The Power of Kindness
The theme for the Jewish Community Foundation in 2021 was “The Power of Kindness.” As is written in the compilation of ethical teachings known as Pirkei Avot 1:2 – the Wisdom of the Fathers - Shimon the Righteous says, “The world stands on three things - on the Torah, avodah/service, and gimilut hasidim - acts of loving kindness.” That kindness is reflected in the people who are at the heart of the Foundation.
At the Foundation’s Annual Meeting in December, the gavel of the Board presidency was passed from Alice Jacks Achtenberg to Frank Lipsman, both of whom lead with kindness. As Frank so eloquently noted, “At JCF, we are entrusted with the privilege of inspiring philanthropy and showing the way to positively impact our community. Those are our primary imperatives. We are fortunate to be part of a city and Jewish community that values tikkun olam, repairing the world.” These imperatives put the Power of Kindness into action.
2021 was a magnificent reflection of those values, as individuals, families, and organizations, together with outstanding investment performance, grew the Foundation to record levels. Grants made by fund advisors rose dramatically, putting valuable assets into the hands of charitable organizations across the country.
As we look forward to the future, we are grateful for the strength that the Foundation, as a community of givers, has demonstrated, where the Power of Kindness is multiplied by working together to make the world a better place.
In gratitude,
Lauren Mattleman Hoopes, Executive Director; Frank W. Lipsman, President; Alice Jacks Achtenberg, Immediate Past President
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.
B'nai Tzedek
The B’nai Tzedek program introduces B’nai Mitzvah-age youth to charitable giving by allowing 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 Power of Kindness
“Something I have always enjoyed doing is giving back. B’nai Tzedek not only helped me donate to an organization, but they had multiple options for me to choose from. I picked the Jewish War Veterans. I chose this organization because my great-grandfather flew fighter jets in WWII. However, he was not Jewish. This did not matter to the Jewish War Vets because no matter who he was, they knew he had served. One of the gentleman said he knew a man named Gordon once and it always made me wonder if they ever met on the ship. I would like to thank B’nai Tzedek for bringing me closer with my religion and informing me about the great organizations around the KC area.”
- Braxton Hammontree
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. J-LEAD members make a significant impact on the community by pooling resources and making collective decisions about how to allocate funds in the most effective manner. J-LEAD members also come together to volunteer at many of the projects they fund.
The Power of Kindness
“As new J-LEAD participants, we’ve greatly enjoyed collaborating with others whose focus is on philanthropy. J-LEAD creates a force multiplier. Whether it was the Federation’s Indigent Burial effort providing dignity at the end of life, Kosher Meals on Wheels providing food and comfort for the hungry, or emergency assistance to JVS clients who recently immigrated to America, working together allowed us to do far more good together than any of us could have done on our own.”
- Dan & Lindsey Osman
Continuum of Giving Programs
Create a Jewish Legacy
The final component of the Continuum of Giving is the Create a Jewish Legacy (CJL) program. CJL 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.
CJL’s popular “Parking Lot Lunch” series hosted two installments in 2021. In February, JCF welcomed legacy giving expert Amy Eisenstein for a virtual presentation on growing fundraising programs during a pandemic. In June, professionals from local Jewish community organizations were invited to meet in-person to reconnect and share positive personal and professional outcomes of the pandemic.
The biennial Legacy Giving Day event was hosted in November. Dozens of professionals from 14 unique Jewish and general community organizations participated in the event, which featured fundraising strategist, coach and author Nanette Fridman. Attendees had the opportunity to network, workshop, and learn helpful strategies for developing legacy gifts and stewarding lasting relationships with donors. “Being newer to the development world, I was in awe of the knowledge and experience of those in the ‘room,’” said Michaela Kidd, development manager for Village Shalom. “It was an incredible experience to listen and engage with the others. It was a wonderful presentation and a perfect combination of people.” These important community initiatives were funded through a generous legacy gift from Sam and Lucy Gould.
The Community Legacy Fund
Established in 1980, the Community Legacy Fund is comprised of contributions to the Jewish Community Foundation to help fund the community’s needs. Grants are awarded from the Community Legacy Fund to community agencies after review and evaluation by the Foundation’s Grants Committee and approval by the Board of Trustees.
Nearly 70 individual funds, totaling $9,096,084 make up the Community Legacy Fund. Many of the funds were established through a variety of legacy giving vehicles, including charitable gift annuities, trusts, estate plans, life insurance policies, and Donor Advised Funds. These gifts help ensure the stability of our vibrant community for future generations. There are currently 18 additional promises for the Community Legacy Fund in the pipeline, estimated at nearly $3.8 million.
The Community Legacy Fund awards grants which will enhance and maintain the quality of Jewish life in the Greater Kansas City area, and responds to emergency need in Jewish communities around the world. Beginning in 2018, the majority of grants made from the Community Legacy Fund support the general operating expenses (core expenses) of Jewish agencies in the Kansas City region. In 2021, the Community Legacy Fund awarded more than $330,000 in grants to 18 unique organizations. See page 9 for a list of grant recipients.
The Power of Kindness
“I am proud to serve as the current chair and a longtime member of the Foundation’s Grants Committee. The Community Legacy Fund is a wonderful community asset and a great resource for those looking to support needs within the Jewish community. The committee gives core grants and also has an innovation/emergency cycle. It is a privilege to work alongside the thoughtful community leaders and Foundation staff to ensure we are the best possible stewards of these resources.”
- Linda Lyon
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.
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.
2021 Distributions from Supporting Foundations
9 Supporting Foundations | $3,201,600 Distributed | 201 Grants & Distributions to 131 Unique Organizations
The Power of Kindness
JCF fundholder and trustee Michael Liss exemplifies the Power of Kindness through his work coaching the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy boys’ basketball team, which he has volunteered to do since 2014.
“It’s an opportunity to help teach life skills and life lessons to young people,” says Liss. “I hope that they will then take these lessons with them and apply them off the court, to help them be successful in school, college, their working careers, their personal life, and hopefully in giving back to their community as well.”
- Michael Liss
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), a Donor Advised Fund allows 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.
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The Power of Kindness
“It’s a privilege for me to honor my parents, Sanford & Barbara Cohn, through the support of creative initiatives of the Foundation. Through my support this past year, JCF packaged baskets of apples, honey, and helpful resource materials which were delivered to professional advisors as an opportunity to increase awareness of JCF’s various services and to share our sweet New Year tradition. This effort was especially meaningful, as my father was in the life insurance industry and valued his longstanding personal and professional relationship with the Foundation.”
- David Cohn
2021 Distributions from Donor Advised Funds
459 Donor Advised Funds | $14,985,772 Distributed | 4,709 Grants & Distributions to 1,050 Unique Organizations
The Power of Kindness
New JCF fundholder Sheila Sonnenschein is a regular volunteer for the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom. This unique nonprofit “Creates space for intentional dialogue and friendships for Muslim and Jewish women across North America,” says Sonnenschein. “We are engaged in gimilut chasadim - acts of loving kindness - when the sisters seek to know and understand each other, volunteer together to help refugees or prepare meals for those in need, and stand up for one another when anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim acts of violence target our faith communities.”
- Sheila Sonnenschein
The Power of Kindness
HappyBottoms joined the Foundation Family in 2021 when they opened a fund. HappyBottoms is a general community nonprofit that collaborates with more than 105 sites in Kansas City to distribute diapers to families in need. Each HappyBottoms program strategically uses diapers to connect families to the fuller circle of care and resources they need to create lasting change and chip away at the effects of poverty. In 2021, they distributed more than 2.7 million diapers to 13,000 area children so that they could stay clean, healthy, & dry.
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.
The Power of Kindness
“The work of JVS is done out of kindness and has historically been focused on removing obstacles from clients’ lives to assist them in achieving their personal aspirations. We became inspired to establish the Intrater Family Scholarship Fund to support the educational pursuits of JVS employees in the hope of addressing some obstacles they may face as they try to improve their own lives. We are driven to make a difference in the lives of JVS employees knowing they will continue to enhance our community in meaningful ways.”
- Lynn and Bill Intrater for Jewish Vocational Service (JVS)
Community is Our Middle Name: Our Partners
The Power of Kindness
The professional caregivers at Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care exemplify kindness by bringing much-needed care and support to patients and families when they need it most. A generous donor who also exemplifies kindness, Mel Mallin, wanted to recognize the incredible efforts of their most exceptional professionals through the creation of the Lore and Mel Mallin Award for Employee Excellence. This annual award provides funding for professional development for any staff member and recognizes one Kansas City Hospice employee annually who exemplifies their guiding principles of compassion, enrichment, choices, expertise, respect, balance, stewardship, and excellence. The 2022 award winner is Jessica Evans, CNA (pictured with Mel Mallin, left); her patients and their families always rave about the excellent care Jessica gives.
- Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care
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.
In Memoriam
We remember with appreciation the members of our Foundation Family who we lost in 2021. We were indeed blessed by their love of community and generous spirit.
Financials
2021 Distributions From All Funds
$25,904,462 Distributed | 5,520 Grants & Distributions to 1,148 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 more than $2,800,000 in 2021 supported over 85 different organizations, including Alphapointe; Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute; Child Abuse and Prevention Association; Don Bosco Centers; El Centro; Food Equality Initiative; Grooming Project; Guadalupe Centers; High Aspirations; Jewish Family Services; Jewish Vocational Service (JVS); Kansas City Indian Center; KC Mothers in Charge; Northland Neighborhoods; Rebuilding Together; Reconciliation Services; Shawnee Community Services; Sheffield Place; 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.