2017 Incubator Grant Winner - Sisters Building Bridges program at Temple Rodeph Torah of Marlboro, NJ
The WRJ Incubator Grants initiative was launched in 2015 as a way to inspire and enable women to create “outside the box” programs and provide new ideas for WRJ sisterhoods.
WRJ Incubator grants have been reimagined as Microgrants. These grants are created for sisterhoods and women’s groups only. If you are planning a district event, please contact your District President to learn about the grants available for districts. Any project or program that relates to engagement, social justice, or advocacy qualifies for this grant opportunity.*
There are two microgrant opportunities available at this time. First, a women’s group is eligible for a grant to engage women around timely issues in the pursuit of social justice or advocacy, including any work related to WRJ resolutions or high-priority issues. Additionally, a women’s group is eligible to receive a grant for any program or project that promotes engagement in the areas of sisterhood/community building, spirituality, or personal enrichment and growth. Your program does not have to meet both criteria to apply. Either engagement and/or social justice activities qualify for a grant. Multiple WRJ-affiliated women's groups may collaborate on a program.
Grants between $500-$2,500 will be awarded. A WRJ-affiliated women’s group may only submit one grant proposal per year. The grant funds will be reimbursed after the program has been completed, unless other arrangements have been made. The grant funds may not be used to cover general operating costs. Before you apply, read the instructions and guidelines.
Microgrant applications for the 2024-2025 calendar year opened on November 14, 2024 and must be submitted by June 30, 2025.
Applications are open until June 30, 2025 – SUBMIT YOUR 2025 PROGRAM TODAY FOR WRJ MICROGRANT FUNDING!
*These social justice grants would not be possible without the support of WRJ President Sara Charney, and her husband Rick Charney, as well as WRJ Board Member Deborah Lelchuk, and her husband Dan Lelchuk. Their dedication to social justice is profound, rooted in Jewish values, and creating a compassionate world for all. We thank them for making this initiative possible.
The engagement grants are made possible by the support of Joanne Fried who created our Engagement Fund. We thank Joanne and appreciate everything she has done to help WRJ expand our programming and to support our sisterhoods and districts.
2024-2025 Award Winners
Women of B’nai Torah in Bellevue, WA, for their Post-Abortion Care Bag Program. Working with the Cedar River Abortion Clinic, sisterhood members learned about current reproductive right issues through a speaker, then joined together to prepare gift bags and cards of support to abortion patients. The program was promoted within the sisterhood and temple. In addition to the educational component of this program, it presented an easy social opportunity for the sisterhood women to meet and assemble the anonymous care packages. As the program progressed, other women from the community learned of the project and joined in as well. (October 2024)
Women of Holy Blossom in Toronto, Ontario for their program on Seeking Justice for the Victims of Sexual Violence on October 7th. The program was planned by the Women’s Advocacy Group of the sisterhood, to raise awareness of the sexual violence that happened in Israel on October 7, 2023 and to bring attention to all victims of sexual violence. A secondary goal was to build bridges with other Jewish women’s organizations within the Reform Movement and across Canada. The first part of the program involved an educational roundtable with legal scholars, victims’ rights advocates, a journalist, and the clergy from Holy Blossom. Participants were encouraged to support the October 7th victims and to follow up with personal outreach action with representative members of the provincial and federal governments. The program had 217 registrants; 70 attended live, and the rest attended via livestream or a later-provided link. (March 2024)
Sisterhood Women of B’nai Torah in Hattiesburg, MS, presented Into the Light, a free concert open to the public. The program was a classical music and educational performance in connection with the area’s United Baptist Church. It also included a partnership with Encompass, a female-led collective of musicians, creators, and composers. Attendees heard the work of composers whose careers were or are currently impacted by social injustices such as racism, sexism, antisemitism, and patriarchy. Other works featured themes of social injustice. A reception and Havdalah service followed the performance. Microgrant support was used to pay the musical artists, recording technicians, and for printed flyers and programs. The program reached a diverse audience, including members of the community of all ages. Approximately 70 people attended in-person and others livestreamed the concert that day or subsequently. (September 2024)
Women of Wise in Cincinnati, OH, received a Microgrant for their program, Miriam Festival. The program was planned to celebrate Miriam prior to the Passover holiday. Billed as an evening of interactive presentations to encourage women to grow both socially and spiritually, the program reached multi-generational women from the entire community. The goal was to build and reinforce Jewish community values among women. A dinner was followed by a drum circle, belly dancing, henna artists, and Israeli folk dancing. The Women of Wise were thrilled to engage and welcome outside community participants and unaffiliated women of all ages. (April 2024)
Temple Beth Zion Sisterhood, in Amherst, NY, received Microgrant funding for their International Women’s Day Celebration, centered around themes of women’s leadership, social justice, and community connection. The program addressed issues of domestic violence and homelessness. The event included a Shabbat morning service led by women, a Torah study session, guest speakers from local organizations, and a Chai Tea that fostered connection and reflection. The goals of the program were to: foster women’s leadership in spiritual practice; educate on the issues of domestic violence and homelessness; promote community connection and engagement; encourage ongoing social action activities; and create a welcoming and inclusive environment in the sisterhood. Approximately 85 people attended throughout the day. Partner organization outreach helped to promote the program. A lovely connection was made that day with representatives from the League of Women Voters, and the sisterhood hopes to partner with them again to foster community collaboration for future endeavors. (March of 2025).
Previous Winners
It is our hope that they will be an inspiration to all sisterhoods to continue to create innovative programming across North America and around the world.
2020 Incubator Grant Award Winners
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