Richmond Jewish Foundation

Richmond Jewish Foundation is a charity based in Richmond, Virginia. This is a non-profit organization.

Overview

The Richmond Jewish Foundation was established in 1979. Like a community foundation, it is an independent philanthropic organization working in a defined geographic area (in this case Richmond and central Virginia), which, over time, builds up a collection of endowed funds from many donors in the community. The Foundation also provides funding to charitable, educational and religious causes outside of the region, including but not limited to Jewish causes. It provides services to the community and its donors, makes grants and undertakes community leadership and partnership activities to address a wide variety of needs in its service area.

By 2006, the Richmond Jewish Foundation had over 200 subcomponents that include endowments, donor advised funds, and life income gifts that include charitable remainder trusts. Affiliated agencies include Jewish Family Services, Beth Sholom Campus and Weinstein JCC, Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia area Jewish congregations such as Congregation Beth Ahabah, Congregation Kol Emes, and Temple Beth El, museums like Virginia Holocaust Museum and Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives, schools like Rudlin Torah Academy and programs like Hillel. A broadly representative volunteer board serves to over see the organization and to function as its ambassadors with various constituencies including individuals, families, agencies, congregations and the general community. As a mission focused independent charity, partnering in community, Richmond Jewish Foundation operates in a manner similar to such charities as the San Diego Jewish Community Foundation; Jewish Community Foundation of Kansas City and Tidewater Jewish Foundation, to name a few.

Richmond Jewish Foundation is home to the Genesis Fund. Among the offerings of the Foundation are field of interest funds, special purpose funds, life income plans and donor advised funds.

Mission

The Mission of the Richmond Jewish Foundation is to enable donors to create ongoing resources to meet current and future charitable, religious, educational and scientific needs of the Jewish people and others throughout the world. The Foundation will serve as a fiscal steward for the resources it manages.

Values

Values associated with Richmond Jewish Foundation include Tzedakah , which translates as justice or charity, as well as Tikkun Olam or repair of the world.

Richmond Jewish Foundation leaders

A variety of caring professionals, business leaders, community volunteers and others steward Richmond Jewish Foundation as members of the Board of Directors. Some such leaders have been prominent. Circuit City founder Samuel Wurtzel is credited as among the early organizers of Richmond Jewish Foundation. Other prominent Virginians associated with the organization include past Investment Committee Chair Diana Cantor (who leads Virginia's College Savings Plan and is the spouse of US Congressman Eric Cantor) and current board member Jeffrey M. Lacker, Richmond Federal Reserve. Among the funds is one established by late US Congressman Norman Sisisky and his wife.

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