P.S. You can make a difference right now by giving to Federation’s Morocco Earthquake Relief Fund. Designated donations made through your DAF will go directly to our partners on the ground working to supply food, shelter, medicine, and more to those suffering from this devastating and historic natural disaster.

YOU SPOKE, WE’RE LISTENING: Key findings from this year’s donor survey.

Thank you to everyone who responded to our donor survey this spring. Your responses will continue to shape our priorities and service offerings.

It’s clear you want the Jewish Community Foundation to be a leader in the community, connecting you with organizations and opportunities to expand your giving. You expect us to serve as a capable hub and we intend to deliver.

Other key takeaways:

TOP PRIORITY: Both current and prospective donors care immensely about the health and future of the Jewish community. Long-term vibrancy of the community, Jewish identity, safety and security, combating antisemitism, and senior care in the Jewish community ranked in your top five issue areas.

GENERATION TO GENERATION: You are eager to learn about ways to engage your family members and future generations in your giving, including how to structure your gifts and make decisions as a family. We are excited to prioritize this topic this year.

AND BEYOND: In addition to caring for the Jewish community, you want to prioritize providing support for vulnerable women and girls in our region, reproductive rights, eliminating food insecurity in our region, expanding access to mental health resources, combating gun violence, and safeguarding democracy.

SPEAKING OF VIBRANT JEWISH LIFE: Announcing our Donor Advised Fund Partner Agency Matching Program to Infuse $2M across Federation’s Local Jewish Agency Partners – Coming this October!

Like you, we are passionate about supporting a vibrant Jewish community that engages and uplifts community members across their lifespan. We want to support an ecosystem of strong, innovative Jewish organizations that are fostering vibrant Jewish life and meeting the needs of those within and beyond our community. And we want to do it all by combining our efforts to inspire a culture of giving and accelerate community support for years to come.

This is the inspiration behind our first-ever Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Partner Agency Matching Program.

Starting this October, the Jewish Community Foundation and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington will be matching any new or increased gifts of $2,500-$15,000 given through a DAF at the Jewish Community Foundation to Federation local partner agencies.

Our goal is to infuse $2M in resources over 2 years into Jewish Greater Washington by matching $1M given by the Jewish Community Foundation and The Jewish Federation with $1 million in charitable donations by community members so that, together, we can tackle important issues from a position of strength and possibility. This fall is the perfect time to increase your gifts, open a DAF, or encourage a friend to take the next step on their giving journey.

You can read more about the program here. For questions about the program or to open a Jewish Community Foundation DAF, please contact us at foundation@shalomdc.org.

ON OUR RADAR: Updates on issues we’re tracking.

• SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY: We are proud to sign on as a sponsor of A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy, a pilot project that is bringing Jewish organizations together to promote free and fair elections and healthy civic life.
  
  
• COMBATING ANTISEMITISM: This summer, we continued to prioritize our efforts to stand in solidarity with the Black community and protest racial inequality. Our team participated in the second annual Faith & Philanthropy Forum, where Black and Jewish speakers underscored the importance of speaking out against both racism and antisemitism. We were also proud to represent the Jewish Community Foundation and The Jewish Federation on the National Mall as we marked the 60^th anniversary of the March on Washington.
  
  
• CARING FOR MIGRANTS: A recent news report shows that the DC Office of Migrant Services has spent $20 million in the past year responding to the migrant crisis, but more is needed. Despite requests for additional federal funding, the District continues to rely on nonprofits to provide the bulk of support to migrants in DC.

OF NOTE

We are hiring! Please share our openings with those in your networks who would make a fantastic Director of Philanthropic Impact or Administrative Associate.

Giving USA’s Annual Report on Philanthropy found that total giving decreased last year, a rarity but not surprising given the economic climate. It also found that even as America’s charitable contributions have grown over time, the number of donors is down. Fewer donors are giving more, which means there is room to get more people involved.

Give to causes you care about inside and outside the Jewish community.

Take advantage of collaborative giving and learning opportunities.

Contribute to a permanent legacy of support for Federation’s family of agencies.