Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards (United States)

Every year, the Helen Diller Family Foundation awards up to 15 Jewish teens with $36,000 each for their leadership efforts to change the world. From the environment to social justice to access to education and beyond, young people are tackling big challenges in their communities and having tremendous impact.

The Foundation is committed to engendering respect for all humanity and building bridges of understanding between different cultures. They welcome diversity within the Jewish community and embrace its racial, ethnic, and religious differences.

Benefits of the Award

• $36,000 that can be applied to the Award recipient’s education or initiative
• An Awards celebration weekend in San Francisco, including a retreat (shabbaton) with other Award recipients, alumni, and program leadership
• Connection to a network of fellow changemakers and leaders
• Media opportunities to elevate visibility for the Awardee’s project
• Ongoing support and guidance from Awards leadership

Award Criteria

• Proven commitment to the value and practice of tikkun olam (repairing the world)
• Demonstration of vision and creativity
• Effective development, implementation, and continued leadership of a project or organization
• Dedication to the project over time
• Ability to impact and/or engage a growing number of individuals in the project, either as partners, participants, or beneficiaries
• Ability to articulate in their own words the history, meaning, and significance of the project and its goals, impact, and potential to engage others

Eligibility Criteria

• Teens (13-19 years old on the date of the application deadline) who identify as Jewish
• Residents of the United States
• Volunteer without any compensation
• Currently serve in a leadership role on a project or initiative aimed at tikkun olam — repairing the world
• A nominator may be any individual who knows a teen and is not a family member of the nominee.

Review and Selection Process

• All applications undergo an extensive evaluation process by the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards Review and Selection Committees, which includes over 100 volunteers and leaders from across the country. Reviewers use an evaluation system that focuses on current demonstrated leadership, commitment, and project impact.
• Each application is read by multiple evaluators whose scores determine which applications continue to semifinalist and finalist rounds. Semifinalists are asked to provide status updates on their projects as well as contact information for three references.
• The Selection Committee then reviews the finalist applications. Awardees are selected through a committee process, and Awardees will be notified in late May.

For more information, visit Helen Diller Family Foundation.