Grants and Funding

We administer funds from the Charles Crane Family Foundation for two different programs:

CRANE Professional Development Application for Educators

Professional development funds are available for eligible congregational school, early childhood and day school educators. Educators can receive reimbursement for up to half of their professional development expenses, up to a maximum of $1,000 per year or $1,500 for credit-earning college courses, per educator.

Applications must be submitted online using the link below and must be signed online by your principal in order to be considered complete.   Receipts and proof of completion, such as a grade or certificate of attendance, should be uploaded to the application or emailed separately to Terri Rosen.   Please contact Terri if you have any questions at 410-735-5008.

CLICK HERE to read our FAQs for this grant.

Applications for December are no longer being accepted.  Please check back at the end of January for the Spring (May) application.

We offer up to $1,000 per school for professional development funding annually. Schools must be located in Baltimore City or County. Other restrictions may apply.

For more information about this grant, please contact Terri Rosen at tnrosen@jesbaltimore.org or 410-735-5008

We administer grants on behalf of the Jill Fox Memorial Fund. Families that are part of the Jewish community can access funding for health care-related costs as a result of autism spectrum disorders, childhood obesity or mental illness.

Grant Overview

Within the three focus areas of autism spectrum disorders, mental illness and childhood obesity, grants can be used for:

• The cost of medical/healthcare services, equipment or treatment and in support of the well-being of children, adults and families with medical/healthcare needs and limited resources.
• Costs that are not paid for by other sources (e.g. medical insurance, government agencies, health associations, community organizations, public or personal resources).
• Items not covered by insurance.  For example, even though insurance typically covers durable medical equipment, items that provide therapeutic benefits to individuals with certain medical conditions and/or illnesses are often denied.  These items may include: specialized car seats, bath chairs, strollers, positioning chairs, and assistive technology items.
• When not covered by insurance, these are also allowable: Specialized therapies, care at a distant specialized medical center, alternative care, and private educational assessments.

How to apply

Grants are based on financial need on a first-come, first-served basis.  Individuals and families requesting a grant must fill out an application form, reflecting financial circumstances that indicate a need for the funds.

Each grant request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  The amount of the grant depends upon many factors and range anywhere between $50 and $3,000.

The Fund was created to provide a “last resort” resource for medical and healthcare needs, thus other available funding resources must be pursued first.

Prior to applying for this grant, prospective applicants must contact Rachel Turniansky at rturniansky@jewishconnect.org or 410-735-5022.

Jewish Educational Services (JES) is proud to administer the Community Fund For Israel Experiences (CFIE) on behalf of THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Federation of Baltimore. The goal of CFIE is to help as many students as possible travel to Israel and include Israel as part of their Jewish identities.

CFIE provides limited scholarships to high-school and first year post-high school students who are residents of Baltimore City/County to experience Israel on a deeper level.  This scholarship is meant to assist families who have a financial need (e.g., household income under $300,000, multiple children in day school, high medical bills).

Applications for Summer, Semester, and Gap Year programs will open on January 17, 2023. The deadline for these applications is Monday March 20, 2023.

2023 Update: This year there are two significant changes to the program structure:

1) Scholarship Eligibility – Applications will no longer be based on financial need. This will allow for a more simplified application and review process. Applicants will not need to provide any tax or FACTS information. Priority will be given to those who have never been on an organized trip to Israel, after which they will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Summer  applicants may receive up to $500, Semester applicants up to $1000, and Gap Year applicants up to $1,500, until the budget is met. In addition, there are a limited number of $500 Merit Scholarships for which Gap Year recipients may apply (see below for more detail).

2) Israel Education Seminar – Every recipient will be required to attend at least one Israel Education Seminar that will be provided by JES.  Seminars will take place in the Spring and Summer and there will be options for single-gender or coed, as well as virtual or in-person. More information will be provided.  Receipt of the scholarship is contingent on attending at least one Israel Education Seminar.

Merit Scholarship Information

Applicants for the Merit Scholarship will require an additional form which includes two essays and a letter of recommendation.

1)      Mandatory question:  What do you hope to gain from this Israel experience?
2)      Choose from one of these options:

a.      If you could meet anyone from Israel history, what would you ask them and why?
b.      What place in Israel is a must visit for you and why?

In addition to the essays, you will need to provide a letter of recommendation.  This should come from someone unrelated to you, such as a teacher, rabbi, or youth group leader, who can speak to your character.  Please provide that person with the link below to complete.

Applications will be reviewed by a merit scholarship committee, and you will be notified if you are chosen for the award.

Summary of Application Requirements

Regular Application (Summer, Semester, or Gap Year)
-Application
-Attendance at an Israel Education Seminar

Merit Scholarship (for Gap Year applicants only)
-Essay
-Letter of Recommendation
-Attendance at an Israel Education Seminar

We understand that participating in an Israel program is costly  and have compiled a list of other possible sources for funding your trip, in addition to our grant.

For more information, please contact Jewish Agency Senior Israeli Shlicha, Maian Rahvalschi, at Jewish Educational Services (mrahvalschi@jesbaltimore.org / 410-735-5041).

STARS provides subsidized testing for children with disabilities. Through this program, we will:

• Recommend appropriate testing for students
• Make a provider list available to all families
• Pre-approve families for financial assistance, before assessment takes place
• Pay providers up to 50 percent of remaining balance, after insurance reimbursement, up to $1,000 per child

In order to participate in the STARS program, families must also contact their public school system and engage the “Child Find” process. Families must apply before assessment takes place. Support to navigate the public school system is available through Maryland Special Needs Advocacy Project

For more information, please contact Martha Goodman at mdsnap@jewishconnect.org or 410-735-5012.