Category: Leadership & Philanthropy

I want to put to words a couple things I’m feeling as we head into the end of the year.

The first is gratitude. Our community in Greater Washington is strong, passionate, caring, creative, and remarkably generous. Federation could not do the work we do to sustain and strengthen Jewish life without you. I have been repeatedly moved by the way this community has mobilized in the face of crisis, and continued the quiet, steady work of looking after one another and shaping a bright and vibrant future on our own terms. From the bottom of my heart, thank you and I cannot wait to continue our partnership.

The second thing I’m feeling is a bit harder to name but could perhaps be described as energized. A multitude of factors, ranging from longing for Jewish knowledge to a globalized feeling of uncertainty are inspiring people to want to connect with their Jewish identities and the Jewish community. As I referenced last week, a recent survey found that 60% of respondents within the DMV are interested in doing more within the Jewish community. People are looking to connect with Jewish content, Jewish practices, Jewish experiences, and with other members of the Jewish community.

Indeed, we have reached a consequential inflection point in Jewish life and we get to help determine what happens next. As Barry Shrage, former president of Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston (and my former boss and ongoing mentor) writes, “We are living through a hinge in history, a moment when the door to alternative futures is still open, the future is uncertain, and our actions can define our destiny.”

We have all the makings of a new Jewish awakening, but we need to help put the pieces together so that everyone coming to our door is met with the meaning, purpose, and belonging they seek. This will take a good deal of focused effort, and Federation is here to help drive it forward. In this new year, we are set to increase funding and work with our many partners across the region to expand programs to ensure everyone looking for connection finds a home within our community. This is vital work and even more so at this “hinge” moment when our collective efforts are guaranteed to echo.

It’s a weighty thing responding to a call for meaning. But it’s a privilege too. And we get there by working together to help more people access and explore the values, traditions, and relationships that enrich our lives and sustain our people.

As we move into the final weeks of the year, many in our community will step forward to support this work. I hope you’ll join them. A gift of any size helps ensure that everyone seeking connection, purpose, and belonging can find their place in Greater Washington. If this work inspires you, I invite you to help fuel the work ahead. A gift to our Annual Campaign strengthens the programs, partnerships, and pathways that welcome people into Jewish life and support them once they’re here.

Help our community step over the threshold of possibility. Please give today.

As 2025 winds down, many of us are thinking about the difference we want to make—and how to give in ways that matter most. With changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) taking effect on January 1, 2026, now is the time to plan ahead. New charitable deduction limits—including a 0.5% adjusted gross income (AGI) floor and reduced itemized benefits—may affect giving strategies in 2026 and beyond. That makes this year an important opportunity for strategic giving.

Below are five tax-smart strategies to consider as you make your year-end gift—whether you’re supporting The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, shaping your long-term philanthropic goals through the Jewish Community Foundation, or both.

1. Give Online

Give online for the fastest and most convenient option. Web-based platforms make strengthening Jewish life across Greater Washington simple, safe, and accessible.

2. Donate Appreciated Stock

Donating appreciated stock allows you to save on capital-gains taxes and receive a charitable deduction for the fair-market value of assets held more than one year. Your gift powers the programs and partnerships that keep Jewish Greater Washington strong.

Tip: Initiate stock transfers by Monday, December 15 to ensure a 2025 tax credit.

3. Create or Add to a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

Open or add to your fund using cash, securities, or complex assets such as business interests or real estate. You’ll receive a charitable deduction now, your fund can grow tax-free, and you’ll have the flexibility to recommend grants when you’re ready. A DAF can also streamline your giving and engage your family in meaningful philanthropy.

Many donors are choosing to contribute up to $108,000 to their DAFs in 2025 to maximize deductibility before 2026’s new limits take effect.

Example: If you plan to give $36,000 annually over the next three years, “bunching” that total into a single $108,000 gift before December 31, 2025 may allow you to take full advantage of today’s deduction rules—versus a reduced benefit spread across multiple years under the new law.

If you already have a DAF, recommending a grant to Federation’s Annual Campaign by December 31 is one of the quickest ways to make an immediate impact.

If you don’t have a DAF, you can still make your year-end gift directly online, through appreciated assets, or by choosing the strategy that best aligns with your goals. And if you’re thinking ahead, opening a DAF is an option you can explore anytime.

4. Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from Your IRA

If you are 70½ or older, you can transfer up to $108,000 directly from your IRA to Federation or the Foundation—tax-free.

A QCD

• Counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
• May reduce your adjusted gross income
• Remains beneficial even if you don’t itemize deductions

QCDs must be received by December 31 to count for 2025.

Example: A donor who makes a $108,000 QCD before year-end may reduce both their taxable income and future RMDs, while supporting Jewish community needs today.

5. Donate Appreciated Real Estate or Other Complex Assets

A gift of appreciated real estate or other complex assets allows you to avoid capital-gains tax and receive a charitable deduction based on the property’s fair-market value (with a qualified appraisal). You may give all or part of a property while retaining lifetime use and build a lasting legacy for Jewish Greater Washington.

We’re Here to Help

Our Federation and Foundation teams can help you identify the giving strategy that aligns with your goals and values before year-end. We encourage you to consult with your professional advisors to determine how these strategies apply to your individual situation.

If you’d like to understand more about how the new 2026 deduction rules work—including the 0.5% floor and the new ceiling for itemized deductions—you can find a full explanation here.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Jewish Community Foundation do not provide legal, financial, or tax advice.

There’s more than one way to slice an apple, bake a challah, or make someone’s day. And there’s definitely more than one way to make a difference.

Every gift to The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington helps someone feel more connected, supported, and seen—whether it’s a teen finding their place in Jewish life, a family getting help in a moment of crisis, or a community strengthened by safety and care.

Curious what your impact looks like?

Explore how your giving shapes Jewish life across Greater Washington:

• Security: Protecting our community and preparing for whatever comes next.
• Northern Virginia: Building connection and Jewish life across the region.
• Teens & Young Adults: Empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders.
• Camp & Education: Sparking lifelong Jewish learning and friendships.

This season, consider the difference you want to make, then choose the giving path that fits you best. Whether it’s online, through appreciated stock, your Donor Advised Fund, or a charitable IRA distribution, your generosity powers real impact across our region and beyond.

Because there’s no single way to build a strong, vibrant Jewish community. It takes all of us. 

Last week, Federation staff rolled up our sleeves (literally) at STOP THE BLEED®, a hands-on emergency training that teaches you how to respond to life-threatening bleeding. We practiced using tourniquets, packing wounds, and applying pressure—skills we hope we’ll never need, but ones we’re grateful to have learned.

In a crisis, there’s no time to think. When tensions are high and lives are on the line, you fall back on your training. And you hope it’s training that sticks.

That’s where JShield comes in, turning preparation into practice, and making sure that training happens before the moment it’s needed.

JShield in Action

For our staff, this training was memorable, even intense. For JShield, it was any other Wednesday. These kinds of high-impact, real-world trainings are standard operating procedure for our community security initiative—proactive, practical, people-first.

JShield supports synagogues, schools, and Jewish organizations across Greater Washington with the tools they need to protect their people: security assessments, grant support, expert trainings, and real-world readiness. So far in 2025, that’s added up to nearly $600,000 in estimated support—from consultations and training to grant writing expertise and threat assessments—helping institutions across the DMV stay prepared and protected.

Because of You

This kind of training doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of your support for Federation’s Annual Campaign.

And right now, your gift toward security goes even further, thanks to a limited-time Security Match from The Morningstar Foundation, which is matching 50¢ on the dollar, up to $1 million, to strengthen community safety across Greater Washington.

That means more trainings like this. More experts in more spaces. More peace of mind in a time when it’s never felt more urgent.

So far this year, JShield has helped local Jewish organizations secure more than $4.33 million in federal and state security funding. Your support helps unlock even more.

Prepared and Proud of It

There’s nothing flashy about learning to stop a bleed. It’s messy. It’s tense. It’s vital.

But it’s also hopeful. Because it means we’re not waiting to react—we’re ready to respond, thanks to JShield. Together, we’re building a community that leads with courage, care, and preparation.

Let’s keep going.

Help power the next life-saving training across Jewish Greater Washington.

Every gift is matched. Every action counts.

As Adam Levner shared when we introduced the Jewish Talent Project (JTP), the vision is bold: to make Greater Washington one of the best places in the country to work in Jewish communal life. Behind every meaningful connection or impactful program are professionals making it happen—and they deserve workplaces where they can thrive.

Since launching this fall, the Jewish Talent Project has begun building the tools and support Jewish organizations need to strengthen workplace culture, leadership, and staff retention across the region.

Now, JTP is rolling out The Leading Edge Employee Experience Survey.

This free, confidential survey offers Jewish organizations valuable insight into how staff experience their workplace—what’s working, where there’s room to grow, and how they compare to peers. It also opens the door to future JTP offerings and support.

Eligible organizations (3+ years old, 6+ employees) must register by December 12 to take part. Because when Jewish professionals thrive, the impact reaches every corner of our community.

Photo: leadingedge.org

Tracking the impact of the federal government shutdown is like watching a storm roll in.

It’s already drizzling. As SNAP benefits expire and federal workers miss their first paychecks, the forecast is likely to worsen.

For many in our community, what started as financial uncertainty is becoming a true crisis.

To help address the rising tide of need, we’re allocating $150,000 to assist those affected by the shutdown.

• $100,000 will support Hebrew Free Loan’s Federal Unemployment and Furlough Loan Program, which helps those facing financial hardship access timely, interest-free loans.
• $50,000 will go to Federation’s Rabbinic Emergency Fund from which rabbis can access $1,500 grants to help community members cover essential living expenses.

These grants are part of our ongoing commitment to respond quickly and compassionately to community crises.

In coordination with local partner organizations, including JSSA (who runs our J-CARING hotline), we’re monitoring needs in real time to ensure help reaches those who need it most.

We’ve long been at-the-ready to respond to the needs of our community—the last few years have made us experts. From the pandemic to national protests, the war in Ukraine to October 7 and its aftermath, and now this shutdown, we’ve learned how to act swiftly and strategically when the need is urgent.

Today, we’re proud to help meet immediate needs while strengthening our community’s network of care for the future.

This work is only possible because of the trust and generosity of donors who give to our Annual Campaign, ensuring our community can weather the hardest days and prepare for the brightest ones.

It’s raining out. If you can help keep those around us dry, please donate today.

If you or someone you know needs support, call the J-CARING hotline or visit our Crisis Response resources page.

When the tax laws shift, people often ask: What does this mean for how I give?
But the real question is: What kind of impact do I want to make and how can I make it count right now?

If you’re thinking about how to give more intentionally, you’re not alone. Our Jewish Community Foundation works with community members every day to ensure their giving reflects their priorities and keeps making a difference, even as circumstances change.

What’s Changing and What it Means for You

A new law called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will change how charitable deductions work in 2025 and 2026. If you give regularly—or are thinking about how to give more intentionally—these changes could affect you.

In 2025: A Chance to Maximize Your Giving

The SALT (state and local tax) deduction cap temporarily increases from $10,000 to $40,000 (from 2025 to 2030). That means more people, especially homeowners, will be able to itemize deductions. Limits on charitable deductions coming in 2026 make 2025 a smart year to give.

Consider:

• Making a larger gift than usual: bunch several years of charitable gifts in 2025
• Opening or contributing to a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
• Donating appreciated stock or property
• Accelerating a legacy gift or funding a named endowment: 2025 could be a smart year to fund a legacy gift or named endowment.

In 2026: New Charitable Deduction Limits

Two new rules may reduce how much you can deduct if you itemize:

• A new floor: You can only deduct charitable gifts that exceed 0.5% of your income
• A new ceiling: For those in the highest income brackets, the tax benefit of itemized deductions, including charitable gifts, is effectively capped at 35%

Some donors may choose to “bunch” their giving by consolidating multiple years of giving into 2025 to take advantage of more favorable deduction rules. One of the most effective ways to do this is by funding a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) now.

By contributing more to a DAF in 2025, you can maximize your deduction in a high-impact year while still supporting Federation and other causes you care about over time. It’s a smart way to align your giving with both tax efficiency and long-term impact.

The law also extends the 2017 tax rates, standard deduction levels, and estate and gift tax exemptions indefinitely, but these could change with future legislation.

If You Take the Standard Deduction

Even if you don’t itemize, in 2026, you’ll still be able to deduct:

• Up to $1,000 (single filers)
• Up to $2,000 (married couples)

For Those 70½+: A Powerful Giving Tool

If you’re 70½ or older, you can donate up to $108,000 in 2025 (indexed annually) directly from your IRA to a nonprofit like The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (with that limit expected to rise in 2026). These Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) reduce your taxable income and aren’t affected by the new deduction limits.

Note: QCDs can’t be used to fund DAFs, but they can go directly to support The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington or any qualifying nonprofit.

Your Partner in Purpose

Most people don’t give because of tax deductions. You give because you care—about Jewish life, about this community, about the future we’re building together.

Our Foundation is here to help you give in a way that’s aligned and intentional, even as the rules evolve. Whether you’re giving this year, advising others on giving, planning ahead, or thinking about a legacy, we’ll help you make sense of the options—and make the most of them.

Tax laws will likely keep evolving, and we’ll be here to help you adapt every step of the way.

Ready to take the first step? Let’s talk about your goals, your values, and how you want your giving to make a difference—this year and beyond.

For more information about how tax changes might affect you, join our Keys to Tax and Charitable Gift Planning Under the New Tax Law webinar on November 12.

This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult your professional advisor. 

I stepped off the bus in Framingham, Massachusetts, hoping to find what I spend every day trying to build: real, meaningful Jewish community.

That’s what drew me to the M²: Institute for Experiential Jewish Education’s Kehillot Fellowship, which brings together Jewish professionals from Boston, Toronto, and Greater Washington to explore what it means to activate Jewish values in our work. As someone deeply rooted in relationship building and community outreach, I was excited for four days of learning, listening, and connection. And I left with exactly that, plus a deeper understanding of how shared values can transcend geography.

Through my role at The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, I’ve come to know the people, rhythms, and nuances of Jewish life in Northern Virginia. But this fellowship pushed me to zoom out. I met peers from Boston and Toronto, learned about their successes and challenges, and saw my own community reflected in theirs. It reminded me that while each Jewish community is distinct, we’re all asking similar questions about belonging, resilience, and what Jewish life can look like in the future.

We also had the chance to explore “Jewish Boston”—from historic landmarks to Lehrhaus, a Jewish tavern and house of learning. We heard from visionary local leaders, each imagining bold, diverse futures for their community. Their ideas differed, but their goal was shared: vibrant, inclusive Jewish life.

That collective vision fuels my own work in Northern Virginia. This experience reminded me that leadership isn’t just about what we build locally—it’s about learning from others, asking big questions, and grounding our work in enduring values.

Federation’s investment in my participation was intentional: developing leaders who can strengthen Jewish life today and reimagine it for tomorrow. I’m grateful for the opportunity—and even more energized to bring what I’ve learned back home.

What I learned in Boston is already helping build something special in Northern Virginia.

At a Federation program earlier this week, Dr. Tal Becker from the Shalom Hartman Institute urged us not to ask if the glass is half full or half empty in this moment but rather how do we add water to the glass?  All of our participation counts, the way we choose to be involved in Jewish life helps fill the glass and increase our potential for strengthening our society and our community.

In this way, to give to Federation is to be part of a community-wide effort to strengthen and secure the Jewish future and fill our communal glass. It is also a way to make an urgent difference in the here and now. SNAP benefits expire tomorrow. The government shutdown continues. Thousands of workers are furloughed. Others are facing layoffs. Our friends, neighbors, and people across the region are going to need a helping hand. We can and must be there with arms extended.

We also know from decades of research and experience that meaningful Jewish experiences have lasting effects on someone’s life. Jewish learning opportunities, Shabbat dinners, sleepaway camp, youth groups, day schools, Israel trips, and so on help Jews of all ages explore and find the joy in what it means to be Jewish. To give to Federation is to support the creation of a vibrant Jewish community by enabling more people to experience meaningful Jewish experiences.

There are just two months left in the year—and $8 million still to raise in unrestricted funds to support our partner agencies and strengthen vibrant Jewish life across Greater Washington. Make your gift today to help us carry the momentum through the end of the year.

At a time when so much feels out of our control, a favorite quote from Jewish novelist Isaac Bashevis Singer comes to mind, “We must believe in free will. We’ve got no choice.” So much is up in the air, but we still get to decide how to move forward and be there for one another.

Stake your claim in what comes next by giving to Federation and investing in community. Help us fill our communal cup to the brim.

As Executive Director of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Washington, Sara Brenner is building a culture of giving that’s collective, values-driven, and deeply personal.

“I want this to be a place where people can realize their dreams and connect to their Judaism more deeply,” Sara says. “Our role is to help donors amplify their impact, deepen the connection between their Jewish values and philanthropy, and advance their goals with deeper purpose, in whatever ways feel most meaningful to them.”

A Jewish Journey of Learning and Connection

Sara grew up in a New Jersey town where Jews were few and far between. Her synagogue became her second home. “I started Hebrew school in kindergarten and went through 12th-grade confirmation. I loved it, it was just in my heart and in my soul.”

She was the friend who encouraged others not to drop out and who rallied them back when they left. Though she didn’t attend day school or Jewish summer camp, that community shaped her Jewish identity. A high school trip on March of the Living, and later a year studying abroad in Israel during the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, deepened her connection.

“I had such a strong will to stay in Israel, even during that time,” she recalls. “It was a very difficult period, but it only strengthened my connection.”

Her lifelong love of Jewish learning led her to minor in Jewish Studies and, later, to weave her Jewish values into her professional life.

Bringing Her Values to Work

Before joining Federation, Sara spent more than 25 years helping communities across the country thrive—strengthening education, housing, workforce, and health systems, while advising philanthropists and community foundations on how to invest for long-term impact.

“I always felt my Judaism showed up in my work,” she explains. “Repairing the world is part of who I am.”

When the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington launched the Jewish Community Foundation, Sara saw a chance to bring her professional expertise home. “I had been helping community foundations across the country shift toward more impact-focused work. This was an opportunity to do that in a community I lived in and loved for more than 20 years.”

A New Model of Jewish Philanthropy

Under Sara’s leadership, the Foundation is creating more accessible, collaborative, and intergenerational ways to give. She is particularly proud of programs that help families explore their philanthropic goals together. “We’re creating opportunities for younger generations to be part of the conversation,” she explains. “People can give together, learn together, and amplify their impact together.”

Today, the Foundation supports several collaborative giving funds focused on shared priorities like Jewish education, disability and inclusion, women’s empowerment, and Jewish talent and leadership. “When we give collectively, we can do so much more,” Sara explains. “It’s how we move from fragmented giving to systemic change.”

For newer or younger donors, she’s made sure there are inclusive ways to participate. “You don’t need $10,000 to get started,” she says. “Kol Yahad, our Next Gen collaborative fund, let’s people give at lower levels and still be part of something powerful.”

Guiding with Compassion After October 7

The events of October 7 reshaped both Sara’s outlook and the Foundation’s role. “Israel became the focus of so much of our work. In the past two years, more than five million dollars went out through donor-advised funds for rebuilding and relief.”

But this moment isn’t just about emergency response.

“After October 7, many people wanted to re-engage (or engage for the first time) in their Judaism,” she says. “I find myself listening more, helping people reconnect to their Jewish identity, and guiding them to make meaning through their giving.”

Sara has also prioritized deepening relationships with allies outside the Jewish community. “Our integration with the broader world, not isolation, is vital,” she says. “I’ve doubled down on those relationships. It’s hard work, but it matters.”

Looking Ahead, Building Together

Nearly three decades after moving to DC, Sara continues to find inspiration in the diversity and vibrancy of Jewish life here. “This is such an incredible community,” she says. “The culture, the learning, the opportunities to connect, and the chance to be part of something that’s making a difference locally, nationally, and globally.”

Through the Jewish Community Foundation, she and her team are helping donors bring greater intention and clarity to their giving. “It’s not about changing what inspires you. It’s about helping you achieve your goals in the most thoughtful, effective way.”

Whether she’s guiding families through legacy giving, launching new collaborative funds, or welcoming first-time donors, Sara is helping build a Jewish future rooted in connection and purpose. “We’re here to help people bring their values to life. That’s how we strengthen our community. That’s how we build the future together.”

Outside the Office

Sara loves being near water, whether she’s swimming laps or vacationing in a place like St. Lucia, Hawaii, or Fiji. A black Russian bagel with light cream cheese and cucumbers is her go-to Sunday morning. Sushi is her favorite. Her mom’s chicken soup, minus the matzo balls, is magic. When she’s back in DC, you might find her at Planet Word, one of her favorite museums for its celebration of culture and language. And when pressed to pick chocolate or vanilla? “Twist,” she laughs. “Always twist.”

Learn more about the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Washington and explore how your giving can make a lasting impact at jcfgw.org.