Source: Jim Joseph Foundation
One of Birthright NEXT’s newest endeavors is a pilot initiative with the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund of San Francisco (the Federation). Known as the JCF-NEXT Birthright Experience Pilot, the initiative is designed to maximize the Taglit-Birthright Israel experience through pre- and post-trip Jewish engagement in the Bay Area. The Federation and NEXT are partnering to provide extensive training, outreach, recruitment, networking and event facilitation so that Birthrighters are welcomed home and engaged effectively. While only in its early stages, the pilot already is helping build the community’s capacity to connect trip alumni to each other, to their peers, and to program offerings that build on their tie in Israel.
As just one example of the initiative’s benefits, the Federation and NEXT worked together on a day-long trip staff training for Bay Area community Taglit-Birthright Israel bus madrichim (counselors). The Federation organized the day and taught about how to engage Birthrighters during the trip, through storytelling and modeling evening activities. NEXT staff led a text study on building and stewarding relationships and about post-trip do-it-yourself and other programming ideas. By the end of the day, trip staff felt confident about leading their participants on their Taglit-Birthright Israel trip and ensuring their engagement afterward.
For the JCF-NEXT pilot, the Jim Joseph Foundation grant to JCF is for up to $167,935 and to the Birthright Israel Foundation for NEXT for up to $255,000.