Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund (AASMF)

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is an endowed charitable foundation created in 1987 in memory of Amy Adina Schulman, a young activist committed to progressive Zionism and social justice. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, the Fund operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and channels its endowment income and donations into grants for young adults from the United States and Canada who volunteer or intern full time with progressive social action organizations.

The Fund focuses on supporting individual grantees rather than institutions. Awards typically help cover living and participation costs for placements of at least three months, where recipients contribute 30 or more hours per week to work under the supervision of an established organization. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded well over 1,000 grants—approaching 1,700 in recent years—for projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Israel, the broader Middle East, and across the United States.

Grants support a broad range of social justice and community‑based efforts. Priority areas include building a more just and egalitarian society, enhancing understanding among peoples, advancing nonviolence and peace activities, promoting environmental concerns, advocating civil and human rights, and working with populations that are emotionally, physically, educationally or economically disadvantaged. The Fund also backs participation in progressive educational Israel/Zionist youth movement programs that align with its founding values.

Eligible applicants are typically young adults from North America who are prepared to devote themselves full time to volunteer service. They must secure placement with a recognized host organization and commit to reporting back on their experience, as well as sharing what they learn with their peers to inspire further engagement.

The Fund has an accessible but structured application process. Candidates must be residents of the U.S. or Canada, provide two non‑peer letters of recommendation, obtain an acceptance letter from the host organization describing supervision arrangements, and submit a plan for how they will educate and encourage their peers to pursue similar social action. Grants are not provided for academic programs, even when these include volunteer components; the focus is strictly on substantive service and activism.

In assessing applications, the Fund places weight on the applicant’s demonstrated commitment to progressive social justice values, the credibility of the host organization, the quality and impact potential of the proposed work, and the applicant’s intention to integrate this experience into their long‑term personal and professional trajectory.

The Fund clearly states that it is an IRS‑designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit and that 100% of all contributions are directed to grantees unless a donor specifically requests that a gift be added to the endowment base. The Schulman family covers all administrative costs, underscoring a strong commitment to channeling donor resources directly into grant support. Regular annual newsletters and impact stories provide qualitative reporting on grantees’ work in fields such as environmental justice, health, housing, education, and community organizing.

Founded one year after Amy Adina Schulman’s death, the Fund was created by her family and communities to continue her ideals in Israel and around the globe. Over decades, it has expanded the number and size of awards thanks to individual donations, special gifts in honor of life‑cycle events, and corporate matching funds. In addition to its grant‑making, the Fund sponsors an annual memorial lecture on timely topics connected to its educational mission, further advancing public dialogue on peace, justice, and progressive social change.