Donor Advised Funds

Donor advised funds may be established with a tax-deductible donation of at least $1,800. While the fund balance exceeds $5,000, you can recommend grants to eligible 501(c)(3) public charities, religious organizations, and public entities (e.g. public schools, libraries). Grantees may be in-state or out-of-state, Jewish or non-Jewish. Grants may not be made to internationally-based organizations. However, many of these organizations, including many in Israel, are associated with US-based "Friends of" organizations that exist primarily to fundraise and accept donations on their behalf.

Grants from your fund may be used for many wonderful and varied purposes to support the organizations and causes that are important to you. By IRS regulations grants awarded from donor advised funds may not result in personal benefits to the donor or related parties (e.g. family members) beyond what the IRS deems an "incidental benefit." Examples of grants that result in more than an incidental benefit and thus are not allowed include the purchase of event tickets (even if the tickets are included in sponsorship), fitness club memberships, auction purchases, raffle tickets, and tuition payments. You cannot make grants to political parties or candidates, or to private non-operating foundations. You can however use your fund to pay for your membership dues to your place of worship as the IRS does not consider the accompanying spiritual benefits as incidental benefits. You may also recommend a grant to cover the cost of membership to a charitable organization if the organization confirms that its membership fee is 100% tax deductible.

You may offer grant recommendations as often as you wish, and there is no minimum number of grants you are required to recommend. All grant recommendations are advisory and subject to the review and approval of OJCF’s Board of Trustees, through its Distribution Committee). 

The deadline is the 5th and 20th of each month. Grant requests received between the 21st of the month and the 5th of the following month will be distributed around the 15th of the following month. Grant requests received between the 6th and 20th of each month will be distributed at the end of the month.

No, grants from your donor advised fund may not be used to pay pledges. A pledge is a legally binding financial obligation. By IRS rules payment of a pledge results in a personal benefit because it alleviates the donor or a related party of this obligation. If you are asked to make a pledge, please inform the organization that you will "recommend a grant from my donor advised fund." This way the organization knows your intention, but you have not taken on a binding obligation. Knowingly paying a pledge through a fund may result in penalties and fines.

OJCF’s grant recommendations go through a vetting process to confirm the eligibility of each organization. As a community foundation, OJCF performs due diligence to ensure that funds are granted for charitable purposes in compliance with IRS mandates. Once eligibility is confirmed, grant recommendations are presented to the OJCF Board of Trustees' Distribution Committee for review. 

Visit your OJCF Portal linked in the header and footer of this site to recommend grants any time. You may also email your recommendation to Samantha Skipton, Accounting Assistant and Office Administrator, at samanthas@ojcf.org. Please include the name of the organization, amount, and purpose of the grant. You can also include special instructions such as a delayed payment or payment in installments. You may also mail or fax us a signed letter or grant recommendation form. If the balance of your fund is less than $5,000, no grants will be distributed until the fund balance exceeds $5,000. 

Through the portal you may view the monthly balance of your fund, recommend new grants, track past gifts and grants, and update your contact information. To access your fund online visit the OJCF website (www.ojcf.org) and click OJCF Portal in the header or footer. To request access, please contact us.