Become a Donor

The Foundation can help you create a charitable fund to support the causes you care about and have impact in the community.  Choose from the range of funds we administer that are best suited to your needs:

Donor advised funds

• support your favorite causes on your time schedule
• recommend grants to the organizations and charitable causes you care about
• involve your family in a meaningful giving experience
• minimum gift to start a donor advised fund is $10,000, with a build up option

Unrestricted community funds

• help the Foundation fund innovation and long-term solutions for community challenges
• help the Jewish community where the needs are greatest
• minimum gift to start an unrestricted fund is $10,000, with a build up option

Designated funds

• distribute grants each year for a specific organization or cause
• endow your support for generations to come
• minimum gift to start a designated fund is $10,000, with a build up option

Scholarship funds

• provide scholarships to deserving students pursuing higher education
• help teens and young adults enjoy learning experiences in Israel
• minimum gift to start a scholarship fund is $25,000, with a build up option

Create your Jewish legacy
Jewish tradition teaches that one of our moral obligations is to make the world a better place for future generations. Your legacy can reflect the values that are most important and meaningful to you.  There are many ways to leave a lasting legacy for the community through the Jewish Community Foundation. 

Benefit the community for years to come
An endowment gift to the Jewish Community Foundation will be working for the community you care about now and in the future. You can endow a fund to carry out a specific purpose, or support a broad area of interest, such as early childhood education or those with special needs. Or you can create an unrestricted fund and the Jewish Community Foundation will use your gift to meet the community's most pressing needs—even those we can't foresee.

Begin a family tradition of philanthropy
A donor advised fund can be a personal expression of your family’s values. An advised fund provides an opportunity to craft a plan to involve your children and grandchildren in your Jewish philanthropy and to make grant recommendations to the organizations and causes important to you.

Centralize your giving
The Foundation offers a robust donor advised fund program. You can make contributions to your favorite charities through your donor advised fund by simply filling out the grant recommendation form online and sending it into the Foundation.  We also provide online access to grant funding opportunities that feature innovative programs and pressing community needs.

Support a favorite cause
The Jewish Community Foundation offers ways for you to create a fund, either during your lifetime or through your will, that will serve as a permanent resource for an organization or area of special concern to you.  Grants from your fund will be made to the charity or within the area of interest you specify, even as conditions and needs evolve.  Our professional staff is at your service to help you learn about causes you care about, and to research organizations and programs you are interested in. 

Make a gift and receive income for life
The Jewish Community Foundation offers a variety of charitable vehicles that allow you to receive an income stream for life and leave a lasting legacy to the community. You can contribute cash, securities or other types of property to fund a gift annuity or remainder trust. 

Honor or remember a special person
Many donors create endowment funds to honor the memory of a loved one and perpetuate a family name. Family and friends can add to the fund at any time.

The Jewish Community Foundation offers a number of opportunities for you to have impact in the community. If you want to see your charitable dollars at work, add to one of our targeted funds.

		The Helping Fund Help the community's most vulnerable members—individuals having trouble making ends meet with basic necessities or those who have lost their jobs.  Give to the Helping Fund.
		Fund for Special Needs Help individuals with disabilities lead full and independent lives and be active members of our community. Give to the Fund for the Special Needs.
		PJ Library Fund Help Jewish children learn about their religious and cultural identity and begin a Jewish journey. Give to the PJ Library Fund.
		Teen Philanthropy Fund Help teens become philanthropists by teaching them about the real needs of the community through presentations by agency representatives, site visits, group discussions and individual research.  Give to the Teen Philanthropy Fund.
		The Children’s Fund Support programs, such as the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Literacy, where volunteers tutor at-risk students throughout the school year to read. Give to the Children’s Fund.
		Fund for Social Justice Support projects that further justice and the fair and equal treatment of all persons through the Jewish Community Relations Council.  Give to the Fund for Social Justice.
		The Foundation Fund The Foundation Fund sustains the work of the Foundation in shaping the long-term future of the Greater Hartford Jewish community.  Grants from this fund support our community grantmaking programs, Center on Good Governance, giving circles, family and youth philanthropy, gift planning counset and community-wide Leave a Jewish Legacy Initiative. Give to the Foundation Fund.

Combine your resources with others, make grants that improve the lives of those in need through one of our collective giving funds.

		Lillian Fund for Women and Girls Helping improve the lives of women and girls in Hartford and in Israel. With a gift of $100 or more, you or the woman you choose to honor may vote on the Lillian Fund project. Give to the Lillian Fund
		The Israel Fund Join donors who share a passion about Israel and desire to help its most vulnerable citizens achieve self sufficiency and become contributing members of society. Give to the Israel fund.

Experience the joy of giving together - whether you want to teach young children about philanthropy or bring together adult children and grandchildren who are geographically dispersed.

As a family you may want to give back to the community, express your values, and support the people and institutions that have been important to you.

• Create a tradition of family giving 
• Teach your children about philanthropy