IMPACT: Shining a light on solidarity

In 2025, the Jewish Community Foundation will partner with the Greater Washington Community Foundation to launch InSolidarity, an initiative to fight hate and extremism in all forms by strengthening community across Greater Washington’s religious and racial groups. We will raise up stories of solidarity and create space for relationship building, learning, and meaningful engagement across differences via learning communities for coalitions, nonprofits, donors, and congregational leaders.

What’s the goal? Relationships, bridge building, and community is our focus. We know that there is strong solidarity work underway in our community and we want to uplift and support this work. InSolidarity invites you to connect with us to share projects and to engage in this work together. Share examples and receive information here. 

IMPACT: DAF Partner Agency Matching Program distributes over $1.35M since its inception

Your generosity allowed us to distribute $1.35M since the start of the Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Partner Agency Matching Program and $422,000 in matching funds in year two. To date, 51% of eligible agencies have received at least one match, and Capital Jewish Museum, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, GatherDC, JCRC, Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital, and Sulam received the maximum match of $25,000. The campaign — and you — have helped our local Jewish agencies enact plans for rapid-response programming, expand services, and more.

Dollars remain! We still have $331,700 available for matching through the end of the year.

GIVE: Support the Jewish ecosystem and double the impact of your year-end giving

We encourage you to use your DAF to amplify your gifts by giving to eligible matching campaign partners in need of greater donor attention. These organizations are making incredible impact in strengthening connection to Jewish community, supporting community members in need, and creating Jewish joy, and throughout the campaign, they have not been able to access many matching dollars. As many of these agencies are smaller organizations with fewer fundraising resources, your match has an even greater impact!

Consider giving and doubling the impact of your year-end giving to: Avodah, Gesher Jewish Day School, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, JCADA, Jewish Council for the Aging, Torah School of Greater Washington, Tzedek DC, Georgetown Hillel, George Mason Hillel, University of Maryland Hillel, and Gallaudet Hillel.

What’s New? In response to feedback from donors and our communal agencies, we are now matching renewed gifts that were matched in year one of the DAF Partner Agency Matching Program and gifts of any size made by donors who open a new DAF of $50,000 or more up to $15,000. Open a DAF today or inquire about making the most of your fund.

ON OUR RADAR

Building bridges on campus
In response to record discord and division on campus, philanthropic, academic, and student communities are looking to bridge divides. As National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) CEO Cherie Brown explains, building relationships across differences is what will yield safer, more unified campus environments. We’re tracking the latest activity:

Generations come together to learn about intergenerational giving

Foundation families gathered in November to discuss how our community passes on the tradition of giving Jewishly across generations. The conversations generated several key points, including how important it is to “do more” than write a check, listen attentively to the needs of the community, and learn from new generations about how they want to integrate Jewish values into their giving.

Have questions about intergenerational giving practices or how to create a legacy? Reach out anytime.

The Intergenerational Family Philanthropy learning series is generously sponsored by the Zitelman family.

OF NOTE

Nominations Open through December 31^st

Submit your nominations today for the Phyllis G. Margolius Impossible Dream Award. Now in its third year, the award will honor an outstanding DC area Jewish communal professional who goes above and beyond to transform our community through innovation, mediation, relationship-building, or other meaningful work.

Mapping the Field of Civic Engagement

Funding from private philanthropy and DAFs for civic engagement and bridging divides doubled to over $9B nationwide between 2018 and 2022. Organizations are working to connect the dots among the broad range of civic health efforts underway. Leaders hope that by taking the time to present donors and practitioners with the lay of the land, more — and more coordinated — support will follow.

National DAF Trends

The National Philanthropic Trust’s 2024 DAF Report found a major drop in DAF contributions after the pandemic, with expectations that contributions are now returning to historical patterns.

Regulatory Change

Eligible IRA owners can now donate up to $105,000 tax-free in 2024 (up from $100,000 in previous years).

Year-End Giving Note for Jewish Community DAF holders

To ensure that your DAF grants are mailed before the end of the year, please request them by December 19^th. Grant requests entered after December 19^th will be processed on January 3^rd. If you have an urgent need for the grant to be sent before year end, please reach out to us at 301-230-7230 so we can discuss your grant recommendations and timing.

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.