What's Happening?
Jewish philanthropy in the U.S. is experiencing a paradox where the total amount of donations has increased significantly, yet the number of donors is shrinking. Historian Jack Wertheimer notes that while Jewish giving has nearly doubled in recent years, the donor base is becoming more concentrated. Additionally, a significant portion of Jewish philanthropic funds is directed towards nonsectarian causes. The Jewish Future Promise initiative aims to address this by encouraging pledges to allocate a substantial portion of charitable giving to Jewish and Israeli causes.
Why It's Important?
The concentration of Jewish philanthropy among fewer donors poses risks to the sustainability of funding for Jewish causes. As costs associated with Jewish life continue to rise, the reliance on a smaller donor base could lead to vulnerabilities in funding stability. The Jewish Future Promise initiative seeks to mitigate this by securing long-term commitments, which could ensure continued support for Jewish causes. This shift in philanthropic strategy may influence the future landscape of Jewish funding and community engagement.
