More than 27% of assets distributed to charities in all sectors.

(Courtesy of JCF) The Jewish Communal Fund (JCF), the largest Jewish donor-advised fund in the country, distributed a record $536 million in grants to charities in all sectors during the 2020 fiscal year ending June 30, 2020—a 17.5% increase from 2019. JCF Fundholders recommended a record number of grants—64,188—to thousands of charitable organizations, an 18 percent increase from 2019. The average grant amount was $8,352, an increase of 16% as compared to the previous year.

“Our generous Fundholders have stepped up amidst the coronavirus crisis to distribute funds to charities serving those in need,” said Susan F. Dickman, executive vice president and CEO of Jewish Communal Fund. “As the needs have increased, so have the number and amount of grants that JCF is distributing to charities in all sectors.”

A leader in the world of Jewish philanthropy, JCF continues to be the largest and most active Jewish donor advised fund in the country, with more than $2 billion in charitable assets under management. In FY 2020, JCF distributed 27% of assets, well above the industry average.

While grants were distributed to charities in all sectors, the largest categories of grants by dollar amount were directed to charitable organizations whose missions focused on education, community organizations and human services, and Israel/international—the same top three categories as the previous years.

A donor advised fund at JCF enables Fundholders to organize their charitable giving with ease and tax efficiency. JCF’s educational events and tools, including a recent webinar series on the benefits of giving through a donor advised fund to meet emergency needs, help Fundholders increase their philanthropic impact. In addition, JCF’s robust investment platform enables fund holders to grow their charitable dollars tax-free, enabling them to give more to their favorite causes.