fbpx
Alumni Venture Fund

Alumni Venture Fund

Launched in 2005, the Bronfman Alumni Venture Fund (AVF) is the first Jewish mini-grant program of its kind, fundraising from our North American and Israeli alumni for the sole purpose of re-distributing that funding to alumni-led projects. As of 2023, the AVF has distributed approximately $358,000 in grants and has provided valuable peer support to impactful projects led by close to 190 alumni. It aims to:

  • Grow projects that serve the wider community and perpetuate the values of pluralism, Jewish learning, engagement with Israel and social responsibility.
  • Inspire alumni to put their talents into action. All grantee projects are led by a Bronfman alumnus, either as a volunteer or professional.
  • Amplify the power of peer support: grants come from donations from Bronfman alumni and their families in North America and Israel. All grantees receive capacity building support from the alumni network.

Donate now and double your impact! In honor of 20 years of the Bronfman Alumni Venture Fund, Rachel Bluth ’91 and her family have generously offered to match every donation to the AVF up to $10,000.

Projects & Process:

  • The AVF supports projects and programs led by Bronfman alumni working to make an impact in their communities.
  • Eligible projects must reflect the spirit of The Bronfman Fellowship and may draw on Bronfman’s core values: Jewish learning, pluralism, engagement between Israel and North America, and social responsibility.
  • Please note that projects related to political engagement must be non-partisan.
  • Grants are evaluated by the AVF Grantmaking team comprised of volunteer representatives of the alumni community.
  • Grants are funded from the Fellowship operating budget, and through donations from the international Bronfman community.
  • The AVF also provides grantees with additional support including alumni mentors, PR, professional connections, and many other forms of support
  • Email office@bronfman.org to donate or volunteer your services to our grantees!

Alumni from North America and Israel are invited to submit proposals annually, typically in early spring, and funding decisions are made within six weeks of the deadline. Read more about the incredibly creative and diverse AVF projects of 2023 and previous years