Donor Advised Fund Partner Agency Matching Program
Help our Jewish Community Flourish with a Jewish Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
Double your Donations Through our DAF Partner Agency Matching Program
Ours is a community of donors and doers — people passionate about a Greater Washington where Jewish life can thrive across the generations, where we support those in need, and where we work together to strengthen Jewish identity and ties and make Jewish life meaningful and accessible to all. At the Jewish Community Foundation by The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, we are here to strengthen and accelerate the philanthropic impact of our community members and offer opportunities where donors can come together to multiply the breadth and depth of their contributions.
Now, we invite you to participate in the Jewish Community Foundation’s DAF Partner Agency Matching Program: an opportunity to increase and accelerate communal giving for years to come and infuse our community with the resources vital to a network of strong, innovative Jewish organizations.
The DAF Partner Agency Matching Program is designed to infuse the Greater Washington Jewish community with an additional $2 million over two years, by matching $1 million given by the Jewish Community Foundation and The Jewish Federation with $1 million in charitable donations made by community members.
Program Details
Beginning October 2, 2023, when you make a new or an increased donation* of $2,500 to $15,000 to a local eligible partner agency or agencies** of your choice through your Jewish Community Foundation DAF, your gift will be jointly matched by the Foundation and The Jewish Federation. To ensure equitable distribution of matching funds across organizations of all sizes and missions, matching grants will be capped at $15,000 per donor and $25,000 per agency in the first year.
*Once an agency has reached its $25,000 maximum match amount, the Foundation will not be able to match additional donations to that agency. Please consult our website for status updates on which agencies have met their match cap. Regardless of match status, the Foundation will ensure that all contributions go to their designated beneficiary agency. Please know that your donation is deeply valued, whether or not the Foundation can match it!
To participate, current Jewish Community Foundation DAF holders must make their charitable contributions to Federation partner agencies through their DAFs. Donors new to the Jewish Community Foundation can participate by opening a DAF with our minimum fund balance of $10,000.
To qualify for the match, gifts must represent an increase of $2,500-$15,000 over a donor’s previous year’s donation to a specific agency, whether through or outside of a DAF. If no previous gifts were made to a particular agency, Federation and the Foundation will match new gifts between $2,500 and $15,000.
Donors’ gifts are counted towards the match program at the time grants are made through a DAF. When making a grant that you intend for this program, please indicate in the note box: “Partner Agency DAF Matching Program.” Partner agencies will be notified when their agency cap is reached so they can communicate the achievements of the cap to their donor community.
To qualify for the 2023 match, gifts must be made by June 30, 2024. The 2024 match will begin July 1, 2024.
**All Federation partner agencies serving and located in Greater Washington are eligible for the match, including local Hillels, day schools, and youth groups with local programming. Donations must support local programming efforts. National or international partner agencies are not eligible to receive matching funds at this time.
Eligible Partners
We will note when an agency has reached the match cap.
Partner Agencies
- Avodah
- Bender JCC of Greater Washington
- Capital Camps and Retreat Center (Matching cap reached)
- Charles E. Smith Life Communities
- Edlavitch DCJCC (Matching cap reached)
- Garden of Remembrance
- GatherDC
- JCADA
- Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (Matching cap reached)
- Jewish Council for the Aging
- Makom (formerly Jewish Foundation for Group Homes)
- JSSA
- Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum
- Moishe House
- Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia
- Sulam (Matching cap reached)
- Sunflower Bakery and Café (Matching cap reached)
- Tzedek DC
Jewish Day Schools
- Berman Hebrew Academy
- Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (Matching cap reached)
- Gesher Jewish Day School
- Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital (Matching cap reached)
- Torah School of Greater Washington
- Yeshiva of Greater Washington
Youth Groups
- BBYO
- B’nai Akiva
- Habonim Dror
- National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY)
- North American Federation of Temple Youth
- Tzofim—Israeli Scouts
- United Synagogue Youth (USY)
Local Hillels
- American University
- Gallaudet University
- George Mason University
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University
- University of Maryland
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the Jewish Community Foundation and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington offering the Donor Advised Fund (DAF) Partner Agency Matching Program? What is its intended impact?
The DAF Partner Agency Matching Program is designed to infuse the Greater Washington Jewish community with an additional $2 million over two years, by matching $1 million given by the Jewish Community Foundation and The Jewish Federation with $1 million in charitable donations by community members.
Through this investment, we intend to:
- Inspire and build a culture of giving in our community for the long-term
- Increase communal giving to our local partner agencies
- Strengthen partner agency fundraising in the short- and long-term
- Further the Jewish Community Foundation’s value for donors by providing communal giving opportunities and multiplying the impact of their gifts
- Grow the number of DAFs at the Foundation so that we can inspire more giving in our community over the long-term
How does the DAF Matching Program work?
Beginning October 2, 2023, donors who make a new or an increased donation of at least $2,500 to eligible local partner agencies through their Jewish Community Foundation DAF will have their gift jointly matched by the Foundation and The Jewish Federation, up to $15,000 in the first year.
When does the program start? What is the timeframe for donations to qualify?
The first year of our program begins October 2, 2023, with a goal to distribute $1 million in donor and matched funds per year for two years. To qualify for the 2023 match, gifts must be made by June 30, 2024. The 2024 match will begin July 1, 2024.
What is required for a donor to participate in the program?
Current Jewish Community Foundation DAF holders must recommend their charitable contributions to Federation partner agencies through their DAFs. Donors new to the Jewish Community Foundation can participate by opening a DAF with our minimum fund balance of $10,000 and using their DAF to give an increase of at least $2,500 over their gift from last year to the agency or agencies of their choice.
When are donors’ gifts counted towards the program?
Donors’ gifts are counted at the time grants are made through a DAF. Commitments made to agencies do not qualify. When When making a grant, donors need to indicate their intent to participate in the program by including “DAF Partner Agency Matching Program” in the note section.
What is the minimum and maximum donation that will be matched?
To qualify for the match, gifts must represent an increase of $2,500 – $15,000 over a donor’s previous year’s donation to a specific agency, whether through or outside of a DAF. If no previous gifts were made by the donor to a particular agency, Federation and the Foundation will match new gifts between $2,500 and $15,000 in the first year.
What is the maximum match an agency can receive?
To ensure equitable distribution of matching funds across organizations of all sizes and missions, matching dollars will be capped at $25,000 per agency in the first year.
How do I know if an agency has reached their cap?
The Foundation will share the names of agencies who have reached their cap on the Foundation’s website. Additionally, partner agencies will be notified when their agency cap is reached so they can communicate the achievement of the cap to their donor community.
Where did the matching funds come from?
The $1M matching fund originated from uncommitted funds out of Federation’s Annual Campaign. Federation decided to use the funds to increase support for local partner agencies and enhance their overall fundraising efforts.
What is the verification process? How will the Jewish Community Foundation know the amount contributed last year?
The Foundation will run a report of last year’s giving through existing DAFs to verify the increase and match amount. If a gift was not made through a Foundation DAF last year, the Foundation team will contact the agency to verify if a gift was made last year and the amount.
Which agencies are eligible for the match?
All local Federation partner agencies serving and located in Greater Washington are eligible for the match, including local Hillels, day schools, and youth groups with local programming. Donations must support local programming efforts. National or international partner agencies are not eligible to receive matching funds at this time. See the list of eligible agencies here.
Are there any requirements for how the partner agencies use the donations?
There are no requirements placed on partner agencies for how the money is used. These gifts are intended to be unrestricted in order to help our partners increase their sustainability, plan for the future, and allocate the funds to their greatest need. If donors decide to designate a gift for a specific purpose, these grants will count towards the match.
When will the agencies receive donations and the matching grant?
Donations are processed in our normal grant cycle and go out between 7 to 14 days. Matching grants will be processed quarterly after verification process with the agencies of last year’s gift. Agencies will receive matching dollars within 60 days of the close of the quarter when the grant was made: November 30th, February 30th, May 30th, August 30th.
What is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?
Donor Advised Fund is a simple, flexible, and tax-advantaged way to give to your favorite charities. It’s a fund to which you contribute cash, securities, and other assets at the best time for your financial and tax planning for the purpose of supporting the causes you care most about when you choose. A minimum fund balance of $10,000 is required to set up a DAF with the Jewish Community Foundation. Learn more about DAFs.
How do I open a Jewish Community Foundation DAF to participate in the program?
You can open a DAF with a simple fund agreement and a gift. Contact Elizabeth Goldstein to get started at [email protected] or 301-230-7228.
How do I move a DAF from another institution to the Jewish Community Foundation?
First, open a DAF with the Foundation. Then, to transfer funds, request a grant from your existing DAF to your new DAF. You may transfer all of the assets in your existing DAF or a portion of the funds to the new DAF.
What are the benefits of being a DAF holder at the Jewish Community Foundation?
Joining our community of donor advised fundholders benefits you, your family, and the Jewish community in many ways:
- Assets stay within the Jewish community and competitive fees support Jewish communal work
- Personalized service and philanthropic guidance, including opportunities to engage your children or other family members in philanthropy and grow the impact of your giving
- The capacity to accept gifts of complex assets, including small business interests and real estate
- Access to unique communities of learning grounded in Jewish values and teaching, including a focus on intergenerational learning and effective philanthropic practice
- Collaborative funding vehicles to leverage the impact of your giving with others who share your interests
MAKE A GRANT RECOMMENDATION THROUGH YOUR DAF TODAY
To ensure your gift is matched, include a special designation when making your grant of “DAF Partner Agency Matching Program.”
Questions? Contact Elizabeth Goldstein at [email protected] or 301-230-7228.
The Jewish Community Foundation and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington do not offer tax, financial, or legal advice.
Please consult your advisors.
