2008 Grant Applicant Guidelines |
What is The Lenny Zakim Fund?
Established in 1995 to reflect the work and ideals of Leonard Zakim, The Lenny Zakim Fund seeks to provide financial support to individuals and organizations seeking:
1) to promote secular and religious educational efforts,
2) to promote the Jewish tradition of social justice and programs supporting civil and human rights,
3) to combat illiteracy and poverty, and
4) to advance the causes of medical research and health care.
What is The Lenny Zakim Fund's mission?
The mission of The Lenny Zakim Fund is: To identify, listen to, support and connect grassroots community organizations and programs operating “below the radar screen” who have the will and the potential to make a difference but lack resources. A particular emphasis of The Fund will target support for efforts at constructive coalition building across race, religious and ethnic lines.
What are some examples of programs The Lenny Zakim Fund will seek to support?
- Community based and school based programs intended to foster greater understanding and mutual respect between people of diverse backgrounds through public forums, training and educational activities based on one’s moral responsibility toward helping others.
- Educational training and programming initiatives aimed at promoting heightened awareness of issues of Jewish and humanitarian concern.
- School based student initiatives committed to community service, programs aimed at promoting non-violence, efforts to reduce illiteracy or incentive programs (e.g., improving grades, test scores and college admissions, and supporting GED programs.)
- Community based awareness programs dealing with medical advocacy issues, alternative therapies, health education and medical research.
- Community based efforts to improve neighborhood security, after school programs, assistance to the elderly, and to facilitate integration of new immigrant groups.
- Interfaith coalitions that promote any of The Lenny Zakim Fund objectives.
Grant Size and Grant Renewal
Grants range between $1,000 and $15,000 and the average grant size is $5,000.
Organizations that receive three consecutive years of funding may not apply in the fourth year. They may begin to apply again after taking the fourth year off. It is the hope of The Fund that organizations will leverage their LZF support to secure other funding.
What are the Grant Recipients Responsibilities?
Each year The Fund hosts an Awards Ceremony at which grants are disbursed and two Institutes, or mini-conferences. All Grant Recipients are expected to participate in all three events.
Grant recipients are expected to acknowledge The Lenny Zakim Fund’s support on their web site and in their newsletters and promotional materials.
The Decision Making Process
- Applications are due by 5:00 pm July 30th, 2008
- A committee will review all applications in early September
- Some requests will be declined at that time, and those applicants will be notified.
- In the fall and early winter months, the Board will conduct site visits and obtain further information as they deem necessary.
- Final decisions are made in February and awards will be made in March 2009.
Some awards may be made as challenge grants.
- If you receive a challenge grant, you will be notified in February 2009.
- You will receive your grant after the Board receives documentation that a matching grant has been made by either a foudation or an individual donor.
- A letter from the foundation or donor confirming that a match has been obtained must be received by The Lenny Zakim Fund by 5:00 November 30, 2008 in order to receive the 2008 LZF matching grant funds.
For further information, please contact:
Jude Goldman, Executive Director
The Lenny Zakim Fund
c/o DLA Piper
33 Arch Street, 26th Floor
Boston, MA 02110-1447
jgoldman@thelennyzakimfund.org phone: (617) 406-6036 fax: (617) 406-6136 2007 Grant Recipient list in PDF format
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