A Philanthropic Journey for Families Begins Here

When Julie and Jordan Savitch were parents with young children, they decided to prioritize philanthropy for the whole family. 

“We set an expectation that a portion of our children’s allowance was always to be shared as tzedakah.” 

When their children hit their 20s, Julie and Jordan decided to look at how a donor-advised fund might continue to help their children “exercise their philanthropic muscle,” as they put it. 

The couple had had a very positive experience with their own donor-advised fund at Jewish Federation. They value the convenience of having their philanthropic dollars in one place. They have also been delighted with the personal service and attention that they have received from staff.

“They are there to answer all my questions, big and small,” says Jordan. 

One feature of donor-advised funds is that the fund holder is able to recommend grants to any public charity at any time they choose. As their children became young adults and were ready to make their own philanthropic choices, the couple decided to set up a donor-advised fund for them. 

As independent as they are in making their own philanthropic choices these days, there are still some clear parental guidelines for the next generation: “We don’t want them to think that their fund is a savings account. They should make gifts each year. We also encourage them to make gifts to causes they are interested in, in addition to their own Jewish philanthropy."

Donor-advised funds are often referred to as a charitable checking account. To start a fund at the Jewish Federation, an initial philanthropic investment of $5,000 is required. These investments are tax-deductible and grow tax free in the fund. Fundholders recommend grants—at any time—to their favorite Jewish and secular charities. 

For example, Jordan and Julie make their annual gift to Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Fund through their donor-advised fund. They also make gifts to areas such as child advocacy, education, and conservation.

In addition to the tax advantages of contributing to a donor-advised fund, having their philanthropic funds in one place “allows us to be more intentional with our philanthropy,” says Julie.