What is the Jewish Federation annual Community Campaign?
What do you mean by "commitment", "gift" and "pledge"?
Why don’t the ‘campaign year’ and the calendar year always match?
What is a "minimum gift" and when do I have to pay it?
What is a "couvert" or "cover charge"? Is it tax deductible?
Can I still attend the event, even if I can't pay the minimum gift?
Do I have to make the minimum gift at each event I attend?
What is the Jewish Community Endowment Fund?
What is the Special Initiatives Fund?
What is the Women’s Endowment Foundation?

What is the Jewish Federation annual Community Campaign?
The Jewish Federation annual Community Campaign refers to our annual fundraising campaign that supports a broad network of health, human service, educational and community building agencies in the Greater Seattle area, in Israel and around the world.

What do you mean by "commitment", "gift" and "pledge"?
A pledge is the amount of money that you plan to contribute in one campaign year. The term "gift" or "commitment" is just another way of saying contribution or donation. This money is used to fund beneficiary agencies and goes directly toward helping people in need. You have until December 31st of the campaign year for which you have pledged to pay off that pledge. You can either pay in installments, or all at once. The commitment you make to the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

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Why don’t the ‘campaign year’ and the calendar year always match?
The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and its beneficiary agencies operate on a fiscal year from July 1 through June 30 of each year. The Jewish Federation runs the Community Campaign beginning in September and ending in April so that we can finish all of the paper work and then distribute funding for the new fiscal year beginning July 1st. Remember, when you make a pledge for a campaign year, you have until December 31st of that year to pay your pledge. (Example: It is September of 2004 and we are asking you for a 2005 Community Campaign gift. You might think you just made a gift, but that was for 2004. Your 2005 pledge is not [necessarily] due until December 2005, but we will still allocate to the service agencies beginning in July of 2005 based on that pledge.)

What is a "minimum gift" and when do I have to pay it?
One benefit of being an annual Community Campaign donor is that your generosity comes back to you by providing you access to many excellent events throughout the year. When you see an event with a "minimum gift", attendees at that event have pledged, or are expected to pledge, at least that amount to the Jewish Federation Community Campaign that year. So, if you made a pledge of $400 in October, you will be able to attend any Annual Campaign event at or below that level by paying only the cover charge through June 30th. We have "minimum gift" events, so that we can continue to raise money for our broad network of social service, educational and outreach programs.

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What is a "couvert" or "cover charge"? Is it tax deductible?
The "couvert" helps cover the costs of the event: the food, entertainment, space rental, printing and postage, etc. Without a cover charge, we would have to use funds from the donations we receive to pay for the event, greatly diminishing our ability to help people in need. The cover charge also helps ensure that we keep costs down. In terms of tax law, the cover charge is seen as a purchase of goods and services and is not tax-deductible. Anything that you pay over the couvert is tax-deductable.

Can I still attend the event, even if I can't pay the minimum gift?
We realize not everyone can afford to make the minimum gift to attend some of our events. We try to plan a variety of events throughout the year to involve everyone. Many have either a very low minimum gift or none at all, but our fundraising events are critical in enabling us to bring you the free and low cost programming that we do each year. For these reasons, we are unable to waive the minimum gift at our fundraising events.

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Do I have to make the minimum gift at each event I attend?
No, once you have made the minimum gift, it's good for the duration of the campaign year. For example: If you previously pledged $500 to the 2005 Jewish Federation Community Campaign, and want to attend an event with a $500 minimum gift later in the campaign year, you could attend it and pay only the couvert. If you have not already made a pledge at the required minimum level for the relative campaign year, then you will be asked to make a commitment for your gift at that level.

What is the Jewish Community Endowment Fund?
The Jewish Federation maintains the Jewish Community Endowment Fund with 150 endowment funds, including supporting foundations, donor advised funds, special purpose and restricted funds, and insurance policies. Donors wishing to perpetuate their philanthropy use these planned giving vehicles enabling them to provide grants to Jewish and secular organizations, locally, nationally and internationally during and after their lifetimes.

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What is the Special Initiatives Fund?
The Special Initiatives Fund of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund was created by the generosity of many donors, including those who remembered the Federation in their wills. The Special Initiatives Fund makes grants annually, through a competitive review process for innovative and creative projects that meet the growing needs of the Seattle Jewish community.

What is the Women’s Endowment Foundation?
The Women’s Endowment Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund promotes tzedakah and tikkun olam [repairing the world] by improving the lives of women and girls through targeted grant-making and the development of donor activism.

PHILANTHROPY

One of our most important traditions as Jews is taking responsibility for each other by building communities that care for the weak, feed the hungry, and nourish the spirit of Jews wherever they live

The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is at the heart of our community, working for all of us to ensure a safe and secure future for Jews everywhere. For over seventy years, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle has been rescuing the imperiled, caring for the vulnerable, and revitalizing Jewish life here in Seattle and around the world.

The Community Campaign of the Jewish Federation provides donors the opportunity to channel their Jewish philanthropy conveniently through one organization that strives to meet the needs of the entire community efficiently and effectively. One easy gift can be made to the Community Campaign, which is then disbursed to many local, national, and overseas agencies. This way, donors are assured that their contributions are having the greatest impact on the most pressing needs facing the Jewish people

Contribute Online Now

For more information about the Community Campaign or about making a contribution, please email campaign@jewishinseattle.org or call (206) 774-2259.

For more information about setting up an endowment fund, please email endowment@jewishinseattle.org or call 206) 774-2252.

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