Matching Grants

Forward Together

Support and invest in camp success.

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s JCamp 180® to invest $25 million in Jewish camps to inspire continued giving and attract new donors to meet their missions.

Forward Together

The Forward Together matching grant will invest $25 million over the next five years (2023 – 2027) to more than 100 nonprofit Jewish overnight camps affiliated with JCamp 180. 

Forward Together will provide unrestricted support to the camps along with capital investments for the physical improvements that are necessary for camp success. 

Harold Grinspoon, benefactor and co-founder of the HGF, believes camps are among the most important assets of the Jewish community, providing impactful experiences for Jewish young people to become enculturated in Jewish traditions, values and identity. Grinspoon has invested more than $55 million dollars in Jewish camps through JCamp 180 over the past 28 years.

ICYMI: New $50M Commitment for JCamp 180 Overnight Camps, beginning in 2027!

“I never was able to go to a Jewish camp, but I know they are crucial ways for young people to plant the roots of lifelong Jewish connections. I was overjoyed to have visited multiple camps in person this past summer after two summers away due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I saw camps brimming with life, although continuing to struggle with significant mental health, staffing, and infrastructure challenges after the pandemic. The Forward Together grant renews my commitment to helping position Jewish non-profit overnight camps for long-term sustainability for generations.” 

Harold Grinspoon, Benefactor, Co-founder

JCamp 180 Director Sarah Eisinger says the timing of the grant is critical as camps seek to build on past fundraising successes.

“The Harold Grinspoon Foundation support for Jewish summer camp is enduring and we are proud to make this commitment over these next five years,” says Eisinger. “This support will give the camps the resources and tools to maintain and steward their current donors and attract new ones. We hope this match gives the camps the confidence to continue sharing the power of Jewish camp so they can be sustainable into the future.” 

Forward Together is a 1:3 matching grant where the HGF disburses $1 for every $3 the camp raises.

Each camp will receive a base allocation of funds; if they raise four times the allocation within the grant period, the camp will receive a $10,000 bonus.

 About JCamp 180

JCamp 180 works with more than 100 nonprofit Jewish overnight camps and nearly 40 nonprofit Jewish day camps across North America, providing them with grants, consulting, training and resources, and providing their professional teams and lay leaders with professional development programs to build their organizational effectiveness. JCamp 180 believes that when Jewish camps are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources for long-term organizational excellence they will operate thriving camps that create lifelong Jewish connections.   

 About the Harold Grinspoon Foundation

Inspired by the deep meaning and joy offered by Jewish living, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation helps people connect to Jewish values, faith, traditions, and culture and build vibrant Jewish communities.  

Forward Together 2026

In 2026, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s JCamp 180® is entering the fourth year of its five-year, $25 million investment in Jewish overnight camps to inspire continued giving and attract new donors to meet their missions.

 Key Dates

Grant Agreement Renewal Letter Available in Grants Portal
(after 2025 donation tracking and narrative reports are submitted)		 January 2026
Grant Agreement Letter Due March 2, 2026
Final Narrative Report Available in Grants Portal January 4, 2027
Payment Processing Deadline February 1, 2027
Final Narrative Report Due February 1, 2027
Grant Period January 1 – December 31, 2026

The Forward Together matching grants will invest $25 million over five years (2023 – 2027) to more than 100 nonprofit Jewish overnight camps affiliated with JCamp 180. Forward Together provides unrestricted support to the camps along with capital investments for the physical improvements that are necessary for camp success. 

Forward Together is a 1:3 matching grant where the HGF disburses $1 for every $3 the camp raises.

Each camp will receive a base allocation of funds.

 Guidelines

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation has committed $25 Million, $5 million per year (2023-2027) in matching funds to nonprofit Jewish overnight camps to support camps as they move beyond the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and build on their fundraising success during the pandemic period.

Grant period

January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026

February 1, 2027

The final reporting deadline, including submission of the donation tracking report, and the final narrative report, which will include questions regarding the actual use of the funds, both for unrestricted and physical or capital improvements.

Bonus

There is no bonus associated with Forward Together 2026.

Eligibility

Forward Together 2026 is offered to Jewish overnight camps affiliated with JCamp 180. A full list of eligible overnight camps can be found here. This campaign is by invitation only and applications will be approved by JCamp 180.

Grant usage and match amount

One-half of the Matching Grant is Restricted to Physical or Capital Improvements:

  • A minimum of one-half of the HGF grant amount and the funds raised as a match to that one-half of HGF grant amount must be used for capital improvements (“HGF Capital Allocation”).  See a list of qualified physical improvements at the bottom of this page. 

  • The other half of the HGF grant amount is unrestricted for any use (“HGF Unrestricted Allocation”).

For camps that do not own real estate

JCamp 180 has made allowances for the use of the portion of their grant designated for physical or capital improvements. To the extent possible, half of the JCamp 180 provided funds should be used toward physical improvements such as major equipment, storage units, or other infrastructure projects.  However, if these uses for the HGF funds are not possible, HGF provided funds may be used to pay the cost of site occupancy (rental fees).

The chart below outlines how funds should be used for capital and unrestricted expenses:

  HGF Grant Camp Raises Total Funds Raised
  $50,000 $150,000 $200,000
Use of Funds      
Capital $25,000 $ 75,000 $100,000
Unrestricted $25,000 $ 75,000 $100,000
Total $50,000 $150,000 $200,000

Earning the HGF grant

HGF Physical and Capital Improvement Allocation

The portion of the HGF grant designated for physical or capital improvement use may only be matched by unrestricted funds or funds restricted for these improvements.

HGF Unrestricted Allocation

The portion of the HGF grant whose use is unrestricted may be matched by any gift to the camp.

Gift Matching Eligibility

Gifts eligible to be matched

  • Cash or cash equivalent. Stocks, bonds, and other cash equivalents will be matched.

  • Gifts of any amount up to 3 times (3X) the camp’s base grant will be matched, capped at the total grant amount offered to your camp.

  • Gifts must be received by the camp between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026.

  • Grants from Jewish federations or similar agencies directly in response to the Forward Together 2026 Grant (Regular allocations do not count, as included below).

Gifts not eligible to be matched

  • Gifts from anonymous donors if reported with incomplete donor contact information.

  • In-kind contributions, discounts on services or goods, art, real estate, or other non-cash instruments will not be matched by HGF.

  • Regular allocation from Jewish federations or similar agencies are not eligible to be matched.

  • Government relief funds are not eligible.

  • One Happy Camper or PJ Goes to Camp Incentive Grant funds will not be matched. 

  • If the recipient camp is currently in another active HGF matching grant through JCamp 180, donations may only be submitted to one HGF grant to be matched.

  • The full list of overnight camps eligible for the Forward Together 2026 grant can be found here.
  • All participating camps must apply for the grant through the HGF on-line Grant System and be approved.  
  • Participating camps must sign and submit a Grant Agreement Letter. The letter will be generated and sent through the HGF Online Grant System.
  • Upon the grant’s conclusion, camps must submit a Final Narrative Report including the number of donors, total amount raised, and how funds were used for both unrestricted and physical or capital improvement uses.
  • To be eligible for future Forward Together grants, the final report for Forward Together 2026 is due on or before February 1, 2027. HGF requests that pictures of any physical or capital improvement projects (even if still in progress) funded under this grant be submitted at the time of the Final Report.

Please note:

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation will make a single payment within 30 days of approval of a camp’s final report beginning in August 2026.

  • Disbursements may be made via electronic payment or by check.
  • All decisions for matching funds are at the sole discretion of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Terms and conditions are subject to change and/or termination at any time.

  • Purchase or construction or renovation of new buildings (dining facilities, washhouses, health centers, staff housing, cabins, program spaces, recreation halls, etc.)
  • Shade pavilions for outdoor programming
  • Waterfront improvements for pools or lakes; Major repair to or replacement of docks for boats or swimming at waterfront; Purchase of pool liners or covers or repairs to pool and pool equipment (filters and pumps)
  • Ballfields
  • Splash pads/Playgrounds
  • Climbing walls; Reconstruction of high ropes facilities (not routine repairs)
  • Amphitheater and other sacred spaces
  • Reconstruction of outdoor facilities use for Shabbat services or other camp meetings (includes replacement of seating or shade system but not routine repair of those)
  • Treehouses
  • Stand-alone moveable major equipment (boats, farming equipment, bicycles, exercise equipment, sports equipment, picnic tables, playgrounds)
  • Roof replacements (but not roof repairs)
  • Underground piping (water or sewer) replacement (but not repairs to same)
  • Installation of outdoor lighting
  • Installation of new facilities or modifications to existing facilities that address climate change (including wildfire suppression, flooding, or other environmental impacts); Projects that offer energy savings
  • Installation of new siding on buildings
  • Replacement of kitchen equipment
  • Repaving of driveways, walkways, and parking areas
  • Electrical system upgrades
  • Installations that will enable the introduction of new programs such as garden facilities, sports facilities, or others that have an expected life of 10 years or longer.  (e.g. sports walls, garden landscaping and fencing, ga-ga pit walls)
  • Landscaping equipment including- riding lawnmowers and landscape tractors for use in maintaining camp grounds
  • Painting
  • Mobile programming trailers/vehicles/spaces: e.g. kitchen, arts & crafts, theater/drama, STEM
  • Technology for a computer lab
  • Storage/shipping containers

  • FFE:  Furniture, Fixtures, equipment for existing buildings (Includes new beds, mattresses, office equipment)
  • Camp supplies for the summer (art and other programming supplies)
  • Portable electronic equipment (video, drones, office computer equipment)
  • Staff wages, salaries, or benefits, either part-time or full-time
  • Expenses that have appeared in the operating budget in the past 3 years
  • Vehicles to transport children on and off-site

 Frequently Asked Questions

Click on a frequently asked question below to view the answer.

Camps will be notified of the base challenge grant amount in the grant agreement renewal letter. These letters will be released in early 2026 after fulfilling all Forward Together 2025 Reporting Requirements.

Yes, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and JCamp 180 have made a commitment to provide matching grants to affiliated camps in each year over the five-year period, 2023-2027.  Donors can be told of this commitment.  Although the Foundation’s overall commitment to the JCamp 180 overnight camping program was confirmed to be $5 million per year, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation has reserved the right to adjust the precise matching grant allocation to each camp in 2024-2027.

Yes. The only requirement is that a minimum of 50% of the Forward Together grant be spent on capital.

Annual, standard grants from a Federation that are, or have previously been made available to any Federation-supported organization, does not qualify for matching in the Forward Together program. Grants from a Federation that are designated for a capital improvement qualify for matching within the Forward Together grant program as long as the grant is paid in the 2026 calendar year.

Projects do not need to be completed by 12/31/2026. In your Final Narrative Report, you will be asked to provide a status update on the designated Physical Improvement Project as well as photos of the project that this grant supported.

Although the Harold Grinspoon Foundation would be honored to have a named element in the camp's building project that is funded by Forward Together, that is not a requirement. Any acknowledgement of the gift should be designated as being from “The Harold Grinspoon Foundation” or “JCamp 180, a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.”

HGF will begin processing payments in August 2026 and will be making one payment each year.

 Participating Camps

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Need More Information?

Have additional questions about Forward Together?

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