Two Bay Area organizations are among nine groups that will be getting support from UpStart Accelerator, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that mentors new and existing Jewish organizations as they grow and develop.
At The Well and the JCC Maccabi Sports Camp were chosen from among 66 Jewish organizations that applied for the three-year skills-building program.
“Both organizations met our criteria for doing something that creates new access to Jewish life and tradition, and both have a proven concept that shows a demand for what they are creating,” said Jaime Rapaport Barry, a spokeswoman for UpStart.
The JCC Maccabi Sports Camp for youth and teens in Atherton is the only summer camp for sports development rooted in Jewish life, and the camp attracts participants from around the country, Barry said.
At The Well, a project based in San Francisco that supports young professional Jewish women, operates “well circles,” gatherings that represent a modern version of the Rosh Hodesh tradition of following and honoring the new moon to enhance spiritual health.
“At The Well has a lot of traction with people who want to be engaged in this work,” Barry said. “It’s exciting to see the connections they are making.”
UpStart’s Accelerator program provides intensive workshops and coaching to accelerate success, Barry said, as well as seed grants to the participating organizations.
Barry noted that UpStart received more than twice as many applications this year as last year. Founded in 2006, UpStart now operates throughout the U.S. and Israel. Sixteen Bay Area organizations have gone through the program, including BimBam (formerly G-dcast), Moishe House, Jewish Studio Project, Urban Adamah and JLens. — j. staff