Becoming a PJ Partner
The PJ Library is a collaborative partnership between The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, local donors, and local Implementing Partners.
The PJ Library Opportunity Match
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation sees The PJ Library as a strategic initiative helping to build a sustainable Jewish future. With that goal in mind, HGF has designed an easy, "turn-key" model for implementing The PJ Library on a local, community-wide level.
Our national office oversees the book selection, writes the parenting resources, mails the materials, and manages the operational infrastructure. The Foundation also provides implementing affiliates with a matching staff subsidy (up to $10,000/year for the first two years), a marketing allowance, and pays for the initial outreach, a community-wide mailing, that includes a free book, introductory letter, and registration information.
With continued dedication to reaching as many families as possible, The Harold Grinspoon Foundation underwrites a significant portion of the subscription cost as well. As of February, 2009, subscription cost is reduced from $60 to $54 per child per year. Through The PJ Library Opportunity Match, the cost to the community is only $40 per child per year. This amount covers the cost of twelve monthly mailings to each subscribing child. Each mailing includes the book or CD, a resource guide, an envelope showing the partner's return address and a gift tag acknowledging the local donor(s.)
Each community agrees to offer The PJ Library for a minimum of three years.
How to Bring The PJ Library to Your Community
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation has established the national infrastructure to be able to offer the program in other communities across the country. We've chosen the books and CDs, developed the marketing materials, set up the data management systems for subscriptions, and organized support materials and networks for the local PJ professionals.
There are two things necessary to bring The PJ Library to a new community ~
- A local organization to act as the Implementing Partner.
- In a majority of communities, the Jewish Federation or JCC acts as the Implementing Partner, but in non-federated communities, a synagogue, Jewish community foundation, or school may also take that role.
- Local donors to fund the subscriptions for children in your community.
Often a local philanthropist or group of philanthropists make this happen. In many cases, the local Implementing Partner(s) are able to fund a significant portion of the program. They may allocate funds from their own budget, and/or choose to raise the funds specifically for The PJ Library program. In other cases, the program is funded through collaborative efforts of the Implementing Partner, other Jewish communal agencies, private donors, and foundations.
The PJ Library's National Marketing Team works with each community to determine the most appropriate strategy for local implementation and funding.
Click on the links below for more details:
Sample Job Description for the PJ Professional
How to Apply ~ Five Easy Steps
1. Check your eligibility
2. Contact our office via telephone to speak with our National Marketing Team
413-439-1981, or e-mail pjlibrary@hgf.org
3. Secure funding
4. Determine who will administer the program in your community
5. Fill out the online PJ Library Application by clicking on the link below: