Jewish Philanthropy Facts on the Occasion of Israel's 60th Birthday

The past decade has seen an explosive growth
of foundations. This has occurred due to two
factors. First, the United States has experienced
16 years of economic growth due to the
establishment of new industries in technology
and financial services. Second, changes in the
tax laws, including a reduction in capital gains
and dividend taxes and incentives for
contributing appreciated assets to charities,
have encouraged foundation growth.

Though Jews comprise only 2% of the population,
we are disproportionately represented among the
wealthiest Americans has noted by lists such as
the Forbes 400 richest Americans. Many baby
boomer Jews, though not present on these lists,
are accumulating wealth. Jewish tikkun olam and
cultural emphasis on philanthropic giving as
exemplified by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have
led to the establishment of many new foundations.
These foundations exist as private foundations, as
donor advised funds managed by financial institutions
like Fidelity Investments, and as philanthropic
foundations administered by Jewish Federations and
organizations.

Gary Tobin and Aryeh Weinberg recently published
“A Study of Jewish Foundations” for the Institute for
Jewish and Community Research. Their study was
based on the foundations’ most recently filed tax
returns (either 2004 or 2005.) Non-profit institutions
have a longer time to file tax returns than the individual.

For Definitional purposes, a “Jewish Foundation” is
a foundation established by a Jew without taking into
account the individual’s level of practice or identity.

Facts (from the Tobin-Weinberg study):

Of the 100 largest foundations in the United States,
eight were founded by Jews. Total assets of Jewish
foundations is about $17 billion.

There are 45 foundations with assets of more than
$2 billion. There are two Jewish foundations with
assets of more than $2 billion, the Annenberg
Foundation and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
Foundation. In either 2004 or 2005 (depending on
which was their most recently filed tax return), Jewish
foundations made grants totaling $1.2 billion.Most
Jewish foundations gave most of their grants and a
majority of their dollars to non-Jewish causes and
institutions:
21% of total dollars went to Jewish organizations
79% of total dollars went to non-Jewish organizations.

7% of the total dollars given by Jewish foundations to
Jewish organizations ($1.2 billion) went to Israel
related organizations ($79 million.)

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation is the
second largest Jewish foundation with total asset of
$2 billion. It awarded grants totaling $98,674,000 of
which 52% went to Jewish organizations. It gave more
in total dollars to Jewish organizations than any other
Jewish foundation.The Avi Chai Foundation has total
assets of $649 million. It awarded grants totaling
$38,774,000 of which 98% went toJewish organizations.
It also gave more total dollars ($12,019,940) to Israel
related causes than any other foundation.

The Ted Arison Family Foundation USA, Inc. gave the
highest percentage (88% = $2,931,280) of donated dollars
to Israel related causes than any other foundation.

The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation has total assets of $67
million. It awarded grants of $2,915,000 million of which
100% went to Jewish organizations.

The Steinhardt Philanthropies have total assets of $15 million.
It awarded grants of $15,076,000 of which 58% went to
Jewish organizations.

The Annenberg Foundation is the largest Jewish
foundation with total assets of $2.6 billion. It awarded
grants totaling $256,384,000 of which 0% went to Jewish
organizations.

The Soros Fund Charitable Foundation has total assets of
$96 million. It awarded grants of $4,258,000 of which 1%
went to Jewish organizations.

Following are other Jewish foundations which gave less
than 10% of their donated dollars to Jewish organizations:
The Maltz Family Foundation, The Arthur M. Blank Family
Foundation, The Picower Foundation, The Lerner
Foundation, The Rady Family Foundation, The Michael
and Susan Dell Foundation, The Sandler Family Supporting
Foundation, The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, The
Pritzker Foundation, The Weingart Foundation, The Weill
Family Foundation, The Broad Foundation, and
The George Kaiser Family Foundation.

With as little as $5000, any person or family can set up a
family foundation in the form of a donor advised fund with
Fidelity Investments. The website for Fidelity Investments
is http://www.fidelity.com/ and its telephone number is 800-Fidelity.
The Jewish Communal Fund (of New York) has a minimum
contribution of $5,000. However, the minimum contribution
for children is $1,800. The website for the Jewish Communal
Fund is http://www.jewishcommunalfund.org/.
Its telephone number is 212 752-8277.