Ignition Grants
A More Perfect Union is proud to offer Ignition Grants to help our partners revitalize their communities through democratic participation.
This year, we are excited to award $1,000 to any organization in the Jewish Partnership for Democracy leading efforts to spark civic renewal in their communities.
Applications will open in late October, 2025.
-
As we relaunch the Jewish Partnership for Democracy for a new, more impactful era, this year’s Ignition Grants will support Jewish organizations building civic knowledge and skills, strengthening civic relationships, and taking civic action.
To qualify for an Ignition Grant, an organization must be a Civic Renewal Partner in the Jewish Partnership for Democracy:
Already a Civic Renewal Partner? Read on!
Are you a Community Partner? Become a Civic Renewal Partner for free today!
Not a partner yet? Join for free today!
-
October 29: Ignition Grant applications open
October 29 - December 5: Ignition Grant applications accepted
December 5: Ignition Grant applications closed
December 12: Applicants notified about funding decisions
December 19: Ignition Grants released
Concise grant report and project playbook due within one year of receiving grant.
Grant Criteria
A More Perfect Union will consider funding proposals that meet all of the following criteria:
-
Is a Civic Renewal Partner in the Jewish Partnership for Democracy (Become a Civic Renewal Partner for free today!)
Is a 501c3 organization or fiscally sponsored project of a 501c3 organization.
Has completed all the terms of any previous A More Perfect Union grant you’ve received.
Agrees to use the grant to support operational and program costs related to the initiative, including staff time.
-
An organization-led effort to engage your community;
A specific project, program, campaign, or similarly distinct initiative;
Nonpartisan and aligned with the Democracy Principles;
Aligned with at least one of the three civic renewal focus areas (see below for more information)
-
Submit a concise grant report to A More Perfect Union.
Turn the initiative into a project playbook to help other partners in the JPD learn from our efforts.
What Can My Civic Renewal Initiative Look Like?
Civic renewal initiatives can look many different ways depending on your organization and community. Ignition Grants can fund initiatives that address at least one of the following focus areas:
Building Civic Knowledge and Skills
Develop your community’s capacity to better engage in civic action.
-
Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation launched Daf America, a teaching resource to help clergy bring an American civics lens to the weekly Torah portion.
-
Kabbalah Experience launched a class entitled, "Democracy and Kabbalah: Narratives and Actions for our Time." This 9-week course explored Kabbalistic and other texts related to democracy, its roots and its preservation
Talmud Torah of St. Paul and The Mordecai Kaplan Center for Jewish Peoplehood partnered to create a course entitled "Judaism in Partnership with Democracy," a 10-week virtual program exploring the ways in which Jewish tradition offers deep wisdom on how to live many of the values on which a vibrant liberal democracy depends.
-
The Brandeis School of San Francisco developed "The Mifgash Playbook" to encourage other schools to adopt best practices in values-centered civics education into their curricula and programs.
-
Pardes and Limmud North America created the Jewish Guide to Talking Politics teach skills for healthy communication across differences.
-
Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass hosted "Advocacy 101" to equip adults and teens in their community with practical skills to communicate with lawmakers, navigate the legislative process, and drive meaningful change.
-
Get inspired by how organizations like Citizen University and Warm Cookies of the Revolution activate their communities!
DEVELOP CIVIC SKILLS
Equip your community with the skills to effect change. For example:
Teach your community how American democracy works and why Jews should support it. For example:
-
Temple Emanu-El in Dallas dedicated a Shabbat to honoring members involved in non-partisan election work, offering them an aaliyah and a blessing for their civic engagement.
-
The Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM) dedicated their 2024 conference to democracy, organizing an array of speakers and workshops to teach about ways Jewish museums can promote civic engagement.
-
Leading Edge created resources and recommendations on best practices for managing teams with diverse views.
FOSTER CIVIC CULTURE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION
Celebrate and model democratic participation in your organization. For example:
Strengthening Civic Relationships
BOLSTER CIVIC LEARNING
Nurture connections that enhance impact in your community.
-
Uri L'Tzedek worked with different faith and community leaders to create a series of online workshops designed to educate participants on local civic engagement.
Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom organized an interfaith book group for local clergy with training from Braver Angels, and organization specializing in convening productive conversations across differences.
-
The Temple in Atlanta worked closely with interfaith partners during the election season to create messaging and programming in support of democracy.
-
faith250, a program of the American Scripture Project, is multi-faith effort to leverage the United States' 250th birthday to clarify and articulate the values of our communities and our nation, and seek to build healthier civic life in our country.
BUILD UNITY WITHIN AND BEYOND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
Build bridges with other Jewish, faith, and community organizations in your area around issues of shared interest and concern. For example:
-
JCRC of Greater Washington and the Washington Jewish Week teamed up to produce a Northern Virginia Congressional Jewish Voters’ Guide with information about local Senate and House candidates.
JCRC of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio hosted a Candidate Forum for candidates for local elections, including Texas court of Appeals, County Commissioner, Texas House, Texas Senate, State Board of Education and Probate Judge.
-
National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, and JCRC St Louis joined together to organize Missouri Jewish Advocacy Day, where Jewish Missourians came together in Jefferson City to advocate for important legislation to improve their communities.
-
Reach out to every local councilperson at least once a month and attends every local public meeting (school board, zoning, city council, etc.).
ENGAGE IN COMMUNAL ADVOCACY
Work regularly with current and future public officials on issues that matter to your community. For example:
Taking Civic Action
Engage your community to solve problems.
-
Coordinate rides to the polls to ensure your organization is a 100% voting community in every local, state, and federal election.
-
Mobilize neighbors to work together and enhance quality of life for all in the area.
-
Bring together your community to support the local library, ensuring everyone has access to books and educational resources while strengthening this vital public institution.
-
Advocate for public safety improvements, demonstrating how citizens can work with local government to directly address community concerns and protect their neighbors.
Already a partner?
You can access program playbooks to help you launch many of these initiatives in our Steal This! Project Bank.
Didn’t see anything that fits your community, strengths, interests, or needs?
No problem! As long as your initiative meets the Grant Criteria, it can look any way you like!
LEAD COMMUNITY ORGANIZING/SERVICE
Directly engage in hands-on efforts to improve your community. For example:
FAQs
Any questions? Reach out to [email protected].
-
To qualify for an Ignition Grant, an organization must be a Civic Renewal Partner in the Jewish Partnership for Democracy. Becoming a Civic Renewal Partner is free, quick, and simple:
If you are not a partner yet, click here to join today!
If you are a Community Partner in the JPD, click here to become a Civic Renewal Partner.
-
Easy! Just visit our partner page to check out your organization’s partner level. If you are a Civic Renewal Partner already, you can apply for Ignition Grants right now. If you are a Community Partner, you can become a Civic Renewal Partner for free today and immediately apply for an Ignition Grant.
-
Civic Renewal Partners may submit only one proposal for this round of Ignition Grants. However, if your project does not meet the minimum eligibility criteria, A More Perfect Union staff will provide constructive feedback and you will be allowed to resubmit your proposal.
-
Yes! Recipients of A More Perfect Union’s 2023 and 2024 Ignition Grants will be eligible for this round of funding if they have fulfilled the terms of those grants.
-
Yes! Recipients of Ignition Grants this year will be eligible for future rounds of funding as long as they are in good standing on all previous grants at the time of application.
