Project ROPE
Project ROPE: Roots of Philanthropy Education will give to a new generation of young American Jews the skills, tools, Jewish lens and experience to become lifelong learners, doers and givers. There are three core goals of Project ROPE: to teach teens the Jewish roots, values and imperatives of philanthropic giving; to give them an understanding of fundraising fundamentals including the grantmaking process 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 allocating the funds raised.
As a direct result of Project ROPE, participating students will
- Understand how and why Jewish tradition has mandated philanthropic giving for thousands of years and what the implications are for us today
- Develop a basic knowledge of, and a desire to engage in, effective methods of philanthropy
- Experience the job of working collaboratively with fellow Jewish teens to identify and support causes of their choice
Each year the grantmaking focuses on a different theme. Students learn about needs, and allocate money, both in their local community and in Israel.
Project Rope is open to students in grades 9 to 11. The first year of the program, 2008-2009, will include students in five schools, with more schools joining thereafter.
Here are the schools participating in Project ROPE's pilot year:
- Donna Klein Jewish Academy (Boca Raton, Florida)
- Gray Academy of Jewish Education (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Herzl/RMHA at the Denver Campus (Denver, Colorado)
- Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School (Phoenix, Arizona)
If your school is considering participating in Project ROPE, please contact Dr. Elliott Rabin, RAVSAK's Director of Educational Programs, at erabin@ravsak.org or 212-665-1320.
