The $20K matching grant is intended to invest in JEWISHcolorado so it can focus on its parent empowerment strategy within the
local Jewish community.
JEWISHcolorado is proud to announce it is a recipient of PJ Library’s new grant opportunity, the Implementing Partner Grant, and is set to benefit from $20K in matching grant funding from PJ Library and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation over the next two years. The Implementing Partner Grant works with communities across North America to cultivate local Jewish life and connection by investing in communities as systems: supporting infrastructure, strategic planning, parent empowerment, and cross-functional collaboration.
“PJ Library’s impact grows when it’s woven into a community’s broader strategy,” says Rachel Rapoport, Director of Community Partnerships, PJ Library. “These grants invest in exactly that: helping communities build partnerships, parent leadership, and infrastructure that advance their own organizational goals. It’s a long-term investment in each community, and one that moves our shared mission forward.”
JEWISHcolorado is one of 23 communities across the U.S. and Canada that has been awarded a grant ranging from $2,000-$20,000, depending on the size of the community and the need. JEWISHcolorado will participate in quarterly cohort meetings with other grantees to share experiences, reflect on successes and challenges, and plan strategically. Grantees are required to raise matching funds equal to 50% of the total grant amount by the end of the two-year grant cycle.
“We are deeply grateful to PJ Library and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for this grant and the confidence it reflects in JEWISHcolorado’s work to build meaningful Jewish connection through our Family Connector program,” said Jenn Abrams, PJ Library Manager, JEWISHcolorado. “This investment will allow us to help more families across Colorado find friendship, belonging, and opportunities to engage in Jewish life within their local communities, while also empowering those who step into the Family Connector role with the skills and support to become the next generation of Jewish community leaders.”
Grant applicants were asked to select a primary area of focus within four PJ Library priorities. The focus areas include:
- Parent Empowerment – building leadership pipelines and opening pathways for parents to deepen their connection to Judaism and community.
- Growth – increasing subscriptions through marketing, partnerships, and targeted outreach.
- Leveraging PJ Library Content – using PJ Library’s content to provide high-quality experiences and resources that help families deepen their Jewish engagement.
- Sustainability – addressing systematic needs and changes that enable the community to expand and sustain its use of PJ Library and secure ongoing funding and growth.
JEWISHcolorado will focus on Parent Empowerment. Abrams shares “empowering parents is central to our strategy for growing PJ Library across Colorado. By investing in training, mentorship, and expanded leadership opportunities for Family Connectors, we can deepen local relationships while building the capacity to reach more families throughout the state. This approach pairs parent leadership with intentional, sustainable growth, helping families find meaningful Jewish connection wherever they live.”
Insights from the 2024 PJ Library Triennial Subscriber Study show that PJ Library makes its greatest impact when it is intentionally embedded within a broader community strategy: empowering parents, strengthening Jewish identity at home, and serving as a trusted pathway into deeper local engagement. Families consistently report greater confidence and increased interest in Jewish life when their community actively leverages PJ Library. JEWISHcolorado looks forward to strengthening its Family Connector program and bringing more PJ Library families together across Colorado.
The program welcomes families across the diversity of Jewish life. Learn more or sign up for monthly children’s books at pjlibrary.org.