About Us
The Jewish Community Foundation strengthens and protects Greater Hartford’s Jewish community by building a permanent pool of charitable dollars provided by generous donors who share our vision of a strong, resilient and joyous community for generations. Guided by Jewish values, we assist donors in structuring charitable gifts, building legacies, facilitating personalized philanthropy, helping our partners establish a culture of endowment giving, and distributing community grants to a broad range of programs and institutions.
Our Vision
Jewish. Community. Forever.
Jewish. We reflect the community we serve and are guided by the Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (caring for those in need), and tzedek (pursuing justice).
Community. We envision a strong, resilient and joyous Jewish community in which all are valued, engaged and supported.
Forever. We are forward thinking, focused on impact, and always seeking dynamic opportunities that position our community to thrive for generations to come.
Our Mission
To unlock the transformative power of personalized and collective philanthropy to solve problems, strengthen community organizations, and provide permanent support for our Jewish community.
Our Staff Values
Collaboration (Shituf P’ulah) – We partner as a team to solve problems and to celebrate achievements.
Accountability (Areivut) – We are responsible to each other and for one another.
Respect (Derekh Eretz) – We act with integrity and treat everyone the way we would want to be treated.
Self-Reflection (Cheshbon Nefesh) – We are open to constructive feedback and always willing to learn.
Click Image to Enlarge
Philanthropic Services
The Foundation currently manages about 1,400 funds for individual, family, and foundation donors. Designated (31%) and Donor Advised Funds (27%) comprise the largest proportion of the Foundation’s assets, followed by Community Action (Unrestricted) Funds (24%), and Custodial Funds (18%).
The Foundation is sensitive to the philanthropic interests of our donors but also promotes the importance of unrestricted giving. In recent years, JCF has increasingly highlighted opportunities for legacy giving and the organization works directly with donors and with their professional advisors – including attorneys, accountants, and financial consultants – to select charitable giving options. Such options include Community Action Funds, Donor Advised Funds, Custodial Funds, and Designated Funds, which incorporates field of interest and Scholarship Funds.
Grantmaking
The Foundation, through our donors, provides an array of grants to charitable institutions in Greater Hartford, across the country, and around the world. In FY23, the Foundation awarded 1,142 grants totaling $4.5 million, of which about $3 million went to support our local Jewish community. Board-directed grants from Community Action Funds are awarded primarily to our Jewish community partners through a competitive grant application process; grants from Donor Advised Funds are made upon the recommendation of donors; and grants from Designated Funds are made each year to fulfill the charitable interests for which the funds were originally created.
While JCF and our donors make grants to many organizations and programs, our four areas of community grant-making priority are: Jewish education, Jewish outreach and engagement, non-profit capacity building, and seniors and aging.