Jewish Incubator Grants

2026 Jewish Incubator Grants Request for Proposal

Jewish Incubator Grants Committee Chair: Charles Penan

The Jewish Incubator Grants Committee provides grants from Federation’s Annual Campaign to support innovative and/or impactful programs, services, or technologies that enrich and strengthen Miami’s Jewish community. Grants are available to organizations, synagogues, agencies, and schools aligned with one or more of the following priorities: 

Funding Priorities: 

1. A Safety Net for the Vulnerable - Programs that care for those in need in Miami 
2. Educating and Advancing Jewish Identity - Programs that deepen Jewish knowledge, attract participation in Jewish life, and strengthen identity through formal and informal education, holiday and lifecycle events, leadership development, cultural engagement, and creative expression in art, music, or storytelling 
3. Building Our Community - Programs that promote a unified, inclusive community that embodies service, belonging, and advocacy 

What We Look for in Funded Programs: Innovation with Impact 

We define innovation as bold, creative, and strategic thinking about how we engage, support, and inspire Miami’s Jewish community. We are especially interested in ideas that address unmet needs, reach new audiences, or reframe how we think about Jewish life. 

A program is considered innovative and impactful if it meets one or more of the following: 

• Responds to emerging or unmet needs by creating something new in the Miami Jewish community 
• Refines or reimagines existing programs to increase impact, access, or relevance 
• Introduces novel components or models informed by new insights or approaches 
• Applies creative methods, partnerships, or technologies, including those adapted from other sectors 
• Delivers meaningful content or support on an ongoing basis 
  (Note: one-time programs must demonstrate strategic value or potential to scale) 
• Achieves clearly defined outcomes, reaching either: 
• A broad segment of the Jewish community, or 
• A specific underserved population with potential for broader impact 
• Takes informed risks and embraces learning through experimentation 
• Tracks and shares measurable goals and outcomes 

Funding Priorities 

While all eligible applications will be considered, preference will be given to programs that: 

• Are new to Federation funding 
• Promote collaboration across organizations 
• Demonstrate potential for broader adoption or long-term sustainability 

Eligibility Eligible applicants include nonprofits with tax-exempt status (or fiscal sponsorship) that serve the Jewish community in Miami-Dade County. Nonprofits receiving other Federation grants must be in compliance with the terms of those awards to be considered. Only one application per organization will be accepted. 

Grants range from $2,500 to $10,000 and are competitively awarded. 

Funding Restrictions 

Federation innovation grants are intended to support programmatic efforts that advance community impact. Funding will not be awarded for the following: 

• Non-local travel (including airfare, hotel, and related expenses outside Greater Miami) 
• Scholarships or individual subsidies (e.g. tuition assistance, camperships) 
• Capital projects (e.g. building renovations, infrastructure, or major equipment not essential to program delivery) 
• Requests exceeding 50% of the total program cost (programs must reflect shared investment and sustainability) 
• Existing organizational expenses such as staff salaries or overhead already covered by other sources; these may be included in the total budget but are not eligible for grant funding 
• Programs based primarily outside Miami-Dade County 
• Political, partisan, or lobbying activities 
• Fundraising events or campaigns 

Deadline: Friday, September 12, 2025 at 4 PM 

If you have any questions, please contact 786.866.8498 or [email protected]. 

For technical questions, please contact the Submittable Support team at submittable.com/contact. 

To apply, please click here. You will be asked to create an account on the Submittable.com platform where you will be guided through the application form.