In response to what they see as a dearth of opportunities for philanthropy on campus, two students from Columbia/Barnard Hillel have formed a faith-based fellowship devoted to giving back.
The Jewishly Informed Giving Fellowship, created by Amy Schultz, JTS/CC ’11, and Rachel Loebl, BC ’10, aims to unite diverse students at Columbia to engage in charitable endeavors. As explained by the organization’s mission statement, the fellowship aspires “to create a model of wise giving, for today and the future.”
Schultz and Loebl—both members of Hillel’s Social Justice Committee and who describe themselves as experienced in philanthropy—were disappointed by the absence of similar programs at the University and brainstormed ways to take action. Both students felt that a program like the JIG Fellowship could be a vital resource to young people with a desire to learn more about the process and meaning of giving.
“We’re not little kids anymore. We’re going out into the adult world, and we have the chance to make an impact,” Schultz said. “This is a powerful way to do it and do it well.”
The fellowship will consist of 15 fellows chosen out of the JIG Fellowship’s application pool. Once accepted, each fellow will be responsible for raising $500 for the organization so that the group has $7,500. Eventually, after that money is raised, a matching $7,500 gift will be contributed to the fellowship by a donor, making $15,000 available for philanthropy.
Also supported by Hillel’s Social Justice Committee—which will offer both logistical and fundraising assistance to the program’s fellows—the JIG Fellowship is unique in that it is entirely student-run.
Chanel Dubofsky, the social justice programs coordinator at Hillel, remembers when Schultz and Loebl were in the preliminary stages of developing the fellowship.
“This is the first of its kind in the country in the sense that it’s ‘Jewishly informed,’ completely grassroots, and very student-driven,” Dubofsky said. “The hallmark of it is not only that it’s unique, but it’s really about creating meaningful social change. It’s not just about giving money—we develop a cognizance and a culture.”
Although not meant exclusively for Jewish students, the fellowship will, according to the application, encourage activities informed by “the Jewish perspective on giving”—particularly Tzedakah, which means “charity” in Hebrew.
Deciding where to allocate the funds, the co-founders say, is another task. After discussing which issues they find most important, the fellows will conduct site visits to various organizations across New York City, according to procedure. The fellows will then submit a “request for proposal” to the desired organizations and select, based on the proposals, the organization to which they will donate the money.
A fundraising group at heart, Schultz and Loebl hope that the JIG Fellowship will also establish a space for discussing social welfare as a larger issue. An informal curriculum, currently in the works, will be supplemented with lectures by speakers versed in the areas of charity and Jewish values.
“It’s incredibly exciting—not only from a student leadership perspective—there’s a transformative element of how you think about giving, educating ourselves, and learning about the potential for revolution within a specific framework,” Dubofsky said. “It has the possibility to reverberate tremendously.”
Dubofsky, Schultz, and Loebl encourage students on campus to apply for the fellowship, regardless of background. Applications can be sent to JIGFellowship@gmail.com and are due Sept. 15.
alexa.davis@columbiaspectator.com