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Donor Advised Fund Partner Agency Matching Program

We did it!

The DAF Partner Agency Matching Program has officially met its goal—infusing a powerful $2 million into the Greater Washington Jewish community!

Community members contributed $1 million in new and increased grants through donor advised funds (DAFs)—a dynamic tool that conveniently and confidentially allows donors to support the charities of their choice using cash or other assets. The Jewish Community Foundation matched these contributions with dollars from The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s annual campaign.

Together, we supported the majority of our local agencies that sustain our vibrant Jewish community.

While the DAF Partner Agency Matching Program has concluded, we are eager to keep experimenting with matching opportunities to unlock new forms of giving. If you have an idea for a creative matching effort, please reach out to us.

Make a Gift from an Existing DAF Contact Us to Open a New DAF

0%
of participating agencies received a match
$0 Million
new dollars invested in the Jewish community
0%
of participating agencies received the $25,000 maximum annual match
$0 Million
in new retained assets in the Jewish community by participating donors.
0%
increase in median grant size.
0%
of donors added to their DAFs during the program.
0 New
Donor Advised Funds opened through the program with an average balance of $100K
$0 Million
in new assets secured through new Donor Advised Funds opened
$0
median grant size

Explore Year One Results

Success Stories

With increased funding from the DAF Matching Program, our partner agencies are building an even brighter Jewish future.

Students from George Mason Hillel

George Mason University Hillel: Serving More Community Members

Using the increased donations gained from the DAF matching campaign, George Mason Hillel was able to impact over 200 individuals in Northern Virginia over the summer by focusing on professional development and partnerships with local synagogues. Mason Hillel paired Jewish community members with college students for mentoring and coaching. These relationships have led to internships, exposure to career opportunities, and a strengthening of the young Jewish community across Northern Virginia. Executive Director, Rabbi Daniel Novick’s model of centering relationships to build a more connected and vibrant Jewish community supports retaining the best and brightest in the Northern Virginia area.

GatherDC: Strengthening Operational Effectiveness

For GatherDC, the DAF matching program encouraged Managing Director, Alexandra Tureau Meyer, and CEO, Michelle Shapiro Abraham, to have open conversations with donors about how the timing of donations impacted the organization’s budget and operations leading donors to move their donations earlier in the fiscal year so that GatherDC would be able to approach their upcoming programming and staffing needs, knowing they had the funds already in place.

Participating Partners

Partner Agencies

Jewish Day Schools

Youth Groups

Local Hillels

Frequently Asked Questions

The DAF Partner Agency Matching Program was 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 will 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

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.

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.

A 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. Learn more about DAFs.

You can open a DAF with a simple fund agreement and a gift. To get started email Elizabeth Goldstein or call 301-230-7228.

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.

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
“The match program has created a powerful opportunity toward new conversations with donors we've been in deep relationship with and with donors who we might just be getting to know. Especially during these incredibly challenging times on-campus, it's been incredibly helpful in bringing in added funds so we can stay focused on our key priority — our students.”
– HILLEL DIRECTOR
“My year with Avodah has been a transformative, deeply profound journey of personal growth and community building. Engaging in meaningful service work within a Jewish framework has not only deepened my understanding of social justice, but has also cultivated a sense of purpose and connection.”
– AVODAH ALUM
“I am so happy that I participated and know I’ll be continuing to unpack everything I learned, discovered, and explored for a long while to come. GatherDC is such a special organization!”
– GATHER DC RETREAT PARTICIPANT