We the People at 250 Ignition Grants

America’s 250th anniversary comes at a pivotal moment in our nation’s and our people’s history. 

This milestone offers Americans a powerful opportunity to make meaning out of our past and to envision our future together. As a community deeply invested in the health of American democracy – and a people steeped in learning and community-building – American Jews are uniquely positioned to turn the Semiquincentennial (250th) into a moment of healing and growth.

A More Perfect Union is proud to offer up to $4,000 per partner – our largest grants to date – to support Jewish organizations working to spark civic learning and action around America’s 250th anniversary.

Applications will open on February 26. Email us at [email protected] to receive updates about Ignition Grants.

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  • Ignition Grants will support projects that advance civic learning and engagement through activities tied to America’s 250th anniversary. 

    The goal is for Jewish organizations to engage their communities around America’s 250th to help them reflect on how the American experiment is going, and how we can keep it going. 

  • Partners can apply for the following:

    • Ignition Grant: $2,000 for an eligible project run by a single organization 

    • Collaboration Powerup: If your project is a collaboration among multiple partners in the JPD in which each organization is an equal and significant contributor, you can receive an additional $1,000 per partner. (Max: 3 partners per project)

    • faith250 Grant: Jewish organizations participating in the faith250 program (including the school versions) are eligible for an additional $1,000 in funding to support this work.

    The maximum that a Jewish organization can receive in this funding round is $4,000.

    To qualify for a grant, an organization must be in the Jewish Partnership for Democracy (JPD). Jewish organizations that are not yet partners can join the JPD at the same time they apply for an Ignition Grant.

  • February 26 - March 27, 2026

    • February 26: Ignition Grant applications open

    • February 26 - March 27: Ignition Grant applications accepted

    • March 27: Ignition Grant applications closed

    • Rolling notifications: Applicants will be notified about funding decisions on a rolling basis as long as funds are available.

    • April 24: Ignition Grants final release date

    • December 31: Funded projects conclude; concise report forms and Steal This! forms due

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Eligibility Criteria

A More Perfect Union will consider funding proposals that meet all of the following criteria:

  • To qualify for an Ignition Grant, an applicant must:

    • Be a partner in the Jewish Partnership for Democracy (organizations can join the JPD for free at the same time as they fill out the Ignition Grant application);

    • Be in compliance on the terms of any previous Ignition Grants from A More Perfect Union;

    • Agree to submit a concise report after the project concludes and turn the initiative into a short playbook to help other partners in the JPD learn from your efforts. (A More Perfect Union will provide simple templates for you to use.)

  • To qualify for an Ignition Grant, a project must be:

    • An organization-led effort to spark communal reflection about and/or rededication to American democracy through civic learning or civic engagement, leveraging America’s 250th anniversary as an overarching theme;

    • A specific project, program, campaign, or similarly distinct initiative;

    • Nonpartisan and aligned with the Democracy Principles

    • Funds can be used to support operational and program costs related to the initiative, including staff time. Funded projects can take place at any time in 2026.

    • We are thrilled to provide a meaningful amount of funding to this effort and hope to be able to support every partner that requests a grant. However, depending on the demand, we may not be able to fund every proposal. To ensure the fairest possible process for all our partners, all proposals that meet our eligibility criteria will be awarded on a rolling basis as long as funds are available.

What Can My Initiative Look Like?

Civic Skills graphic - two people shaking hands

    • Build shared experiences and a common language with other groups in your community.

    • Share your community’s experiences, and learn how other communities have experienced America over the past 250 years.

    • Develop a shared vision for realizing the promise of America over the next 250 years, aligned with the Democracy Principles.

Or create your own project that aligns with the grant criteria. A More Perfect Union staff are happy to help you brainstorm and design your initiative. 

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

  • faith250 is an interfaith effort to bring communities together for civic learning and engagement around America’s 250th birthday. The project applies faith-based text study traditions to foundational American documents to facilitate deep conversations about our nation's values and future. Learn more at faith250.org 

  • Prizmah adapted the faith250 curriculum for middle and high school students. To learn more, visit prizmah.org.

SIGN ON FOR FAITH250

Study foundational American texts with ready-made source materials.

Other Opportunities to Lead and Learn

CIVIC LEARNING

You can also participate in faith250 to receive a $1,000 faith250 grant.

FAQs

Any questions? Reach out to [email protected].

  • Ignition Grants are meant to spark communal reflection about and/or rededication to American democracy through civic learning or civic engagement, leveraging America’s 250th anniversary as an overarching theme. 

    This means that purely celebrational programs – like Fourth of July parades or barbeques – would not be eligible for funding, unless they are part of a larger project that meets the eligibility requirements.

    Also, any projects that are partisan in nature or that are inconsistent with our Democracy Principles would not qualify for funding.

  • To qualify for an Ignition Grant, an organization must be a partner in the Jewish Partnership for Democracy. Joining is free, quick, and simple, and you can do it at the same time as applying for a grant!

    If you are already a Community Partner in the JPD, applying for an Ignition Grant will automatically upgrade you to a Civic Renewal Partner (our partners committed to action) for free. You can learn more about the different partnership levels at https://www.jewishdemocracy.org/join. 

  • Yes, with caveats. Partners applying for an individual project may submit one proposal, but organizations participating in collaborative projects can be involved in multiple projects. However, organizations are only eligible to receive a maximum of $4,000 in total Ignition Grants, even if multiple proposals in which they are involved are selected.

  • Yes! Recipients of previous Ignition Grants will be eligible for this round of funding if they are in good standing on the terms of those grants.  

  • Yes! Recipients of an Ignition Grant this round will be eligible for future rounds of funding, including another expected funding round in the second half of 2026, as long as they are in good standing on all previous grants at the time of application. 

Still have questions?

Reach out to [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.

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