Question 1

Are my donations tax deductible?

Accepted Answer

The J-Ventures Israel Emergency Fund is hosted by the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We'll send it to you upon successful completion of your donation.

Question 2

Does the J-Ventures Israel Emergency Fund charge any fees?

Accepted Answer

J-Ventures and the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund waived all fees for donations to Israel during this emergency. A fee may be charged for online donations by the payment platform we use, Classy. To avoid these fees, donate via wire transfer, ACH, or from your DAF.

Question 3

Can I donate without paying the donation fee?

Accepted Answer

Yes, donations via wire transfer, ACH, or from your DAF have no donation fee.

Question 4

Who is responsible for allocating the Fund?

Accepted Answer

Grant allocation decisions are made by the Fund's Leadership Team along with the Advisory Board's input and advice.

Question 5

What are the priorities of the Fund?

Accepted Answer

The fund will focus on urgent medical and mental health assistance, support for families of kidnapped Israelis, and critical support for victims and affected communities as well as other urgent needs that will arise.

Question 6

Does the Fund have representatives in Israel to assess needs on the ground?

Accepted Answer

Yes, many of the J-Ventures members reside in Israel and are very active in the relief efforts. They have direct visibility of Israel's needs. J-Ventures is in contact with the Israeli government and Israeli nonprofits on an ongoing basis. Additionally, the Allocation Team receives advice from the Israeli office of the Jewish Community Federation.

Question 7

What is the Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund's role in this fund?

Accepted Answer

The Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund is a 501(c)(3) that provides us with a legal and financial framework, an IT platform, and experiences advice regarding the management and donations of the fund.

Question 8

Can I wire or use ACH to transfer my donation?

Accepted Answer

Instructions for Wire Transfer Bank:
Name: The Northern Trust Company 
Bank Address: 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60675 ABA 
Routing #: 071000152 
Account Name: Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco - DAF Checking Account 
Account #: 351-13-185

Note: Before initiating a bank wire, please complete and send this form to the Federation, via email at DAF@sfjcf.org. We need this form to ensure we allocate the money that is transferred to the J-Ventures Israel Emergency Fund.

Question 9

How do I recommend a grant from my Donor-Advised Fund?

Accepted Answer

To recommend a grant, log in to your Donor Portal and search for “Jewish Community Federation” (EIN 94-1156533). In the Grant Purpose field, indicate that your grant is for “J-Ventures Israel Emergency Fund.”

Question 10

What does the donation process look like if I have a DAF through the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco?

Accepted Answer

If you have a DAF through the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, you can transfer/earmark funds directly.

When donating, you will see a toggle switch to say "Other". There, type "J-Ventures Israel Emergency Fund" to donate.

Question 11

Does this donation work with companies that offer matching?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if your company matches donations, we encourage you to take advantage of the matching! If you are donating online, check the "Company matching" box and type in the name of your company. You must approach your employer to advance with the matching process.

FAQs