Tikkun Olam Grant

Jewish Helping Hands launched the Tikkun Olam Grant program in 2012 to advance its goal of inspiring and supporting tzedakah, justice, and righteousness throughout the world. The program is intended to help vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad through initiatives focused on economic development and social empowerment, particularly populations that have been overlooked or marginalized. Jewish Helping Hands seeks sustainable and scalable programs developed in cooperation with local communities and aims to support projects that make a tangible and lasting difference. The organization also seeks to share its experience and expertise with grant partners. For the 2026/2027 cycle, Jewish Helping Hands is focusing primarily on projects that provide basic necessities for a decent life, including women's empowerment, education, food, shelter, clothing, water, health, internet connectivity, and gender equity. Geographic areas receiving special focus include East Africa, Central America, North America, impoverished Jewish communities, and Israel. The funder particularly seeks grassroots organizations that use resources local to their communities and projects supporting community welfare, safety, and health. Preference is given to organizations with total operating budgets under $750,000 and to projects that otherwise would not be possible without Jewish Helping Hands assistance. Jewish Helping Hands will consider grants to individuals or organizations that show clear promise to respond to unmet needs of poor or marginalized people, promote self-help and empowerment within communities, or accomplish both objectives. Applicants are encouraged to create partnerships with other organizations and local populations and to demonstrate respect for community opinions and ideas. The program does not fund capital, political campaigns, scholarships, fellowships, or programs administered by for-profit entities. Grant funds cannot subsidize overhead, administrative salaries or expenses, conference fees or expenses, or travel. One hundred percent of a grant must be used for the intended program. Tikkun Olam Grants are awarded annually, and a typical project may receive up to $10,000, with award amounts potentially affected by geographic location, the local economy, and other circumstances. Grant recipients may apply for renewal, and organizations may also apply for additional grants for new projects. No minimum award, total program funding, number of awards, required matching contribution, or predetermined grant duration is stated in the supplied material. The duration and details of individual grants are announced when recipients are contacted. The application process begins with an initial inquiry form, with Step One identified as due September 9, 2026. The supplied page also expressly states that Jewish Helping Hands is no longer accepting grants for the 2026/2027 cycle and has received the submissions for that cycle. Selected organizations are scheduled to be notified by November 2, 2026 and invited to complete a Full Application by December 3, 2026. The Full Application begins with a Letter of Application of no more than three pages describing the need, objective, methodology, expected impact, possible duplication of existing community services, organization or responsible-person contact information, mission, method for measuring success, target constituency, specific objective, operating budgets, and beneficiary involvement. Required attachments include a proposed project or program operating budget showing the amount requested from Jewish Helping Hands and expected funding from other sources. When applicable, applicants must also provide the organization's general operating budget and IRS determination letter of nonprofit status or a non-US equivalent. From January 18 through March 15, 2027, the Grant Making Committee will notify finalists of their status and invite all finalists to interviews conducted in person, by video chat, or by telephone. Jewish Helping Hands may also conduct site visits. Grant recipients are scheduled to be contacted on May 17, 2027, when grant duration and other details will be announced. After an award, Jewish Helping Hands maintains ongoing contact with funded projects. Grantees must provide progress and financial reports concerning the use and results of funding and cooperate with potential site or working visits. Applications and grant-related questions are directed to grants@jewishhelpinghands.org. Tikkun Olam Grants are awarded annually, so the opportunity is recurring even though the supplied page states that submissions for the 2026/2027 cycle are no longer being accepted.

Focus on unmet needs of poor or marginalized populations and self-help and empowerment; demonstrate tangible and lasting impact; show sustainability and scalability; involve beneficiaries and local populations; describe partnerships with other local organizations where applicable; emphasize use of local resources; clearly explain how success will be measured; organizations under $750,000 in total operating budget receive preference; demonstrate that the project would otherwise not be possible without JHH assistance