026. In 2027, camps will receive a new grant amount to be matched. For the current Endowment Accelerator, JCamp 180 will finish its grant commitments in 2027 as planned, and will roll out a new endowment grant offering.
What is our camp's new Forward Together 2027 grant allocation?
Stay tuned! We will notify camps of their camp’s new grant amount in the coming months. Following receiving the grant amount, camps will be required to submit a short application to share how the dollars will be utilized and matched. Exact dates and deadlines will be shared soon.
What are the rules of Forward Together in 2027?
The rules of the new Forward Together grant will generally be the same as Forward Together 2023-2026:
- Each camp will be allotted a grant amount derived from a formula based on their camper weeks and beds (capacity).
- The grant will need to be matched on a 1:3 basis - HGF grants $1 for every $3 that camps match.
- Forward Together 2027 will continue to support 50% for physical improvements/capital and 50% for unrestricted uses.
- The grant period will be calendar year 2027 with annual reporting requirements.
What about support for 2028 and beyond?
Support for 2028 and beyond will be announced at a later date, but is expected to follow a similar grant design with annual reporting.
What about the current Endowment Accelerator Grant ending December 2027?
JCamp 180 will meet all of its current Endowment Accelerator obligations through the end of 2027. Camps participating in the Endowment Accelerator will not be able to apply for additional Endowment Accelerator funds until completion of the current grant.
What if our camp has completed the current Endowment Accelerator Grant?
For camps that have finished the Endowment Accelerator and other camps who are interested in joining the new Endowment Accelerator grant, we are developing guidelines for our next grant which will be available for calendar year 2027. Please stay tuned.
What's next?
There will be a grant application for 2027 for Forward Together (supporting physical improvements/capital and unrestricted uses), which will be released in the coming months.
There will also be new grant guidelines and application for the next Endowment Accelerator Grant.
Will JCamp 180 invite new camps to affiliate and be eligible for Forward Together funding?
JCamp 180 is happy to meet and consider additional nonprofit Jewish overnight camps for affiliation. We periodically invite camps to apply. Please reach out to jcamp180@hgf.org if you are interested in participating in the JCamp 180 program.
What funding is available for Day Camps?
Applications for the sixth round of the Day Camp Matching Grant are open now! Any nonprofit Jewish day camp in the U.S. or Canada who meet eligibility requirements can apply for funding in 2027 by October 16, 2026.
For additional questions, please reach out to your camp’s Relationship Manager or email jcamp180@hgf.org.
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Who we are: JCamp 180 is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF). JCamp 180 invests in the long-term organizational effectiveness of nonprofit Jewish camps to ensure our community’s future and connection to Judaism. We partner with professional staff, lay leadership, movements, and allied organizations to inspire a culture that promotes philanthropic support by focusing on strategic planning, governance, and fundraising, and providing matching grants, consulting services, professional development, and research. Find more at www.jcamp180.org