Jewish Communal Fund, one of the largest donor advised funds in the country, released its second annual Giving Report today, providing insight into the make-up, demographics, and charitable trends taking place among its generous funder network of nearly 9,000 people. With Fundholders living throughout the United States, JCF’s data offers a rare look into the funding preferences and giving trends of American Jews.
“The 2018 JCF Giving Report highlights the extraordinary generosity of our Fundholders and their profound impact on strengthening the Jewish community and addressing broader societal needs,” said Sue Dickman, the Executive Vice President & CEO of Jewish Communal Fund.
One of the longest-serving donor advised funds in the country, JCF is now facilitating charitable giving for many third-generation JCF Fundholders—showcasing the passion for philanthropy that they learned from their parents and grandparents before them. Now entering its 47th year, JCF plays a critical role in facilitating charitable giving for a wide spectrum of Jewish philanthropists of varying means, ages, interests and religious affiliations.
Here are highlights from the report, which shed light on some of the parallel philanthropic trends among American Jews and other Americans, as well as areas in which the JCF funder community is unique:
- JCF Fundholders make an average of 15 grants per fund per year, with a median grant amount of $500 and average grant amount of $7,400.
- JCF Fundholders distributed 26% of charitable assets, as a collective, in FY 2018.
- Nearly one-third of funds distributed 50% or more of the balance in their funds to charities in FY 18.
- The sectors that received the largest number of dollars from JCF Fundholders in FY 18 were education, Israel, and community organizations/human services (these same categories topped the chart last year, too).
- JCF Fundholders made nearly 40,000 grants (70% of all grants) to Jewish organizations, totaling nearly $200 million.
- JCF Fundholders granted $23 million to UJA-Federation of NY in FY 18, in addition to JCF’s $2 million annual gift to UJA.
- JCF announced$840,000 in Special Gifts Fund grants in 2018.
To delve into this report and learn more about the JCF philanthropic community, charitable giving trends, and the ways in which JCF Fundholders are collectively making our community and the world a better place, please visit jcfny.org/givingreport to download the report.