Overview

The Acharai Fund inspires families to engage together in meaningful Jewish philanthropy. Acharai is a completely volunteer organization where families collectively identify, select and support programs affecting Jews in Israel. The Acharai Fund’s goal is to provide its members with the opportunity to engage in philanthropy on a broader and deeper level than they could as individuals.

Acharai Fund’s mission is to provide high-impact grants that reach under-served populations, raise the profile of deserving but lesser known organizations, and highlight unmet needs throughout Israel. Acharai Fund families annually donate $5,000 each and pool their contributions to make large grants to nonprofit organizations. Each year, interested members participate in proposal review and evaluation and learn about the meaningful work conducted by nonprofits and amutotin Israel.

Grant recipients will be chosen by a vote of the Acharai Fund membership at theannual meeting in the fall. One of the four grant recipients will be selected by the votes of the “next generation” group comprised of the children of Acharai Fund families. In 2014, the Acharai Fund will award four grants for $50,000 each.

Eligibility Criteria and Funding Priorities:

Organizations eligible to apply for an Acharai Fund grant must be or have:

  • Tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code (or applying under an organization that has 501(c)(3) status) or is recognized as tax exempt as an amuta under the appropriate sections of the Israeli tax code
  • In operation at least 3 years prior to applying for a grant
  • In possession of independently prepared and audited financial statementsIN ENGLISH
  • Annual operating budgets above $250,000 and below $5 million
  • Limited access to large grants and do not have the resources of larger non-profit organizations

Projects eligible for an Acharai Fund grant must:

  • Have a total budget of at least $50,000
  • Allocate no more than 15% of the Acharai Fund grant to organizational overhead expenses
  • Expend funds within 15 months
  • Demonstrate measurable results and outcomes
  • Maintain a professional staff and board with the appropriate experience and expertise to enable the organization and its programs to succeed

This year, four$50,000 Grants will be awarded. All grants must be for programs/organizations in Israel and fall within these Focus Areasto enhance:

Youth At Risk

Individuals With Special Needs

Individuals Facing Abuse

Tolerance and Understanding between Jews and Arabs *

*This grant recipient will be decided upon by the “next generation” of Acharai Fund members

Acharai Fund will not provide grants for:

  • Individuals, private foundations or endowment funding
  • Debt reduction, operating deficits, interim or bridge funding or fundraising events
  • Multi-year funding requests

How To Apply:

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry – due by March 3, 2014

Applicants must download and submit a Letter of Inquiry (attached below). Letters of Inquiry must be sent by email to by March 1, 2014..

Step 2: Semi Finalist Organizations Will be Notified by May 15, 2014

Applicants will be asked to respond to specific questions regarding their LOI.

Step 3: Responses due June 1, 2014

Applicants must send their responses by email to by June1, 2014.

Step 4: Selection of Finalists

Acharai Fund members will review all applications and will select finalists by

July 1, 2014. At that time, finalists will receive specific guidelines for making a video presentation to be shown to all Acharai Fund members. These five-minute presentations must be sent to by August 20, 2014.

Step 5: Finalist Presentation and Selection of Grantees

The video presentations of all grantee finalists will be shown at the Acharai Fund annual meeting on September 28, 2014. Following these presentations, Acharai Fund members will vote by individual family ballot. Each family will have one vote to determine grant recipients. The grant for “Programs for Israeli Arabs and Jews: Promoting Tolerance and Understanding” will be determined by a group vote of the “next generation” of Acharai Fund members. Grant award winners will be notified by September 29, 2014.

Step 6: Payment of Grant and Reports/Evaluation

Prior to the release of funds to a project grantee, the recipient must complete theGrant Agreement. Acharai Fund may distribute grants in installments, depending on the nature of the project. Grantees must submit periodic reports as specified in the Grant Agreement.

For more information, go to or send questions to

LETTER OF INQUIRY FOR ACHARAI FUND GRANT

Name of Organization: ______

Address: ______

______

Telephone: ______Fax: ______

Contact Person/Title:______

Email: ______

Website: ______

Year Founded: ______Fiscal Year: ______

Title of Proposed Project:______

Project Start/Completion Dates: ______

Location of Project Activities: ______

Total Project Budget: ______

Organization’s current annual budget ______

This is a ☐ New or ☐ Existing Program. If existing, date started: ______

Is the applicant a 501(c)3 organization under the US Internal Revenue Code or amuta under Israeli tax code?

Yes#: ______

 No

If “No”, and the applicant is applying under another organization, list name here: ______

Select one of the following focusareas for your application to be considered:

☐ Youth At Risk

☐Individuals With Special Needs

☐Individuals Facing Abuse

☐ Tolerance and Understanding between Jews and Arabs

Please Complete the Narrative Attachment below. Please be sure that your response is no longer than 4 pages.

By typing my name below, I certify that I am the Executive Director of the applicant organization. I further certify that I have reviewed the information in this application, and it is accurate and complete.

Name: ______Date: ______

Telephone #: ______Email: ______

Narrative Attachment

Please provide the following information. The narrative should be typed in 12 point font and may not exceed 4 pages.

  1. Mission Statement: include a brief description of your organization’s mission, including notable successes.
  1. Summary of your existing primary programs in support of your mission.
  1. Detailed description of proposed project: Please give us a DETAILED description of the way you will utilize the grant from the Acharai Fund. Include the following SPECIFIC information:
  2. Brief narrative describing the project
  3. Timeline for program (what are the start and end dates for this project and any other significant dates?)
  4. What is the exact number of Individuals who will be impacted by the grant?
  5. How does this meet an unmet need in your community?
  6. If additional funds are needed for this project, how will you raise those other funds?
  7. If this is an expansion of an existing program, how long has this program been in existence?
  8. What makes your organization, and this specific program, UNIQUE?
  1. Sustainability: Describe your plans for the sustainability of this project. What are your future funding plans beyond the Acharai Fund grant period?
  1. Measurable goals:Briefly explain why your organization is requesting this grant and what outcomes you hope to achieve. What are your metrics for determining success?
  1. Evaluation: How do you evaluate the effectiveness of your programs? Please provide data and/or copies of past evaluation results AND specifics on how you plan to measure the impact and results of the Acharai Grant funds.
  1. Financial Information:Include the top five funding sources and the specific amountsdonated to your organization for the last completed fiscal year. How much of your contributions are annual gifts versus endowed gifts? Also, please include the percentage of your budget spent on overhead and administrative costs.
  1. If applicable, describe how additional funding will be secured if your total project budget is greater than the requested Acharai Fund grant.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

  1. Begin your narrative on the next page. You may type directly on this form or copy and paste material from another document. You may save your work in stages.
  2. When your application is finished, save and submit it with a file name in this format: (Organization Name)2014LOI.pdf.
  3. Letters of inquiry must be emailed to and received no later than 5:00 PM EST on March 3, 2014. Early submissions are greatly appreciated.
  4. We will send you an email confirmation and pleasedo not assume your application has been received unless you receive our email.
  5. We are not able to consider any LOIs, budgets or financials that are not submitted in English.

ATTACHMENTS: In addition to the above, please attach:

  • A DETAILED Project budget form – please use the attached
  • A copy of organization's budget and most recent audited financialsIN ENGLISH
  • A listing of secured and potential funding for the project
  • A listing of the organization's Board of Directors
  • If applicable, include evaluation materials and/or copies of past results
  • Documentation of the organization's 501(c)(3) statusunder the US Internal Revenue Code or proof of amuta status under Israeli Tax Code

ACHARAI FUND 2014: PROPOSED BUDGET FORM

Organization Name: ______

Project Name: ______

FUNDS TO SUPPORT PROJECT:

CommittedRequestedTotal

Acharai Fund Request$$50,000$______

Requested from Other Funders:$$$______

______

______

Organization Contribution$$$______

In Kind Contributions$$$______

Other Sources: $$$

TOTAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT PROJECT: $______

PROJECT EXPENSES:Notes*Total Expenses Acharai Grant Funds**

Personnel:______

Facilities:______

Supplies/Services:______

Transportation:______

Technology: ______

Other: ______

______

TOTAL PROJECT:$______$______

*Include a budget narrative on the following page only if further explanation is necessary.

**Please use this column to show the allocation of Acharai Fund Grant by expense category.