JData
JData is the only comprehensive census of Jewish day schools, overnight camps, day camps, part-time schools, and early childhood centers in North America.
Individual organizations enter their data and generate sophisticated reports to help improve planning, communications, public relations, fundraising, trend analysis, and recruitment. No one can access an individual organization's information without explicit permission from the organization.
JData aggregates data from all sources without identifying any individual organization. This gives users—funders, advocates, planners, researchers and others with a vested interest in Jewish education—access to vital, big picture information about the field.
To request annual and special reports and other JData publications, contact jdata@brandeis.edu
History
In 2006, the newly established Jim Joseph Foundation engaged the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University to "map" the field of Jewish education. The initial report, Lessons from Mapping Jewish Education, explains the importance of data collection and information sharing among Jewish educational organizations, institutions, and funders.
In 2007, a Steering Committee was appointed to plan the JData database and website and to direct the development and growth of the project. In addition to members of the Brandeis Research Team and the Jim Joseph Foundation, the committee included top educational researchers and leaders of national Jewish agencies and foundations.
Pilot tests were conducted in Boston and San Francisco in 2008-2009. Two years later, JData was launched throughout the United States.