Understanding the JCF Federation Function

The Jewish Center and Federation of the Twin Tiers serves a broad eight-county geographic area, with two major responsibilities. The first is to provide the Jewish community with social, cultural, recreational and educational opportunities in this area. Last issue, we shared with you how the JCF Center fulfills its responsibilities; in this issue our focus is the Federation, which is dedicated to philanthropic outreach grounded in Jewish ethical and spiritual principles. This part of the JCF fosters its charitable commitment to Tikkun Olam and Tzedakah by collecting and distributing funds appropriately international, national, and local charities.

Historical Background

The Elmira Jewish Welfare Fund Inc. began about 1905 charged with following the principles of Tikkun Olam by raising and distributing funds for charitable purposes, primarily Jewish in nature.

On September 29, 1998 the Elmira Jewish Community Center, Inc. and the Elmira Jewish Welfare Fund, Inc. filed an order of Consolidation with the state of New York. On February 1, 1999 the consolidation was approved and became the Jewish Center and Federation of the Twin Tiers. As per this consolidation both groups now operate as one. As outlined in its bylaws, the Federation's mission centers on two objectives:

  • To raise and distribute funds for charitable purposes, primarily Jewish in nature.

  • To generally follow the principles of Tikkun Olam (improving/repairing the World).

The Ethical Foundation of Giving

Jewish tradition frames charity not as an act of generosity, but as an obligation. The Hebrew word for charity, tzedakah, stems from the root tzedek, meaning "justice" or "righteousness." As such, tzedakah reflects a moral duty to support others, not merely a voluntary gesture of goodwill.

As articulated in The Jewish Book of Why: "Caring for people in need is an integral part of Jewish life. Jews were expected to be kind and charitable decent and righteous. So intertwined is the concepts of charity and righteousness become that the Hebrew word for righteousness – tzedakah- became the Hebrew word for charity. The requirement that Jews care for all who are in need - non-Jews as well as Jews - was expressed by the Talmud in this manner: Our Rabbis have taught: 'We must support the poor among the Gentiles, even as we support the poor of Israel; visit the sick of the Gentiles, even a we visit the sick of Israel; give an honorable burial to the dead of the Gentiles, even as we bury the dead of Israel with honor-all in the interests of peace.'"

The JCF Annual Giving Campaign and Allocation Process

Our local JCF Annual Giving Campaign kicks off in the Fall immediately after the High Holy Days and ends about late August. Over the years we have worked to always review Jewish, world, and local needs and how we can best help financially.

We have an obligation to our donors to spend their donations in the best possible way to maximize the benefit for the greatest good.

Donations raised in a given calendar year (Year X) are allocated and disbursed during the following year (Year Y).

The formula we use for determining the amount of money we have available to donate for the year is based on two parts:

  • The actual money donated to the Campaign appeal by individuals during that campaign year.

  • At the end of the fiscal year, the JCF Campaign Endowment Funds pay the interest & dividend income earned that year to the upcoming campaign for distribution as per original fund guidelines on an end of fiscal year basis.

The Allocations Committee—working in conjunction with the broader JCF Board and informed by input from community members—reviews all funding decisions with rigorous attention to transparency, ethics, and impact.

The selection process includes:

  • Evaluating prior recipients and considering new proposals submitted by the community.

  • Reviewing each organization's mission for alignment with Jewish values.

  • Verifying that each organization holds 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and maintains a high (at least 95–100%) rating from Charity Navigator.

As a guideline, the allocation formula aims for:

  • 50% to international Jewish organizations,

  • 25% to national organizations which fight all forms of antisemitism and/or support racial justice issues.

  • 25% to local organizations within our service area that support feeding the hungry and encourage reading.

Once a slate of recipient organizations and proposed grant amounts are drafted, it is submitted for review and approval by the Executive Committee and the full JCF board. The process is designed to ensure that all funds are distributed responsibly and in accordance with both donor intent and the Federation's mission.

Ensuring the Future of Jewish Philanthropy

There are two primary ways individuals can contribute to the Federation's ongoing work:

  • Annual giving to our current year local JCF Annual Giving Campaign.

  • Legacy giving, including estate gifts and endowment contributions to our JCF Campaign Endowment fund, which help sustain long-term impact.

The most recent campaign reports and financial summaries are available by contacting the JCF office.

Should you have any questions about the Federation's philanthropic mission, the allocation process, or how to contribute, please reach out directly to the JCF office. We remain grateful for your support and commitment to Jewish values and community care.