Young Philanthropy Fellows

Welcome to the Atlanta Jewish Foundation’s newest program for Jewish youth. This new fellowship program enables Jewish teens in Atlanta to truly affect change in the local community by providing opportunities for teens to:

• Learn about critical social issues facing the local community
• Understand strategic grantmaking and how to take action
• Develop a strong Jewish identity and understand Jewish values and imperatives that drive giving
• Engage in experiential programs with community organizations
• Recommend distribution of funds to causes they are most passionate about
• Form new friendships and have fun together!

Photo courtesy of Honeycomb and the Jewish Teen Philanthropy Initiative at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston.

Program participation will ensure teens are developing into the community’s future philanthropic leaders, with a strong understanding of the most pressing issues in the community and their responsibilities to engage in acts of Tzedakah. 

Eligibility: The program is open to teens ages 13- 15. Interested teens will need to complete a brief application to highlight community topics they are most passionate about and what they hope to take away from the program.

Program experiences: This program is designed as a small cohort learning experience to ensure all participants have a voice in the learning environment and decision-making process of giving. In this small group setting, participants will have the space for self-reflection and personal growth as young, responsible contributors to change in the Atlanta community. Sessions throughout the program will provide teens with practical skills to put strategic grantmaking practices into action. Teens will learn about systemic issues of justice as well as immediate charitable needs in the community through hands-on experiences with non-profit organizations and drive the group’s ultimate giving decisions based these experiences.

Cost: Participating teens are required to open a Young Philanthropist Fund at the Atlanta Jewish Foundation with a minimum contribution of $250 which will be matched by the Atlanta Jewish Foundation with an additional $250. This financial contribution will create a unique fund for the participant to use and allocate to a non-profit organization of their choosing. Decisions for funding allocation will be inspired by direct visits to non-profit organizations in Atlanta.

Programming commitments: The program consists of 5 sessions, which include site visits / community engagement opportunities with various non-profit organizations in Atlanta and culminates in a community Shabbat ceremony where teens will showcase their granting allocation. The program will commence in the fall of 2022. The program session schedule is as follows (these dates are tentative and subject to change):