Alternative Break Expansion Grants: Serving to Make a Difference
OVERVIEW:
Alternative Break Expansion grants are intended to support significant growth in the participation of Jewish students in transformative, meaningful Jewish service learning experiences. Grants will be awarded to campuses demonstrating growth in Alternative Breaks by 1) increasing student participation by minimum 50%, or 2) offering a campus-organized Hurricane Katrina Alternative Break. Grants will be awarded based on a competitive evaluation process. Priority will be given to the increase in students, not the total number of students participating.
ELIGIBILITY SCENARIOS:
Scenario #1:
1. This is the first Alternative Break my Hillel has ever offered/organized before. ∠ Yes ∠ No
Scenario #2:
1. My Hillel offered only one Alternative Break last year. ∠ Yes ∠ No
2. My Hillel is offering more than one Alternative Break this year.
∠ Yes ∠ No
Scenario #3
1. My Hillel is increasing the number of participants by a minimum of 50% from last year. ∠ Yes ∠ No
(Preference will be given to campuses increasing participation by more than 50%)
Scenario #4
1. My Hillel is not participating in Schusterman International Center- coordinated Hurricane Katrina Alternative Break. ∠ Yes ∠ No
2. My Hillel is organizing its own Hurricane Katrina Alternative Break.
∠ Yes ∠ No
Scenario #5
1. My Hillel is applying for a renewal Alternative Break grant. ∠ Yes ∠ No
2. My Hillel is offering at minimum the same number of Alternative Breaks offered last year. ∠ Yes ∠ No
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If you answered YES to all questions in the scenario applicable to your Hillel, then your Hillel is eligible to apply for an Alternative Break Expansion Grant.
If you answered NO to any question in the scenario applicable to your Hillel, then your Hillel is not eligible to apply for this grant. Please email abgrants@hillel.org to access Friends Asking Friends, Hillel’s online fundraising tool for additional fundraising opportunities. |
Alternative Break Expansion Grant CRITERIA (In addition to fulfilling at least one scenario above.)
Meaningful Hands-On Service: Each Alternative Break must have a minimum of 25 hours of hands-on service over 7 days, with an additional 5 hours per extra day.
Education/Reflection: Each Alternative Break must have a minimum of 10 hours of education over 7 days, with an additional1 hour per extra day. Education is broadly defined to include reflection, issue education, Jewish discussion, speakers, etc.
Orientation: Alternative Breaks must include a minimum of two orientation sessions.
Follow-through: A detailed follow-through plan that includes (but should not be only ) at least one post-trip session that includes reflection, celebration and action. Please note follow-through is about connecting students to their next opportunity, not just about a post-trip session.
Participation Numbers: Each Alternative Break experience must have a minimum of 10 students and one staff person.
Staffing: All Hillel professionals leading the Alternative Break must have attended a 2 – 3 day immersion experience training over the last two years, or attend the one-day immersion experience training being held the day before Hillel’s International Professional Staff Conference in December.
Location: Grants are available for both domestic and international site locations.
Length: Each Alternative Break must be a minimum of 7 days.
Participant Commitment: All participants must be open to sharing their experience through multi-media outlets and helping with recruitment for Jewish service programs the following year.
Data sharing: The following data about each participant must be shared with Schusterman International Center for evaluation and tracking purposes: name, address, cell phone, school, trip, year of graduation.
Evaluation: Commit to participating in any evaluation set by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, which may consist of online surveys and/or focus groups.
Other Areas of Note:
• Funding from this grant may be applied to Jewish students only.
• The following Alternative Breaks are not eligible for grant funding: Hillel’s Hurricane Katrina Alterative Break, Organic Farm Alternative Break, Student Led Alternative Break, CEI Alternative Break. These programs are already highly subsidized.
• Initiatives must have clearly articulated goals and strategies for recruitment, orientation and follow-through.
• Students must pay a fee for participation (no Alternative Break trip should be completely free).
• Funding may not be used for fundraisers, promotional items, or alcohol.
• Retro-active requests will not be considered.
HOW MUCH ARE THE GRANTS FOR?
• Domestic Alternative Break experiences will be awarded an average of $300 per student participant.
• International Alternative Break experiences will be awarded an average of $600 per student participant.
• Campus organized Hurricane Katrina Alternative Breaks will be awarded $100- $150 per student participant.
• Grant amounts may be capped for larger groups.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Grants will be reviewed on a rolling basis until October 17, 2008. Campuses will be notified decisions the end of October.
APPLYING FOR A GRANT
Applications for this grant are accepted on-line. You do not have to fill out the application all at once (you will be able to save your work and return to complete it), however we still recommend that you look at a sample blank application before filling it out to make sure you have all the necessary information. If you do not feel that you can sufficiently answer the questions in the space provided online, we encourage you to attach word documents with additional information.
Apply Now
Questions? Contact:
abgrants@hillel.org
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life recognizes the generosity of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation in making this grant possible.
http://www.schusterman.org/