The logo of NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation.

JNS.org – NEXT: A Division of Birthright Israel Foundation and the Natan Fund last week announced three recipients for the 2014 Natan/NEXT Grants for Social Entrepreneurs. The $25,000 grants are “designed to support ongoing cultural, spiritual, educational, service, and community-building projects run by young Jewish adults for their peers,” according to a press release.

Here are the recipients:

Leora Maccabee Itman, TC Jewfolk

TC Jewfolk is an independent, entrepreneurial start-up using social media and community-based journalism to connect, engage, and inspire young Jews in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Leora is the founder of TC Jewfolk and Chair of the Board of Directors for Jewfolk Media, its parent nonprofit organization. Leora is an attorney at Maslon, Edelman, Borman & Brand, LLP.

David Zvi Kalman, Open Quorum

Open Quorum/Jewish Public Media is a new online platform for creating, curating, and promoting excellent Jewish ideas and creative expression through podcasts like Talking in Shul and Responsa Radio, videos, and live events like SermonSlam. David is co-founder and president of Open Quorum, a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania in medieval Jewish and Islamic law, and serves as one of Mechon Hadar’s Campus Scholars.

Nathan DeGroot, Mikdash: Portland’s East Side Jewish Cooperative

Mikdash is a cooperative community based in Portland’s East Side that supports creative Jewish living, encourages meaning-making, and builds community amongst young Jewish adults in the Portland area. Nathan is a fifth-year student at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, and is genuinely excited by the potential community that Mikdash could help support.