Jewish teens in the United States who take part in the Jewish Teen Funders Network are making more charitable contributions, and they are giving mostly to Jewish causes.
Those are among the findings of the Jewish Teen Funders Network’s fourth annual “Where did the Money Go?” survey, which were released last week. The Jewish Teen Funders Network is an arm of the Jewish Funders Network, a non-profit service organization for philanthropists.
According to the survey, some 1,700 teens participated in Jewish teen foundations in 2011-12, the year the study covered.
Sixty percent of the teen foundation grants went to Jewish organizations, the survey found; top funding areas included youth/children, poverty, education and Jewish identity.
Collectively, these 50 teen foundations awarded 296 grants totaling $759,626 in 2011-12, a 52 per cent over the $499,445 awarded by 20 foundations in 2008-09.
“Our focus has always been on the educational value of Jewish teen philanthropy and the unique opportunity these programs give teens to explore Jewish values in the context of real-life issues,” said Ricky Shechtel, a JTFH co-founder. “They are learning through giving, and making a significant philanthropic impact as well.”
steve@jewishweek.org
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