Award Guidelines

Jump to: Eligibility | Criteria | Commitment to a Fair Selection Process | Timeline | FAQs

Eligibility

To qualify for the Grinspoon Amber Awards, nominees must:

  • Be nominated by someone who is not their employee.
  • Not be previous Amber Award winners.
  • Not self-nominate.
  • Be a professional in the Jewish communal field, defined for the purposes of this award as anyone who works full time for a 501(c)(3) organization in the US or a registered charity in Canada serving the Jewish Community.
  • Be nominated by somebody who has direct, first-hand knowledge of the nominee’s work and impact in the Jewish community.
  • Have worked in the Jewish community for at least 5 years.
  • Be working in the US or Canada.
  • Not be an employee, Board Member of HGF for at least five years.
  • Be free from any conflicts of interest, such as personal, professional, or financial connections to members of the Selection Committee.
  • Be at least 18 years old.

Criteria

We recognize that excellence comes in many forms. While we’ve outlined several key criteria, we don’t expect any one candidate to excel in all areas. Instead, we ask nominators and applicants to focus on the one or two criteria where they believe the nominee shines brightest.

Professional Achievement

  • What are the nominee’s specific outstanding professional achievements and career milestones?
  • Examples: Leadership roles held within key Jewish organizations or initiatives, projects that have significantly contributed to the Jewish professional field and/or community at large.

Commitment to Jewish Communal Field

  • Has the nominee displayed significant commitment to serving as a professional in the Jewish community?
  • Examples: Years of service within the Jewish community, volunteering and/or involvement in community activities beyond professional obligations, demonstrable dedication to the betterment or advancement of Jewish professional work.

Integrity

  • Has the nominee demonstrated personal character and integrity in their professional and communal life?
  • Examples: Testimonials or endorsements from peers and community members vouching for the nominee’s character, evidence of ethical decision-making in challenging situations, consistency in values and actions over the course of their professional life.

Commitment to Jewish Values

  • Does the nominee’s work reflect and promote Jewish values, endeavors, and traditions?
  • Examples: Implementation of projects or initiatives that align with Jewish ethics and values, active facilitation of/participation in cultural, religious, and/or educational programs that reinforce Jewish traditions, contributions to dialogue and understanding between different Jewish communities, efforts to address issues important to the Jewish community in line with Jewish values.

Reach of Impact

  • Extent of the nominee's positive impact on the Jewish community?
  • Examples: Number and diversity of individuals directly benefited from the nominee's work, depth of impact, geographic or demographic spread of the nominee’s impact within the community, sustainability and long-term benefits of the nominee’s contributions, recognition of the nominee’s impact by community members and leaders.

Collaboration & Bridge Building

  • Does the nominee's track record provide evidence of prioritizing collaboration and bridge-building?
  • Examples: Partnerships established with different Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, success in creating programs or initiatives that involve various sectors of the community, efforts to unite different Jewish groups or institutions around common goals, conflict resolution or mediation led by the nominee within the community, mentorship and development of others in the Jewish professional field.

Innovation

  • Has the nominee shown the ability to innovate within their field?
  • Examples: Introduction of new methods, technologies, or practices to address Jewish communal needs, adaptation and modernization of traditional Jewish practices to contemporary contexts, evidence of creative problem-solving in their field, success in securing funding or support for innovative projects.

Courage

  • Has the nominee displayed courage in their career, making tough choices and/or doing what is right, rather than what is expedient or convenient?
  • Examples: Instances where the nominee has stood up for Jewish values or community in the face of opposition or adversity, leadership in times of crisis or significant community change, advocacy for controversial or challenging issues that impact the Jewish community, risks taken to ensure the integrity and future of the Jewish community.

Commitment to a Fair Selection Process

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation is committed to an impartial and fair selection process. We do not discriminate against nominees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or any other legally protected status. All candidates are evaluated solely on their philanthropic impact in the Jewish communal world, alignment with our mission, and the established Grinspoon Amber Awards criteria.

Applicants for the Grinspoon Amber Awards will undergo a comprehensive due diligence review, which may include a criminal background check and other relevant assessments. This process aims to ensure each nominee upholds the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Current employees of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation are ineligible for the award. Nominees must also be free from any conflicts of interest, such as personal, professional, or financial connections to members of the Selection Committee.

Timeline

  • Nominations for the 2026 Grinspoon Amber Awards will open on January 1, 2026 and will be accepted until 5PM Eastern Time February 28, 2026.
  • All nominations will be reviewed by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to ensure they meet the Eligibility Criteria. All eligible nominees will be invited to apply for the award.
  • Completed applications, including letters of recommendation and a personal statement, must be submitted by 5PM Eastern Time on April 15, 2026.
  • Winners will be notified by August of 2026.
  • Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee, and the winners will be announced at the JFNA General Assembly in November of 2026.

FAQs

Nominations

  • Can I nominate myself for an award?
    No. The Grinspoon Amber Awards are designed to be peer-nominated, inviting those whose lives you’ve touched to shine a light on the meaningful impact you’re making in your Jewish community.
  • Can I nominate a community volunteer for an award?
    No. The Grinspoon Amber Awards honor the hard work of professionals in the Jewish communal field who work full time for a 501(c)(3) or registered charity serving the Jewish community.
  • I did not receive an email confirmation link.
    Please try resubmitting your information to trigger an email confirmation link. If you still do not receive a confirmation, please email us at [email protected]
  • I did not receive a submission confirmation.
    Please try resubmitting your nomination by clicking the email confirmation link sent to your inbox—occasionally it needs to be selected more than once. If you still do not receive a confirmation, please email us at [email protected].
  • Are all nominations considered for a Grinspoon Amber Award?Only nominees who meet the eligibility criteria are considered for an award. For a list of eligibility criteria, please click here.
  • Can Peer Recognition Grant recipients be nominated for a Grinspoon Amber Award?
  • Yes! We look forward to recognizing the hard work and dedication of all eligible professionals in the Jewish communal world.

Application

  • When are references due?
    References are due by the close of the application window, which marks a completed application. Applications without both references submitted by the deadline will not be considered.
  • Who will contact my references?
    HGF will contact references directly after submission of the applicant’s portion of the application. Please alert them that their reference statements are due by 5:00 PM ET on April 15, 2026 for your application to be considered complete.

Award Winners

  • When will winners be notified?
    Winners will be notified once the selection committee has completed its deliberations, which typically takes place in August.
  • Will I be notified if I didn’t win?
    All applicants will be notified of the outcome, whether or not they are selected as a winner.
  • Are winners expected to cover the cost of JFNA General Assembly registration?
    The Harold Grinspoon Foundation is honored to invite Grinspoon Amber Award winners as their guests to the General Assembly and will cover all registration fees.
  • Are winners expected to cover the cost of travel and lodging for the JFNA General Assembly
    The Harold Grinspoon Foundation is honored to cover the cost of travel for each winner and one guest of their choosing. HGF will also cover the cost of one hotel room for the duration of the General Assembly.