Israel Quest (IQ) is rooted in the guiding principle that participation in a substantive peer-based Israel experience during a teen’s formative years can build a strong and lasting Jewish identity in the hearts and minds of our youth. The IQ grant program is funded principally by the United Jewish Endowment Fund and is administered by the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning with support from The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. IQ is not a trip provider.

The focus of the Israel Quest program and funding guidelines have been modified for 2011-2012 compared to prior years. These changes respond to the very substantial reduction in monies now available for IQ grants. While we are working to secure new sources to restore the funding pool, it will take some years to achieve full restoration. Consistent with available resources, to fulfill IQ’s objective of enabling area teens to participate in a formative educational experience in Israel, the following new funding guidelines apply for 2011-2012 grants.

1. IQ grants are awarded on the basis of financial need. While IQ is a community-wide program, eligibility to receive its funding is now limited to those applicants where the parent or guardian can certify that the IQ grant (i) is financially required and (ii) would have a significant impact on their ability and decision to send the teen on the selected trip.
2. IQ will award grants (previously known as Base Grants) in amounts lower than in prior years. Furthermore, IQ no longer will award “matching” grants for funding made by congregations, youth groups and other Sponsoring Organizations toward a teen’s trip. IQ will award grants for 2011-12 as follows

• $500 for teens enrolled in approved trips of 3 weeks in Israel.

• $900 for teens enrolled in approved trips of 4 to 5 weeks in Israel.

• $1,100 for teens enrolled in approved trips of 6 weeks or longer in Israel.

Weeks are defined as 7 days in Israel, not the full length of a trip for those that include other destinations.  Teen trips are eligible if they offer a minimum of 21 days in Israel and are for high school students only.

As in previous years, teens are eligible to apply for an IQ grant if they also meet the following criteria:

• Are Jewish, reside in the Greater Washington area and plan to travel to Israel during 9^th-12^th grades or the summer immediately thereafter. (Post-high school, year-course programs are ineligible.)
• Are officially registered for an Israel trip which is a teen, peer, substantive educational program that has been approved or qualifies for approval under current IQ guidelines. (Family, day school and congregational family trips are ineligible.).
• Only a finite amount of IQ funds are available, and they will be awarded on a first-received basis. Applications should be submitted as early as possible and at least a month before the trip provider requires final payment.  Applications are grouped for processing three times per year.  The final date to submit an application is May 15.

Before you complete the Israel Quest application please be sure you… 

1.       Have already contacted your trip provider, congregation, youth group, summer camp or clergy to inquire about other potential scholarships, grants or incentives to help fund your Israel trip.

2.       Have familiarized yourself with the current funding parameters to ensure you are eligible to apply for Israel Quest funding.

3.       Have a parent/guardian willing to certify a statement on the application that the Israel Quest grant is financially required and that its award would have a significant impact on the ability and decision to send you on the selected program.

4.       Are already pre-registered for your Israel trip with the trip provider and have all the information with you for the application including trip provider name, address, specific trip title, costs and dates.  You also will want a calendar so you can count exactly how many days you will be spending in Israel.

5.       Have about 20-30 dedicated minutes of time (with your parent/guardian present) to complete the entire Israel Quest application.

Click here for the Israel Quest Online Application.

Click here for Israel Quest FAQs. If you have any further questions, please email israelquest@pjll.org.