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Grotta Fund for Older Adults

Seeking a Grant
Currently Accepting: Proposals for the 2025-2026 Grant Cycle, Focused on the Jewish Community
Next Grant Cycle: Strategic Food Security RFP Announcement in Early June (By Invitation Only)

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS:

Broadening Engagement of Older Adults in the Jewish Community

Grant Period: July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
Application Deadline: May 6, 2025, 5pm
Prospective Applicant Informational Call: April 7, 2025, 11:00AM-12:00PM

Download RFP | Access Grant Application | Access Code: GF25

ABOUT THE GROTTA FUND FOR OLDER ADULTS

The Grotta Fund for Older Adults aims to enhance the lives of older adults, helping them to live independently and actively in their homes and communities. Over the past 20 years, the Fund has awarded more than $7.7 million to over 100 non-profit organizations and towns located in the Greater MetroWest area.

BACKGROUND

Grotta’s 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 funding cycles address concerns raised by Jewish agency professionals and community leaders regarding the October 7, 2023 Israel Massacre, rising antisemitism, and findings from the Federation’s recent Community Study. These highlighted that older adults (60 and older) feel isolated, targeted, and separated, and want to connect in meaningful ways with other Jewish community members.

The initial year of Grotta’s funding saw successful engagement programs with active participation in a wide range of activities in various synagogues and Jewish agencies. Now the Grotta Fund seeks to support synagogues that didn’t receive funding initially and will create or expand programs, to promote group activities with meaningful involvement of and among older adults. In addition, Track 2 Jewish agencies and synagogue collaborations are invited to seek a second year of funding, to expand their programs and collaborations.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

There are two tracks for applicants:

TRACK 1 - (NEW APPLICANTS)

  • For Greater MetroWest area synagogues that did not receive Grotta funding in 2024
  • Proposing to offer various activities during the year that address the desired outcomes of engagement, new friendships and/or enrichment among older adults. Addressing how the new program and activities will be sustained
  • Requests up to $10,000 for one year of programming. Grant funding will not be renewed in a future grant cycle
  • This can include one Greater MetroWest area synagogue or a collaboration between synagogue, school, and/or an organization in which the lead organization is a synagogue

TRACK 2 - (RETURNING TRACK 2 GRANTEES)

  • For synagogue collaborations or organizations that previously received Track 2 funding. No new applicants
  • Expanding activities and programs for older adults (ages 60 and older) and/or expanding collaborations. Clearly addressing how the program will be sustained
  • Requests up to $20,000 for one year of programming. Grant funding for Track 2 is unlikely to be renewed in the following grant cycle

GOALS, PRIORITIES AND QUALIFYING ORGANIZATIONS

GOALS

Selected grantees will establish new or increase programming that broadens engagement among older adults in the Jewish community leading to a greater sense of self-worth, purpose, fulfillment, and social connection. Programs may be social, educational, and/or involve volunteerism. Grotta Fund will also consider an applicant that involves intergenerational programming and that promotes appreciation of the wisdom, vitality and contributions of older adults.

PRIORITIES

Successful applicants will describe how they will foster new connections, friendships and enrichment of adults (60+) and older and address sustainability of their programs with this one year of funding. In addition, successful applicants will:

  • TRACK 1: UP TO $10,000
    • Clearly identify their program goals and activities, program leadership, and involvement of older adults
    • Commitment by the synagogue to sustain the program in the future
  • TRACK 2: UP TO $20,000
    • Clearly expand on program goals and activities, build program leadership, and involve older adults in planning and evaluation
    • Specifying ways to continue your program's collaboration among agencies and/or synagogues, expand partnerships, and/or outreach to older adults who may not have participated in the past
    • Show commitment to sustainability in the future, including synagogue and/or agency leadership assurance to continue the program

QUALIFYING ORGANIZATIONS AND ALLOWABLE COSTS

  • For this cycle, for Track 1, we are seeking requests from area synagogues in the Greater MetroWest Jewish community only, located in and benefiting Jewish older adult residents in Essex, Union, Morris, eastern Somerset, and Sussex counties
  • Allowable costs for programs: personnel, supplies, PR, small stipends for speakers and/or transportation. We discourage total budgets exclusively for food, and we encourage attendees to pay a small stipend or membership fee to offset costs (as a step toward future sustainability of the program)
  • Grants cannot be awarded to individuals, political campaigns, capital campaigns, or endowments

For questions regarding eligibility, please contact Renie Carniol, Executive Director or Rachel Flajsing, Administrative Assistant.

TIMELINE

  • MARCH 17, 2025: Access to the application and ability to submit through Foundant. Grotta Link to Foundant. Access code is GF25.
  • APRIL 2025: Prospective Applicant Informational Call. Important! 
    • Prospective Track 1 Grantee Zoom Call - Monday, April 7, 11:00AM-12:00PM- reminder only area synagogues are eligible to apply. Discussion of funding goals and guidelines, and Q&A. Applicants are greatly encouraged to attend.
    • Returning Track 2 grantees only. Scheduled 30-minute informational call with the Grotta Director and Council members are available, between April 7 and 10th (several time slots)

To participate in an informational call, please RSVP by Friday, March 28 at 12:00pm to Rachel Flajsing. She will provide a confirmation email that includes a Zoom link.

IMPORTANT: In your email to Rachel, please indicate which track you are pursuing and the name of participants.

  • Tues, May 6, 2025, 5pm: Applications are due.
  • May 12-29, 2025: Remote conversations with applicants as needed.
  • June 18, 2025: Applicants are notified.
  • July 1, 2025: Start of the funding year or as determined.
  • Sept 2025: New Grantee Sharing Session.

APPLICATION LINK

Click here to complete the Grant Application. Your access code is GF25.

New applicants to Grotta will need to create an account before accessing the application.

For questions regarding our online application system, please contact Rachel Flajsing at rflajsing@jfedgmw.org or (973) 929-3133. For questions regarding your proposal, please contact Renie Carniol, Director, at rcarniol@jfedgmw.org or (973) 929-3097 (please note, Renie will be away from Mar 20-31).

Reminder: Please email Rachel Flajsing about participating in the informational call.