DONOR ADVISED FUNDS EMPOWER CHARITABLE GIVING
In a year unlike any other, the Jewish Community Foundation ( The Foundation) has strived to pivot its significant grantmaking ability towards COVID- 19 relief. It’s a central tenet of Judaism: Tikun Olam. Translating to “repairing the world,” the ancient Jewish concept has informed and directed huge philanthropic efforts by the Jewish community for generations.
The Foundation continues this charitable effort by calling on the citizens of Southern California to help heal a world shocked by a global pandemic. As an individual donor, you can create a lasting impact on the relief effort and other issues that have arisen worldwide, all in the spirit of Tikun Olam.
The Foundation’s COVID- 19 response began at the outset of the crisis and has continued through the season of giving. According to CEO Marvin Schotland, The Foundation has committed $ 8.5 million in institutional grants directly to pandemic relief. This amount is in addition to $ 5.5 million that generous Jewish Community Foundation donors have given through their charitable funds for this purpose.
“I’m enormously grateful for the good health and perseverance of those around me personally and professionally,” said Schotland. “For me, the silver lining of this pandemic is how family, f riends, and colleagues — and our community and city — have banded together to conf ront this crisis.”
While the fabric of our daily lives has changed significantly, the spirit of giving in the community remains high. In- person meetings with boards of trustees or charity galas may be sidelined for the timebeing, but charitable giving is as easy as ever. The Jewish Community Foundation is excited to recommend exploring Donor Advised Funds ( DAFs), a simple way to create a lasting philanthropic impact on the community and the world, and one that can create a legacy for you and your family. Here’s how it works:
1. Begin by donating at least $ 5,000 in cash, assets, securities or other funds into your DAF, and receive an immediate tax deduction.
2. Recommend grants of $ 100 or more to your favorite charities, Jewish or otherwise. You may have something specific in mind; or The Foundation can recommend a direction for your grants through its robust Center for Designed Philanthropy.
3. Make tax- deductible donations to your DAF at any time.
4. Start building a legacy through a DAF. With familial involvement, you can create an impactful philanthropic legacy that your family members can actively participate in and have entrusted to them.
5. With the only cost being a modest annual fee covering administration and portfolio management services, a DAF can be more cost effective than a private family foundation.
Experts at the Jewish Community Foundation are ready to help donors maximize the impact of their giving and fulfill their charitable passions. For example, donors can use their DAF to support elder care, education, medical research, homeless aid, or needs in Israel, among many others.
Donors can also maximize their giving to support urgent COVID- 19 relief here in the region or worldwide. The opportunities are limited only by one’s generosity and passion. No matter how much a person gives,
“The silver lining of this pandemic is how … our community and city have banded together to confront this crisis.”
they will perpetuate the spirit of Tikun Olam and leave a lasting impact on our world with their generosity.
To learn more about Donor Advised Funds or other charitable giving options, contact The Foundation at ( 323) 761- 8704 or development@ jewishfoundationla. org.