JEWISH COMMUNITY YOUTH FOUNDATION (JCYF)

A community of Jewish teens in grades 8 through 12 working together to make the world a better place. Participants research Jewish nonprofit organizations and learn about Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), Tzedakah, Jewish values and philanthropic giving by pooling monetary contributions and distributing donations as they choose.

Register for JCYF 2025-26!

Philanthropic Focus by Grade
8th Grade - Local Social Service
  • Explore areas of giving: income challenged, older adults, special needs, teens/college, and community
  • Discover local Jewish agencies, programs, and resources
  • Evaluate and consider Jewish causes
9th Grade - National Social Service
  • Learn about national Jewish social service agencies
  • Review grant proposals
  • Expand knowledge of the scope of needs of the larger Jewish community
10th Grade - Jewish Arts & Culture
  • Understand the importance of Jewish culture and arts and supporting their missions
  • Gain a better understanding of the necessity of desirable and undesirable grant strategies
11th Grade - Outreach & Advocacy
  • Identify Jewish values and apply them in giving decisions
  • Learn to analyze budget items and expenses of nonprofit agencies and the ways they are funded
12th Grade - Israel
  • Just as the world stands on three things – Torah, Avodah and Gemilut Chasadim – teens learn their philanthropic efforts support three Jewish communities: their local community, the broader community and Israel
  • Discover how Israel is a community with similar needs to our own, but it also has distinct elements of philanthropy
  • Learn about life in Israel including: famous people, sites, holidays, food, culture and social action
  • Learn about philanthropic opportunities and ways to stay involved in the Jewish community after JCYF

Each teen philanthropist donates their own money which gets matched and pooled with contributions raised during JCYF Fund Day. Participants research Jewish non-profit organizations and meet with their leaders, share findings and opinions through group presentations, learn about philanthropic giving and distribute donations as they choose.  The result is the application of weeks of intelligent thought and planning, as well as emotional exploration of Jewish needs far beyond each teen’s own world. Participants learn about caring and selflessness, and the power of their donation to one or more carefully researched causes within the local, national and international Jewish communities.

JCYF meets 7 Sundays September through February in the Princeton/Mercer area.

I like the meetings because they give me a new way to connect with people my age and make a difference all over the world.

More leadership and development opportunities through JCYF

JCYF Youth Advisory Board

An excellent opportunity to gain leadership skills, have your voice be heard and meet local Jewish teens!

  • Participate in additional leadership training
  • Play an integral part in providing feedback
  • Plan a Day of Community Service

2024-2025 Youth Advisory Board Calendar

  • Sunday, October 20—3:30 – 5 PM
  • Sunday, March 9—3:30 – 5 PM
  • Sunday, March 30—12:30 – 2 PM

Fill out an application

J-Serve / Good Deeds Day
An International Day of Jewish Youth Service.

Since 2005, J-Serve has been a part of Youth Service America’s Global Youth Service Day weekend.  Teens fulfill the Jewish values of gemilut chasidim (acts of loving kindness), tzedakah (just and charitable giving), and tikkum olam (repairing the world). Across the globe, teens join together to make their community and the world a better place.

J-Serve is a collaborative effort run in partnership with GOOD DEEDS DAY, BBYO, REPAIR THE WORLD, and YSA’s GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY. The initiative is generously underwritten by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Awards Committee.

2024-2025 Year in Review

Reviewed Agencies

8th Grade – Local Social Service

 

 

9th Grade – National Social Service

 

 

10th Grade – Jewish Arts & Culture

 

 

11th Grade – Outreach & Advocacy

Everything You Need to Know About Antisemitism | AJC

12th Grade – Israel

LeketLemaanIsrael-18-3.svg Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design - Wikipedia

Senior Reflections

2025 Recipient Agencies

JCYF Distinguished Alumni Award Winners
JCYF Alumni make a difference in their community!

10 Year Impact Study

The Jewish Community Youth Foundation completed an independent 10 year impact study. Click here for the complete results, or click here for a quick overview of some key findings!

Dr. David Kligman Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Dr. David Kligman z”l Memorial Scholarship Fund ensures that no student is turned away due to inability to pay. Donations to this scholarship fund or to support the JCYF program are encouraged and can be made here. Please indicate gift is to be attributed to the Kligman Scholarship Fund in comments section of donation form.

JCYF is a project of JFCS and funded by the Ricky & Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund.

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