Submit a Design
The Where Do You Give? National Design Competition pays homage to the tzedakah box of old and honors the enduring values it represents as it challenges artists, designers and thinkers to create an updated vehicle for tzedakah in the 21st century that inspires a national conversation among all of us who seek to engage more deeply with our communities—be they geographic, ethnic, national or other—about where we give, to whom and why.
The Where Do You Give? National Design Competition is open to artists and designers, Jewish and non-Jewish, 18 years of age and older who are U.S. residents.
Artists and designers under 18 years of age are invited to submit to the Student Track.
Step 1: Consider the Challenge
For decades, most Jewish homes had a small tin box —an iconic receptacle for dimes and nickels— as a testament to the biblical imperative to care for the downtrodden. It was periodically emptied to support the local synagogue, soup kitchen, or the State of Israel. Now we want to bring the tzedakah box into active dialogue with contemporary thinking about philanthropy, social change and who we're obligated to in our increasingly interconnected, global and technologically accelerated world.
We want you to create an updated vehicle for tzedakah that inspires a national conversation among all of us who seek to engage more deeply with our communities—be they geographic, ethnic, national or other—about where we give, to whom and why.
Step 2: Review the Submission Categories
Entrants may submit only one design to one of the following three categories.
The Tzedakah Box
The tzedakah box is an iconic ritual object. How can the tzedakah box be brought into active dialogue with contemporary thinking about philanthropy and social change?
Read MoreInteractive/Web
As our giving shifts from coins to credit card transactions and from dollar bills to digital donation buttons, how can we harness technology to reflect and influence the way we give?
Read MoreOut of the Box
Think outside of the box. What statement do you want to make—using sculpture, a conceptual installation or another medium—about tzedakah in the 21st century?
Read MoreAll designs will be judged on these criteria:
- Does it provoke critical thought about the obligation to give, where to give, to whom and why?
- Does it bring new relevance to the concept of tzedakah and the idea of the tzedakah box?
- Its potential to motivate people to expand their financial giving to include the developing world.
- Its creativity and aesthetic appeal.
Register now so you can submit!
The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. EST on March 1, 2012 DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 9, 2012! Only complete submissions will be accepted. A complete submission includes up to three images of your design and a completed entry form. Semi-finalists will be announced on March 15, 2012.
Need some inspiration? Click here to learn more about tzedakah and here to hear stories from Jewish philanthropists about where, to whom and why they give tzedakah. Also check out our blog to stay up to date on the competition and read thoughtful posts about philanthropy and social change in the 21st century.