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- A Year of REconnection
- Foundation Leadership
- Continuum of Giving Programs
- Our Funds
- Our Partners
- Planned Giving Donors
- In Memoriam
- Financials
- Menorah Heritage Foundation
A Year of REconnection
Dear Friends,
The theme of the 2022 Annual REport is the prefix "RE," meaning again or anew. It signifies commitment to our work. For more than 60 years, the Foundation has REliably served as the central REsource for philanthropy in the Kansas City Jewish community. As our organization has grown and evolved over the years, we’ve REdedicated ourselves to meeting the changing needs of our community and REaffirmed our commitment to providing exceptional service and support to the individuals, families and nonprofit organizations that comprise our Foundation Family.
2022 was, despite a very challenging economic and investment environment, one of the Foundation’s most successful years, both in terms of charitable contributions and impactful grants - REsilience!
We are thankful for the opportunity to use this REport to REconnect with you, REvisit our many exciting accomplishments from the past year, and REimagine our work to strengthen the vibrant and thriving community we are so grateful to be a part of.
Frank W. Lipsman, President, and Lauren Mattleman Hoopes, Executive Director
REgrow: The Continuum of Giving
The Foundation is dedicated to providing philanthropic education and engagement for givers of all ages. Our Foundation staff is highly trained in facilitating multigenerational family philanthropy and works with families to clarify charitable priorities, transmit philanthropic values, and have meaningful and productive conversations about giving. The Foundation’s “Continuum of Giving” programs enhance philanthropy at every age and stage of life.
Continuum of Giving Programs
B'nai Tzedek
The B’nai Tzedek program introduces B’nai Mitzvah-age youth to charitable giving by inviting them to open their own philanthropic funds at the Foundation. Teens and their families make a minimum donation of $125 to open a fund and the Foundation contributes $375, for a total fund balance of at least $500. Every year participants may grant 10% of their fund balance to a Jewish organization of their choice. For greater engagement, teens may join the B’nai Tzedek Youth Council, a cadre that meets once a month to discuss philanthropic issues and plan the B’nai Tzedek Shuk, the Foundation’s annual youth philanthropy fair.
The 2022 Shuk was adapted to a virtual format where teens and their parents could log on to watch videos contributed by community organizations, participate in a live drawing and raffle for fun prizes, and “Zoom” with the Youth Council. Videos were informative, fun and creative, and while not a replacement for face-to-face engagement, were a successful tool for educating young fundholders about how they could help meet the needs of the community. Many teens chose to donate to the Jewish Federation’s crisis relief fund to help Jews in Ukraine. More than 20 community organizations participated in the event and six new B’nai Tzedek Funds were opened that evening.
Continuum of Giving Programs
J-LEAD
J-LEAD is the Foundation’s giving circle for young adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s. J-LEAD makes grants from funds collected by its members ($500 charitable contribution for membership) as well as matching funds from the Jewish Community Foundation’s Community Legacy Fund and other generous Foundation donors.
In 2022, the number of J-LEAD participants grew to 45 members who actively reviewed grant applications and made difficult decisions about which exciting programs merited their collective investment. J-LEAD features a blend of education, giving, volunteerism and social connections. Kris Zeid, J-LEAD Co-chair says, "I find J-LEAD to be a great outlet to help fund local organizations so that we can make a strong and positive impact in the community. It is also a great way to meet, and build long-lasting relationships with other young and like-minded Jewish professionals in Kansas City."
2022 represented the program's 18th year of making an impact in our community. Louis Stein, longtime member and J-LEAD Co-chair reflects upon his experience, "What I didn't anticipate is how well J-LEAD has provided me with another level of understanding as to how organizations raise money, fund specific projects and distribute those funds to the important needs of our community. J-LEAD is a stepping-stone for members to further engage with community organizations in a meaningful way for years to come."
Continuum of Giving Programs
Create a Jewish Legacy
The final component of the Continuum of Giving is the Create a Jewish Legacy program. Create a Jewish Legacy is the Foundation’s effort to help secure the long-term future of community programs and institutions through an emphasis on planned giving and growing endowments. Goals of the program include securing planned gift commitments, building and maintaining strong relationships between donors and organizations, developing leaders, and building public awareness of planned giving.
Honoring and celebrating with planned giving donors is a component of Create a Jewish Legacy, which is demonstrated through an event called "Foundation for Our Future." On September 14, more than 100 people filled the Jewish Community Campus’s Galleria and White Theater to take part in the event, the first since 2018. Attendees gathered to renew their commitment to community-wide planned giving, to honor the newest donors to be inscribed in the Endowment Book of Life, and to celebrate the millions of dollars of bequests that will sustain cherished local institutions for the generations to come.
Sustenance—eating and enduring—was the explicit theme. An elaborate reception blended Jewish culinary traditions, from flown-fresh-from-New-York H&H bagels with lox and cream cheese, to za’atar roasted vegetable skewers and Persian jeweled rice, plus a modern twist on a Manischewitz cocktail.
As a part of the Endowment Book of Life signing, a video was introduced in which JCF Trustee, Martha Gershun, spoke poignantly of her late mother Gloria’s philosophy on philanthropy and her decision to endow gifts to organizations such as CASA, Jewish Federation, and Congregation Beth Torah. Gloria Gershun was among the first donors to sign the Book of Life in 2003.
The evening culminated with a special presentation by Dr. Jordan Rosenblum, a Jewish Studies professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who offered up “The Dish on Jewish Food & Culture,” with insights into his research on food customs and Jewish identity.
Our Funds: Community Legacy Funds
The Community Legacy Fund is comprised of permanent endowments from which grants are awarded to Jewish communal agencies whose applications are reviewed and evaluated by the JCF Grants Committee and Board of Trustees.
2022 Community Legacy Fund Grant Recipients
- Avodah: KC Community Initiative
- Chabad at KU: Ambassadors of Strength and Texting Hotline
- Gan Chabad TLC: Kansas City Kosher Meals on Wheels Audit
- Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy: Scholarships; Security Upgrades
- The J: Property, Liability, and Casualty Insurance
- The J and Jewish Community Campus: Common Space ROE
- Jewish Community Campus: Campus Emergency Manual
- Jewish Community Foundation: J-LEAD
- JCRB/AJC: Youth Programming
- Jewish Family Services: Chaplaincy Program; Kesher KC Mobile Food Pantry; Pantry Rent and Technology; Priya
- Jewish Federation: Security Initiative; Ukraine Relief
- Jewish Student Union: Kansas Relief Mission Trips
- Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): Administrative Support Staff & Strategic Plan; Emergency Assistance for Clients
- KU Hillel: Accounting Services; Antisemitism Initiative
- Midwest Center for Holocaust Education: Rent
- Mikva Association/Kehilath Israel Synagogue: Community Mikva
- Mitzvah Garden KC: Farm Coordinator
- Orthodox Union: Jewish Student Union
- Overland Park Eruv: Operational Support
- Rabbinical Association: Funding for the Part-Time Administrator
- Sasone: Religious School Peer Mentorship Training
- University of Missouri Hillel: Staff Salaries, Benefits and Facility Upkeep
- Vaad HaKashruth: Kosher Supervision Staffing
- Village Shalom: Financial Assistance Program
REspond
Sol Koenigsberg’s incredible legacy to this community will live on for generations thanks to his inspired leadership and generosity. During his time as executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, Koenigsberg is credited with increasing gifts made to the Federation’s annual campaign year by year, promoting the Jewish Community Foundation, and facilitating the building of the Jewish Community Campus. Sol made a planned gift to support the Community Legacy Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation to provide ongoing support to many causes he cared about so deeply. This gift will enable the Foundation to support organizations which enhance and maintain the quality of Jewish life in our area, and respond to emergency needs in Jewish communities around the world. The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle named Sol “a living legend of the community,” and his daughter, Beth, said he took his role as a mentor, friend, and trusted advisor to his successors at the Federation seriously.
Our Funds: Supporting Foundations
Supporting Foundations promote philanthropy and multigenerational giving while enjoying the benefits of public charity status, avoiding the excise taxes, restrictions and spending requirements imposed on private foundations.
2022 Distributions from Supporting Foundations
9 Supporting Foundations | $3,254,016 Distributed | 208 Grants & Distributions to 131 Unique Organizations
Our Funds: Donor Advised Funds
Donor Advised Funds are personal charitable giving accounts that enable donors to give smarter and maximize their charitable impact. Established with contributions of $5,000 or more ($2,500 for those under age 35), Donor Advised Funds allow donors to recommend grants to any qualified charitable organization at any time. Donors may name successor advisors in order to encourage future generations to continue their traditions of giving.
2022 Distributions from Donor Advised Funds
468 Donor Advised Funds | $17,756,413 Distributed | 4,542 Grants & Distributions to 1,048 Unique Organizations
REcommend
“I love that the Foundation creates a ‘center’ for giving across our Jewish community. It’s not just a cause to support - it helps to foster the spirit of giving among our community, which is such a fundamental Jewish value. Our family has leveraged the Donor Advised Funds at JCF to make the most of our own practice of tzedakah. Donor Advised Funds allow our charitable giving to grow, ensuring that support of our community can continue to grow as well in the years to come. Right from the start, we were able to leverage the Foundation's incentive match to double the impact of our first grant. It was a great feeling, and an exciting teachable moment for our daughter."
- Joshua Hoffman
Our Funds: REstricted Funds
Restricted Funds give donors and their families the opportunity to make contributions that reflect their unique charitable interests, honor loved ones or express their desire to leave a legacy to the community. These funds may be restricted for a particular project, organization/congregation, or field of interest.
REminisce
Laurel Rogovein worked tirelessly to ensure that our community’s history would be preserved and celebrated. The Laurel Stolowy Rogovein Memorial Fund for the Jewish Community Archives of Greater Kansas City was established to support the ongoing efforts of the important organization for which she worked tirelessly during her lifetime. “It was meaningful to me to establish a fund in Laurel’s memory that will provide ongoing support to a cause that was so important to her and to our community,” said Michael Rogovein, her husband of 60 years. Laurel’s timeline of the history of the Kansas City Jewish community is on permanent display in Conference Room C of the Jewish Community Campus.
Community is Our Middle Name: Our Partners
These nonprofit organizations have selected the Jewish Community Foundation as the trusted steward of their charitable resources.
Planned Giving Donors
We honor the planned gift commitments of these and other generous donors who wish to remain anonymous. These gifts help ensure the sustainability of our Kansas City Jewish community - a promise that our future will be bright for generations to come.
REcognize
The Endowment Book of Life honors those who have made arrangements for a permanent commitment of $10,000 or more to local Jewish organizations and synagogues. Presented in its pages is an ever-growing collective portrait of our Jewish community and a testament to ensuring its future. For 20 years, this inspirational book has reflected a proud philanthropic tradition: a promise from one generation to the next that the values of our Jewish heritage will be preserved. In September, 14 pages were added as a part of the signing ceremony at the Foundation for Our Future event. The following individuals participated, in person and remotely.
- Estelle Berman
- Karen & Jerry Borowick
- Allison DeWitt
- Karen & Jeffry Gerson
- Barbara & Scott Hecht
- Gail & Harry Himmelstein
- Jill & Jim Maidhof
- Janet Mark & Frank Lipsman
- Jerry Nash
- Gloria & Howard Pitler
- Sharon Lowenstein Poisner & Alan Poisner
- Michael Staenberg
- Sheryl & Josh Stein
- Cynthia (Summers) & Robert Feldman
“Jeffry and I were engaged in Jewish life starting at our births. We were both engaged in our congregations. We both attended Jewish summer camp and met each other in Jewish youth group. Our boys attend a pluralistic Jewish day school, attend Jewish summer camp and live a Jewish life.
It is our hope that our gifts will ensure that OUR community will continue to thrive and grow Jewishly.”
- Karen & Jeffry Gerson
For the full collection of Endowment Book of Life entries, please visit BookOfLifeKC.org.
REmember: In Memoriam
We REmember with appreciation the members of our Foundation Family who we lost in 2022. We were indeed blessed by their love of community and generous spirit.
REinvest: Financials
2022 Distributions From All Funds
$31,519,420 Distributed | 5,405 Grants & Distributions to 1,156 Unique Organizations
Total Asset History
Menorah Heritage Foundation
The Menorah Heritage Foundation (MHF) was founded in April 2016 as the result of a merger between the Jewish Heritage Foundation Supporting Organization and the Menorah Legacy Foundation. Both predecessor foundations were created from the roots of Menorah Hospital. The Menorah Heritage Foundation is a supporting organization of the Jewish Community Foundation. Today it remains deeply committed to Menorah Hospital’s tradition of healing and compassionate service and its mission to support health and well-being in the Kansas City community. Jewish tradition holds that every act of goodness contributes to the ultimate repair of the world (tikkun olam), and that feeding the hungry, healing the sick and comforting the bereaved are building blocks for redemption. This tradition guides its work as a community funder.
Menorah Heritage Foundation’s grant-making is guided by the following principles: perpetuating the Jewish community; addressing critical and severe Greater Kansas City and Jewish community needs; anticipating and adapting to changing needs; and investing in transformational change.
The Menorah Heritage Foundation maintains four distinct annual grant-making cycles which fund both proactive, transformational strategies and safety net needs: Healthy for Life, Jewish Community Support, Unrestricted Operating Support and Aging in Community. Since 1994, the Menorah Heritage Foundation and its predecessors have distributed nearly $70,000,000 to organizations in the community, with about two-thirds of funds going to Jewish agencies and programs.
MHF grants of approximately $2,600,000 in 2022 supported more than 85 different organizations, including Ad Hoc Group Against Crime; Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute; Care Beyond the Boulevard; Cross-Lines Community Outreach; Don Bosco Centers; EarlystART; Generating Income For Tomorrow (G.I.F.T.); Global One Urban Farming; Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy; The J’s Heritage Center; JCRB/AJC; Jewish Family Services; Jewish Vocational Service (JVS); Phoenix Family Housing Corporation; Neighborhood Legal Services; Northland Neighborhoods; Rebuilding Together; Reconciliation Services; Shawnee Community Services; Sheffield Place; Sleepyhead Beds; and Village Shalom.
For more information about Menorah Heritage Foundation, please visit www.mhfkc.org.
This annual report was made possible in part by a generous contribution from Strategic Investment Group. Strategic Investment Group is the Jewish Community Foundation’s Outsourced Chief Investment Officer.
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