Project ROPE is an elite program that adapts and expands Jewish youth philanthropy to the capacities of the day school setting. ROPE gives to a new generation of young American Jews the skills, tools, Jewish lens and experience to become lifelong learners, doers and givers. There are four core goals of Project ROPE: to teach teens the Jewish roots, values and imperatives of philanthropic giving; to enable them to learn about pressing social needs in depth and to learn about the different organizations that address those needs; to give them a 360-degree understanding of nonprofits and effective philanthropic methods; and to provide them with the hands-on learning experience of running a fundraising campaign for a cause of their choice and responsibly making collaborative decisions on where to place their grants.
As a direct result of Project ROPE, participating students will:
Throughout the year, students study social issues and discover nonprofit groups that address them in a variety of ways. They learn how nonprofits function from numerous angles, through site visits, interviews with clients and staff, and examination of organizations’ annual reports and balance sheets. Students from all the schools convene through monthly phone or video conferences, sharing ideas for the program and learning about philanthropy from top professionals in the field. By the end of the program they are able to make philanthropic decisions informed by the head and the heart, guided by Jewish values and taking account of needs both in their local communities and in Israel.
Each year Project ROPE has a different theme that serves as the focus of the activities and resources. The theme for Project ROPE 5770 / 2009-2010 is Disadvantaged Youth.
Project Rope is open to students in grades 9 to 11. This year we are delighted to welcome five schools into the program:
Project ROPE is the recipient of a grant from the Jewish Teen Funders Network.
To learn more about Project ROPE, or to enroll your school in next year’s program, contact Dr. Elliott Rabin at erabin@ravsak.org.
Members of RAVSAK enjoy many benefits which support the overall work of the school and the professionals who lead them. Find out more about membership benefits and how your school can become a member.
Use our interactive map of member schools to find a Jewish Day School near you.
In addition to serving Jewish community day schools across North America, RAVSAK has a special category of membership for Jewish and educational organizations, consultants and companies which share our vision of excellence in Jewish day school education.