Growing tomorrow, together
The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Philadelphia is a branch of the Jewish Federation. We are steadfast in our commitment to providing top-tier, customized service to individuals, families, and Jewish institutions. We help grow aspirations to create a better future and actualize them through smart investments today.
With more than a century of experience in charitable giving, our expert team of professionals works with you one-on-one to channel your philanthropic dollars to make a lasting impact within the Jewish community and beyond for today and generations to come.
Ways to give
Adding a gift in your will or living trust to the Jewish Federation makes a meaningful impact on the Jewish future. You can specify a dollar amount, a percentage of your assets, or all or part of what remains after you provide for your loved ones.
A donor-advised fund or DAF provides you with a simplified, tax-wise way to make contributions to your favorite charities. With an initial gift of as little as $5,000, you can establish a named philanthropic fund at the Jewish Community Foundation. Throughout the year, you can recommend contributions to the Jewish and secular charities of your choice and the Foundation will do all of the research and vetting and will distribute the grants. A donor-advised fund offers you many of the advantages of a private foundation without the related expenses and restrictions. Each grant from your fund is an expression of support for the Jewish community.
A charitable trust or gift annuity is a way to make a substantial gift to the Jewish Federation, our partner agencies or a synagogue, in return for regular payments to you or a designated beneficiary.
Naming the Jewish Federation as the beneficiary of your IRA or other retirement account allows these otherwise highly-taxed assets to pass to the Jewish Federation free of income and inheritance taxes. Your retirement assets can fulfill your charitable intentions for the long term. If you’re 70½ or older, you may wish to learn more about rolling over your IRA required minimum distributions to make charitable gifts.
You can name Jewish Federation as a beneficiary of part or all of an existing life insurance policy, or establish a new policy with the Jewish Federation as the owner and beneficiary. Life insurance allows you to make a more meaningful gift at what is often a relatively low cost. With a Jewish Federation-owned policy, each year, the gift you make to pay the annual premium may be claimed as a charitable income tax deduction. Larger policies may qualify for a premium match.
You can establish your endowment through a transfer of cash or appreciated securities at one time or over a period of years, and witness the fund’s impact during your lifetime.
Areas of Impact
Your contribution to the foundation helps to turn this vision of Jewish life into reality. You can create an endowment to support one or more of the following priority areas, or you can designate your fund to support causes or organizations that matter most to you:
Whether you contribute to Jewish Federation’s Unrestricted Endowment Fund or create a fund in your name or the name of a loved one, unrestricted endowments are the cornerstone of the Jewish Federation’s long-term strength. They offer flexibility to address urgent needs as they arise – maximizing impact and ensuring long-term sustainability. These funds support the Jewish Federation and its three core pillars:
- Caring for Those in Need Locally
- Connecting with Israel and Global Jewry
- Securing a Vibrant Jewish Future
Jewish summer camp builds identity, friendship and lifelong values. But for many families, cost is a barrier. Through needs-based scholarships, the Jewish Federation ensures that children from all socioeconomic backgrounds can access the life-changing experience – creating memories, connections and values that last a lifetime.
A charitable trust or gift annuity is a way to make a substantial gift to the Jewish Federation, our partner agencies or a synagogue, in return for regular payments to you or a designated beneficiary. In an era where security concerns for Jewish institutions are heightened, the Jewish Federation stands at the forefront, partnering with the Secure Community Network, the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America. The partnership provides local Jewish institutions with security training, threat assessments and security support.
As incidents of antisemitism and intolerance are on the rise, the Jewish Federation is uniquely positioned to provide guidance and leadership. The Jewish Federation’s Center to Combat Antisemitism, launched by the Jewish Community Relations Council, leads efforts to combat antisemitism across Greater Philadelphia through education, litigation, legislation, allyship and community mobilization.
The Jewish Federation invests in programs to ensure Israel’s safety, security, prosperity and existence as a homeland for all Jews. Our team in Israel facilitates funding to agencies that reduce food insecurity and loneliness, increase social cohesion and inclusion, and promote resilience and well-being for adults and children suffering from trauma.
Food insecurity affects thousands of individuals and families in our communities. The Jewish Federation strives to ease the burden of food insecurity by funding an array of services- from its Mitzvah Food Program serving the Greater Philadelphia community, to partnering with Latet, Israel’s national food bank. The Jewish Federation is committed to ensuring that individuals and households are afforded the basic human right of nutritious food.
Israel is central to the Jewish identity – and experiencing it firsthand deepens that connection. From immersive travel experiences to fellowships and educational programs, Jewish Federation sponsored initiatives strengthen ties between the Greater Philadelphia community and Israel while showcasing the Jewish Federation’s impact in Israel.
The Women of Vision Endowment Fund supports programs that enhance the lives of self-identifying Jewish women and girls. Each member of Women of Vision has contributed to the Fund and has a vote in choosing how the funding is allocated each year. Members and non-members alike have the opportunity to create a legacy gift for the Women of Vision Fund to strengthen the Fund’s ability to continue its impact far into the future.
A PACE can be established with a minimum gift of $25,000. Each year, a percentage of the value of the fund is distributed to the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign in your name or the name of a loved one. PACE funds give added vitality to the Annual Campaign and help meet the needs of the Jewish community, locally and globally, year after year.
A LOJE is a special way for a woman to continue her annual gift forever. With a gift of $100,000 or more, any woman can create a fund which will distribute at least $5,000 per year in her name, in perpetuity, to the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign of Women’s Philanthropy. Establishing a LOJE is a powerful statement of a woman’s commitment to tzedakah and provides a legacy to her family and the Jewish community.
Legacy Society
The Legacy Society honors individuals and families who make a minimum endowment commitment of $100,000. To be recognized at each level, at least 50% of the endowment must benefit the Jewish Federation. Members are invited to an annual reception and receive a beautiful sculpture representing one of the historic gates of Jerusalem.
The Legacy Society recognizes donors at the following levels:
- Tzedek: $10 Million and Above
- Koach: $5 Million and above
- Golden Gate: $1 Million and Above
- Zion Gate: $500,000 – $999,999
- Jaffa Gate: $250,000 – $499,000
- Lions’ Gate: $100,000 – $249,999
why we give
See below why community members decided to make a planned gift.