As director of philanthropy of the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF), I am honored to work with many generous individuals and families who’ve established funds to support the causes they care about and the needs of our community both now and in the future.
I’m also inspired by those of you who are getting to know the Foundation and considering how we can help enhance your own philanthropic efforts and achieve your personal giving goals.
Wherever you are in the stages of your philanthropic planning, the JCF team is here for you. That’s why we welcome the opportunity to meet in-person with our fundholders and prospective fundholders. Here are a few insights into what those meetings are all about.
You can expect personal, dedicated service. Unlike corporate donor advised fund (charitable giving account) platforms where the help of a dedicated donor services team can be rare, the staff at the Foundation is here to help you every step of the way along your charitable giving journey. Our team is happy to meet with you one-on-one, and we are also glad to join a meeting with you and your legal, tax or financial advisor to assess your current situation and determine the best charitable tax strategy for you. This includes evaluating the best assets to give to your fund at the Foundation, including publicly-traded stock and even other noncash assets such as real estate or closely-held stock.
We care about your intentions. The JCF team wants to understand the areas of interest that are a priority for you, whether that’s the arts, health care, social services, the environment, education, your synagogue, community development or something else. We also want to understand the role you envision for your children, grandchildren or other family members in your giving.
We make the paperwork a breeze. The paperwork to open a JCF fund is straightforward and not at all cumbersome. As we’re exploring updating your fund or setting up a new fund, we’ll prepare simple documentation to capture your wishes, collect important contact information and address your vision for your fund both during and after your lifetime.
We’re always here to strategize about your giving options. As you periodically review your assets and financial situation with your advisors, keep an eye out for appreciated assets that could be ideal to give to charity because of the potential capital gains tax savings. The Foundation can work with you and your advisors on contributions of a wide variety of assets to help you achieve your tax and estate planning goals.
We’ll let you know about educational opportunities and gatherings with other fundholders. During our meeting, we’ll share a calendar of upcoming events and ways you can learn more about the causes you care about and what’s going on in the community overall. Our team is here to help you stay up-to-date on the various ways you can support the community by working with the Foundation and partnering with other fundholders.
If you’re already a JCF fundholder, we are grateful for your partnership and are here as a continued resource. If you’re considering learning more, we look forward to a simple and confidential conversation! I may be reached at or (913) 327-8286.
