Designating Your Gift
Your support of Shalom Institute and its programs provides meaningful, life-changing experiences to thousands of children, teens, young adults, adults, and families each year. You have the opportunity to choose where you would like your gift to have the most impact. Read below to learn about various ways to designate your giving.
Scholarships
Help a child experience the magic of Camp JCA Shalom and Camp Gesher overnight camps. We allocate over $400,000 in financial aid each summer, so that no child is denied an opportunity to come to camp. With a gift to our Scholarship Fund, you are investing in the future of our Jewish community and enhancing the life of a deserving child! More than 350 campers each year are able to attend camp thanks to your generosity. Donate to give the gift of camp!
Shalom Institute Endowment
Making a gift to our Endowment is a profound way to ensure the longevity and vitality of Shalom Institute and our mission. Your contribution will help ensure a stable financial foundation and support our Signature Programs for years to come. Your lasting gift helps secure a vibrant and enduring Jewish community for future generations. Thanks to a generous grant from JCamp180 your donation to our Endowment will now be matched 1:3 through 2027.
Camp JCA Shalom
For nearly 75 years, Camp JCA Shalom has provided a positive, safe, and fun Jewish camping experience that fosters personal and social growth, skills development, and an appreciation for nature. Your generous gift will promote strong Jewish values of community, tradition, and service, ensuring that future generations can experience the transformative impact of Camp JCA Shalom. Join us in nurturing the next generation of Jewish leaders and building a vibrant community.
Camp Gesher
Camp Gesher, a Signature Experience of Shalom Institute, is the sole camp in North America dedicated to campers from Russian-speaking Jewish families. Each summer, Camp Gesher hosts nearly 200 campers from 3rd to 12th grade, including Ukrainian refugee campers for the 3rd summer. Beyond the summer, Camp Gesher offers camps and other engaging programs that celebrate Russian-Jewish culture, Jewish traditions, and a deep connection to Israel, enriching the lives of Russian-speaking Jewish families throughout the community.
Shemesh Farms
Shalom Institute’s Shemesh Farms creates transformative employment, programming and community opportunities for over 100 young adults with diverse abilities. Through their impactful work, Shemesh Farms empowers individuals with vital skill development, socialization, and a strong sense of purpose and community. Discover more about Shemesh Farms, its dedicated employees, and their exceptional products.
Marla Bennett Israel Discoverey Center and Garden
On July 31, 2002, Camp JCA Shalom lost Marla Bennett, a cherished community member, in a bombing at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Marla was a camper, CIT, counselor, unit head, and Program Director in 2001. She loved camp, Israel, and Jewish education and was training to become a Jewish educator. In her memory, we created the Marla Bennett Israel Discovery Center and Garden, an interactive learning center that teaches about Israel, its history, and the relationship between Judaism and the environment. Each year, hundreds explore and learn in Marla’s garden.
Facilities
A donation to our facilities fund will ensure essential capital improvements to our buildings and the Alan D. Leve Malibu campus, creating a safe and comfortable environment for everyone who visits. Your support will enhance our infrastructure, allowing us to continue providing a welcoming space where our Jewish community can thrive. Together, we can maintain and elevate the spaces that are crucial to Shalom Institute’s success.
Sustainability Initiatives
We teach the connection between Judaism, Israel, nature, and agriculture through hands-on activities like farming, gardening, harvesting, and composting. Our farm and our Malibu campus model Jewish social and environmental responsibility by using harvested produce in workshops, meals, and donations to local food pantries. Our animal program educates participants about Judaism’s relationship with animals. For many, it’s their first interaction with farm animals, which include horses, donkeys, tortoises, and bees.
Inclusion Initiatives
Your donation will support our Camp JCA Shalom Inclusion Initiative, serving children ages 7-16 and young adults ages 17-21 with diverse abilities, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and anxiety. During the summer, campers with diverse abilities can attend any of our 1, 2, or 3-week sessions. We welcome campers to participate in our year-round camps and programs as well.
Rope Course!