Jewish Professional Investment (JPI) Grants:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING FOR WASHINGTON’S EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS
Grants for conferences, fellowships, certificates, and seminars for the people who teach, lead, and support Jewish youth across Washington State.
Jewish Professional Investment (JPI) Grants fund professional development activities for youth serving Jewish professionals at Washington’s camps, synagogues, youth groups, and other Jewish nonprofits. Funded by the Samis Foundation with additional support from philanthropic partners, JPI Grants offer two options: JPI Conference Grants of $1,000 to attend a national Jewish conference, and JPI Education Grants of varying amounts toward fellowship, certificate, and seminar programs in North America and Israel.
Two grant opportunities
JPI Conference Grants
For: National Jewish conferences and convenings
The best thinking in Jewish education happens when educators from across the community learn together. A JPI Conference Grant gives you that experience. $1,000 covers registration and travel to an approved national Jewish conference, and you come home with new frameworks, colleagues, and the reminder that your work is part of something larger than any one community.
See eligible conferences (PDF) >
JPI Education Grants
For: Certificate programs, fellowships, and seminars
Meaningful growth requires time. JPI Education Grants are for professionals ready to learn and dive deeper into their craft, and for the organizations ready to invest in them. Samis funds the majority of the cost, your organization contributes a share, and you earn a credential and a network that shape the rest of your career.
See eligible programs list (PDF) >
For Jewish Professional Leaders
Want to learn more about how you can invest in your team without carrying the cost alone? JPI Grants cover $1,000 per employee towards conferences and two-thirds of the expected cost when your staff pursue serious professional development, with your organization contributing just one third.
Eligible programs include Conferences, Certificate, Fellowship or Seminar programs including Jewish and Israel education.
Learn more about subsidized professional development for your team >
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year for both JPI Conference and JPI Education grants.
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JPI Grants are open to youth serving Jewish professionals employed at camps, synagogues, youth groups, and other Jewish nonprofits across Washington State, regardless of career stage.
Please note:
- Up to 3 professionals per organization can utilize grants annually
- Professional development for Jewish day school educators is supported through separate Samis initiatives in partnership with the schools.
JPI Grants support vetted, high-quality opportunities. The current pre-approved program provider list is available as a downloadable PDF below. All eligible professional development opportunities must include an in-person intensive component.
Download PDF of eligible programs >
To request approval for a program not listed here, contact Samis at grantsadministrator@samis.com before submitting an application.
Award amounts are determined case by case, based on the total estimated out of pocket cost for participation. Samis grants cover 2/3rds share of the total estimated cost including tuition, travel, and lodging; the applicant’s organization contributes 1/3 of the total estimated cost.
Checks are sent directly to the applicant’s organization.
Results
2026 Pilot JPI Grants
Jewish professionals across Washington State share their experiences with JPI Grants.
93%
said the conference was absolutely a worthwhile use of their time.
86%
felt more confident exploring complex topics with their students.
100%
said the grant process was easy.
Funding Partners
JPI Grants are funded by the Samis Foundation with additional support from partners who share a commitment to professional excellence in Jewish education.
Interested in joining as a funding partner? Contact grantsadministrator@samis.com.
SAMIS HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
1987
Samis gives first community grant to Seattle1990
Samis grants first $50,000 in support of the Jewish Agency's Operation Exodus for immigrants to Israel from the FSU1994
Samis begins Jewish overnight camp funding, reaching $5.5M in funding by 20192003
Samis gives first major $3.4M capital grant to SHA to recover from Nisqually earthquake2011
Samis passes the $50M in giving mark2015
Samis grants first $75,000 of $1M to Haredi college scholarship programs in Israel2018
Teen Israel Experience Pilot Program begins, increasing giving from $40,000 to $650,0002019
Samis reaches nearly $8M in capital grants to Seattle Jewish day schools2020
2021-2025 Strategic Plan for Philanthropy approved2022
Day School Affordability Initiative launched capping tuition for families earning up to $350K2022
Youth Enrichment and Engagement Initiative launched with >$1M granted over 3 years2022
$1M grant for Sephardic Archives at National Library for Israel