Jewish Heritage Fund Grant Criteria
Applications for Jewish Heritage Fund Grants must be postmarked by January 15th or June 1st, or the next following business day if those dates fall on Sundays or holidays. Awards are issued approximately five months later.
For large-scale synagogue restoration projects, the Jewish Heritage Fund currently offers matching grants of $25,000 to $50,000. In 2016 our average grant pledge was about $41,000.
Priority will be given to large scale, comprehensive projects, such as restoration of copper, or slate roofs and related drainage systems, and exterior masonry walls. Consultants’ fees and planning documents will not be funded. Projects must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Grants to restore stained glass windows will only be considered if the windows are highly significant and severely deteriorated. No grant shall exceed half the project cost.
To be eligible for a Jewish Heritage Fund Grant, properties must be:
- Located in New York City.
- Owned by a Jewish religious institution and actively used for worship by a Jewish congregation.
- Listed, either individually, or as a contributing component of a historic district, on the State or National Register of Historic Places, or designated pursuant to a local landmarks ordinance certified by New York State.
Funds cannot be used for consulting fees, planning documents, pipe organ restoration, minor repairs, interior work, mechanical upgrades, or routine maintenance. Note: Applicants can submit second applications for matching grants towards soft costs, such as architectural or engineering fees associated with a large scale restoration project, either prior to or simultaneously with challenge grant round. (Click here to see the Sacred Sites and Consulting Application). Grants will not be considered for work that has been started or is already completed at the time of application.
In order to receive funds, congregations must raise matching funds within one year of the date of the award letter. Generally, matching funds must be donated from new sources (See application with instructions for additional detail on grant match requirements). In-kind services and existing reserve funds or endowments cannot contribute to the match.
Application for Download
Click here to download the application.
