Giving Initiative for Teens

Jewish Teens. Making a Difference.

The Giving Initiative for Teens (GIFT) is part of a national program to teach teens about grant-making, non-profit management, fundraising, and Jewish values. The program encourages engagement in the community and empowers teens to be part of the grant-making process from start to finish, as they work together to raise and allocate funds to distribute to local non-profits. GIFT runs from roughly October to June, with applications for the upcoming school year opening each spring.

Our 2021-22 teens raised $7,000 for local non-profits. Read more about their impact >>

2022-23 Dates

Dates for 2022-23 will be announced soon.

Support GIFT

A donation in support of the Giving Initiative for Teens program allows us to continue this important work in providing a space for teens to gain leadership and philanthropy experiences.

 

 

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Application & Nomination Forms

Applicants must be in 9th-12th grades in fall 2022 to be eligible. The cost is $300 per participant ($200 registration fee; $100 donation to GIFT fundraising pool). Financial assistance is available. If you have questions, please contact Sr. Manager Youth + Recreation Jackie Kleinstein.

Applying for a Second Year? If you’re a returning GIFT participant, please submit this form >>

Read more:

• Using their Voices to Make Concrete Change
• Giving Initiative for Teens Raises Over $22,000 for Local Organizations
• 2019-20 Cohort of Teen Philanthropists Give $28,000 to Local Organizations
• SJCC Launches New Teen Philanthropy Program
• GIFT Selects Fundraising Priorities for 2018-19
• Giving Initiative for Teens Awards More Than $21,000 to Local Non-Profits
• Meet the Next Generation of Jewish Philanthropists: Putting Their Money Where Their Values Are

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Testimonials

“If raising money for GIFT has taught me anything, it is persistence. We cannot wait around and be patient when there is a job to do, or a fire to put out, or people who need our help. The world is insistent, but we are insistent too.” – Devon Benaroya

“Our cohort felt strongly about channeling our experience this past year—both with a racial reckoning and the pandemic—into meaningful action.” – Sandor Weiss

“We decided to focus our funding on racial equity in health care because it is our responsibility to do our part and help the community, and every person deserves the same quality of and access to health care and treatment. [Our cohort] aspires to bridge the racial divide within health care accessibility in pursuit of equity and racial justice.” – Maggie DeLeon

“Human dignity and justice aren’t optional. We are all responsible for upholding these values in our own lives.” – Mila Shulman

“The GIFT program has been an amazing experience. I have learned so much about grant writing and the end-to-end fundraising efforts it takes to build relationships and raise funds. Thank you to all the leaders, participants, and organizations for this fantastic opportunity and I know the skills I have learned will play an integral role as I start my new adventure into college.’ – Hannah Boden

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GIFT 2021-22 Grantee Organizations

• Climate Solutions
• Mary’s Place
• Seattle T2P2

GIFT 2020-21 Grantee Organizations

• Jewish Family Service
• Plymouth Family Housing
• Atlantic Street Center
• New Horizons
• Facing Homelessness

GIFT 2019-20 Grantee Organizations

• Facing Homelessness
• FareStart
• Kent Youth and Family Services
• Leket Israel
• Recovery Café
• Ryther
• Therapeutic Health Services

GIFT 2018-2019 Grantee Organizations

• Eastside Legal Assistance Program
• Jewish Family Services
• Kent Youth and Family Services
• King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
• Mary’s Place
• Sound Mental Health

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Thank you to our generous sponsors

The Foundation Board Incubator is a project of Honeycomb, generously funded by Laura Lauder and the Maimonides Fund. GIFT is generously funded by Honeycomb, the Samis Foundation, and the Bianco family.