$300,000 to be Awarded to Jewish Organizations Across North America Going Solar
Westchester Torah Academy in New Rochelle, New York installs solar panels with help from Jewish Solar Challenge.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Jewish Solar Challenge (JSC) is excited to announce the opening of its 2026 grant application cycle on Sept. 1. All Jewish nonprofits that own their buildings, including synagogues, Jewish schools and Jewish camps, are eligible for matching grants up to $50,000 for the installation of solar panels. First-round applications are due by Sept. 25, and JSC will announce winners toward the end of the year.
The Jewish Solar Challenge plans to award another $300,000 in grants, bringing the total amount awarded for solar panels to $1.5 million since the organization launched in 2021. Organizations with existing quotes for solar – those ready to start installation immediately – receive priority.
“This grant cycle is an opportunity for Jewish institutions to turn interest in solar into a concrete plan,” said Mitchell Schwartz, founder of the Jewish Solar Challenge. “Through grants and hands-on guidance, we help communities take practical steps to lower long-term energy costs, strengthen their sustainability efforts and invest in a more resilient future.”
Veteran communications executive and environmentalist Mitchell Schwartz founded the Jewish Solar Challenge in 2021 with the dream of putting solar panels on the rooftops of every Jewish organization in North America. So far, the Jewish Solar Challenge has awarded matching grants to over 20 organizations across the U.S. and to one Jewish community in Uganda.
The Jewish Solar Challenge has supported over $10 million in solar projects, with a total estimated capacity of 3 MW. These installations generate approximately 4.6 million kWh of clean power per year, preventing the release of 1,700 metric tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere.
Prior to working with the Jewish Solar Challenge, Camp Gilboa – a remote Jewish summer camp in the Big Bear area of California – relied on propane generators around the clock. After receiving a JSC grant last year, the camp installed solar panels that now fully power its dining hall and kitchen.
“Environmental justice is central to who we are,” said Michael Auerbach, Executive Director of Camp Gilboa. “This solar project brings those values to life in a tangible way – both through how we operate and what our campers see every day. It reflects hagshama, one of our core pillars: the practice of actualizing our values, and is a meaningful step toward a more sustainable camp community.”
As electricity demand rises nationwide – driven in part by the rapid growth of AI and data centers – solar offers Jewish institutions a practical way to help lower long-term energy costs while advancing their sustainability goals.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Jewish Solar Challenge for helping make solar possible at WTA,” said Rose Just-Michael, Director of Communications and Development at Westchester Torah Academy, which was awarded a grant last year and recently installed its solar panels. “The solar installation is already helping reduce our energy costs, allowing us to direct more resources toward providing an excellent and affordable Jewish education. It has also created a meaningful opportunity for students to see our commitment to achrayut – responsibility for the environment – in action.”
Winners of the JSC grant are required to demonstrate a broader commitment to sustainability, extending beyond the installation of solar panels. Qualified applicants will move on to the final round of the grant process. Before final applications are due, experts at JSC will work directly with the organizations to curate specific initiatives aimed at making their community more sustainable. Second-round applications will be due Oct. 30. Interested Jewish organizations can apply at www.jewishsolarchallenge.com.
ABOUT JEWISH SOLAR CHALLENGE: Jewish Solar Challenge (JSC) is a nonprofit organization that addresses the climate crisis by facilitating the fiscal and environmental sustainability of Jewish community institutions through solar. JSC provides financial support for the installation of solar panels, as well as training, education and advocacy of community members.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6bae5141-310c-4acc-bcce-7a097a335085
CONTACT: Media Contact: Jason Kraft [email protected]
