Background
IAJGS currently offers up to two grants each year to encourage not-for-profit institutions or organizations, Jewish or not, to pursue projects, activities, and acquisitions that provide new or enhanced resources to benefit Jewish genealogists. The amounts of the grants are set by the IAJGS Board each year but are expected to be:
- Rabbi Malcolm Stern Grant: US $3,000
- John Stedman Memorial Grant: US $3,000
Further details about these grants, and the past recipients and projects, can be found here.
Selection Criteria for Stern & Stedman Grants
The Stern & Stedman Grants selection criteria are below. Please note that Criteria 1 and 7 are mandatory. The other criteria, where applicable to a project, will be used to determine whether a project is suitable for a grant and to decide between nominations when there are more suitable projects than grants available.
- The grant may only be awarded to a not-for-profit institution or organization. Grants may not be awarded to an individual.
- The grant will tangibly increase the likelihood that the project will be accomplished.
- The project results will be made available to the overall community of Jewish genealogists and will be offered without charge or with only a nominal charge.
- The estimated timeframe for the project is reasonable.
- The project results will be delivered remotely and globally so it can benefit large numbers of researchers.
- Where technology is to be used for development and/or delivery, it should be well proven and easily available/accessible.
- Agreement that should a grant be awarded, then on the request of the Secretary of IAJGS, the grant recipient will send a report to the IAJGS detailing how the grant monies have been spent, current progress on the project, and the benefits that the project has generated. The first report will be requested approximately nine months after a grant is issued. Further reports may be requested at approximately annual intervals, at the discretion of IAJGS, until the project has been completed.
- Grant recipients will acknowledge support from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies in any distribution of information about the project or project results.
How to Apply and Timetable
Nominations may be made by an individual or group, IAJGS member society or non-member. Self-nominations, by any not-for-profit organization, are also acceptable.
Each nomination must have at least two (2), but not more than five (5), letters of recommendation. The letters of recommendation may be for either the individuals or organization involved in the project, or for other similar projects that have been completed by the organization. These letters of recommendation must be from independent individuals or organizations (i.e., not written by any official or person involved in the running of the nominated organization, or development or delivery of the nominated project).
Each nomination must also include a signed statement from an official of the organization being nominated that:
- the organization agrees to being nominated;
- the organization is a not-for-profit, non-profit, or charity organization (including a justification or proof such as their US IRS 501(c)(3) status, a regulated charity number, or similar);
- if they are awarded a grant, then they agree that they will send one or more reports to IAJGS detailing how the grant monies were spent, current progress on the project, and the benefits that the project has generated (as detailed in Selection Criterion 7, listed above);
- if they are awarded a grant, then they will acknowledge the grant support from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies in any distribution of information about the project or project results.
The above items can be uploaded, along with other supporting documents, by using the section at the bottom of the Nomination Form.
Nominations must be made using the Stern/Stedman Grant Nomination Form.
Nominations must be submitted by 1 June 2026 at 11:59 pm EDT (Eastern Daylight Time, USA).
Awards will be announced during the upcoming 47th Annual IAJGS Conference on Jewish Genealogy.
Questions
Any questions relating to the nomination process for the Stern/Stedman Grants should be sent via email to Laurence Harris (chair, 2026 Stern/Stedman Grant Committee) at grants-chair@iajgs.org.
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