Overview
At ROI, we know that the strength of our network is our members themselves—and when they get together, magic happens. When we create opportunities for Community members to meet face-to-face, we set the stage for meaningful connections and fruitful collaborations that have the potential to create impact in our focus areas and beyond.
ROI4ROI Global Grants empower ROI Community members outside of Israel to create meaningful, in-person gatherings for ROIers in the same region. ROI4ROI gatherings boost members’ professional development and/or create opportunities for meaningful impact in ROI's impact areas.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply? ROI Community members who:
- Participated in any ROI Summit (Senior ROIers are eligible for this opportunity)
- Have completed the most recent ROI Member Survey
What are we looking for?
- ROI Organizers: The gathering must be led by at least two ROI Community members who live outside of Israel.
- Local Leadership: At least one of the two organizers must physically reside in the region of the gathering. (For example, for a gathering in the Baltics, at least one of the organizers must live in the Baltic region.) Organizers do not need to reside in the specific city where the gathering takes place.
- Accessible Location: Priority will be given to gatherings in regions where a relatively large number of Community members can attend (a large number of ROIers live in or can travel to the region easily).
- Broad Reach: Each gathering must target a minimum of 15 ROIers from at least three countries in the same region. For our purposes, a region means the same continent and/or bordering countries. (For US-based gatherings, this means 15 ROIers from at least three nearby states.)
- Additional Funding Sources: Priority will be given to events with additional funding sources, such as participation fees or sponsorship by other organizations (the local Jewish community, another conference, etc.).
- Local Sync: We encourage Community members to plan a gathering that is held simultaneously with another large event, such as a Limmud or regional conference.
- Meaningful Relevant Content: Each gathering must include the following three elements:
- Networking: Participants have opportunities to mingle and have conversations.
- Content: Organizers plan significant content that offers value to the participants. Content can focus on professional development and/or on one of ROI's impact areas.
- Reciprocity: Each participant gives something of themselves to the gathering. For example, participants may lead lectures, workshops, or opening activities; exchange professional expertise; and more.
Some fine print:
- Gatherings are only open to ROI Community members who live outside of Israel.
- All participants must be ROI Community members. Spouses cannot attend.
- An ROI member who wishes to attend an ROI4ROI event outside their designated region may do so.
- Senior ROIers are welcome to apply to lead gatherings and/or attend as participants.
- All gathering sessions must be in English.
Ready to apply? Our 2025 ROI4ROI Gatheirngs will take place in two rounds:
Round I
- Application period: February 2-27, 2025. Answers will be sent by March 10.
- Gatherings can take place April 1-June 30, 2025.
Round II
- Application period: May 4-15, 2025. Answers will be sent by May 30.
- Gatherings can take place June 30-December 15, 2025. (Final reports MUST be submitted before December 25, 2025.)
More About the Grant:
As with all ROI funding opportunities, gathering selection and budget approval will be done at the sole discretion of the ROI team.
- Grant Amounts:
- Maximum requested funding for a one-day gathering:
- Up to $15,000 for 20 participants and more
- Up to $12,000 for less than 20 participants
- Maximum requested funding for a two-day gathering:
- Up to $20,000 for the entire event, if the event includes accommodation
- Maximum requested funding for a one-day gathering:
- ROI's Funding Can Cover: Venue, food and refreshments, speakers/content, accommodation (for a two-day gathering), program materials, and (in some cases) event producer.
- If an event producer is required, their role should be defined in the grant application.
- ROI will review requests to cover expense types not listed here. Be sure to justify all expenses clearly in your application.
- Stipend: In recognition of the time required to organize a successful ROI4ROI event, a $1,000 stipend will be provided to each group of ROIer organizers (i.e., if two ROIers work together on an event, they will split the $1,000 between them). Each ROIer organizer must be listed clearly on the application.
Travel Reimbursement: ROI will provide attendees with travel reimbursements of up to $200 per person, based on receipts. Attendees wishing to request travel reimbursement should apply for this using the Professional Development Grant application form. Please note:
- Travel reimbursements are available only to ROIers who have completed the most recent ROI Member Survey.
- Travel reimbursements will not be counted as part of the Professional Development Grants allocated to eligible Community members annually.
- If a participant's travel expenses to an event within their region exceed $450, and the participant has shown that no cheaper travel options are available, ROI may (in exceptional cases) consider increasing the travel reimbursement beyond $200.
- If an ROI member wishes to attend an ROI4ROI event outside their designated region, they may receive a travel reimbursement of up to $200.
- ROI will never cover the full cost of a participant’s travel (personal contribution must be demonstrated).
A note on event registration:
Event registration will be managed exclusively by the event organizers (not by ROI HQ). In their final reports submitted to ROI, organizers will be required to list the names of Community members who attended their gatherings.
Process
Here's how to apply:
- Apply by the Round I and Round II deadlines above.
- Hear back from the ROI team by March 10 and May 30, respectively.
- Complete the (optional) Interim Report Form 15 business days or more before your event date if you would like to request partial upfront payment for your expenses.
- Finalize your participant list and share it with the ROI Team, no fewer than five weeks prior to your event.
- If the event has fewer participants than expected, the organizers must inform the ROI team as soon as possible. This may affect the amount of support granted.
- Submit your Final Report, including receipts/proof of payment, within 30 days of your event's conclusion.
- Receive the remainder of your grant as reimbursement after your report is approved.
- Payment will be made via PayPal.