JCF West :: About the Foundation

Welcome from our President

In 2006, the total funds managed by The Jewish Community Foundation of the West passed the $5 million mark. This is an impressive statistic for the Foundation, but it says even more Scott Shapiro, JCFW President about the Jewish community of our region and its commitment to philanthropy. A growing Foundation means a growing commitment from the community to support all of those non-profit organizations that make our lives richer. Whether Jewish or in the broader community, service organization or synagogue, these organizations help us and those around us. Your support makes our community stronger.

Over the last year since I assumed the presidency, I have worked to help others understand how the Foundation can help individuals and organizations. (Some of those explanations are in the Common Questions page of this website). I have described what we do as being a facilitator or a bank. Remembering those commercials for BASF ("We don t make the products you buy, we make the products you buy better."), I like to say that we don't generate the philanthropic giving, but we make that giving better.

If you have a favorite cause or you want to memorialize a loved one, you can can work with the Foundation to establish an endowment fund. Endowments are easy to estabilsh. There are no setup fees. And you will be helping the community for many lifetimes. Or, you may want to create a donor advised account, an easy way to consolidate your annual giving. These donor accounts allow you to consolidate your taxable deduction to a single event, while still spreading out your giving as you have historically done.

If you are currently retired, don't forget to consider the Pension Protection Act of 2006. This act allows you make a direct transfer of IRA funds. This charitable provision allows you to avoid taxes by directing your required minimum distribution to a qualified charity. This provision is only good during 2007; it has a $100,000 limit and you must be at least 70 1/2 years old.

For more information about Foundation and establishing your fund, please call me at (916) 484-0954 or speak to any Foundation Board member. Thank you for maintaining a fund with the Foundation or for considering initiating a fund. We value your feedback, so let us know what we can do to improve our service to you and the community.

--Scott Shapiro