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Philanthropist’s Reports

Download a copy of the 2008-2009 Winter Philanthropist’s Report
 
 

 

 

 

Our Leadership


Ben Rosenberg – Chair
Michael Rubenstein – Vice Chair
Nat Levy – Secretary
Jay Kaplan – Treasurer

* Ex Officio

Margo Ackerman
Ann Baker-Ronn
Lauren Blachman
Stephen Breslauer
Mark Brookner
Steven Brown
Milton Frankfort*
Buster Freedman
Donald Freedman
Frances Friedman*
William J. Goldberg*
Leonard Goldstein
Dan Gordon
Donald M. Graubart*
Steven Graubart
Ben Guefen
Stephen M. Kaufman*
Robert E. Lapin
Alan F. Levin*
H. Fred Levine
Barry Lewis
Gerald Merfish
Esther Polland
Russ Robinson
Tom Samuels
J. Victor Samuels
Ed Schreiber
Joel Spira*
Richard Stein
Paul Strug
Linda Susman
Benjamin Warren
Joe L. Williams

Honorary Board

 

The Honorary Board of the Houston Jewish Community Foundation is comprised of community leaders, who are well versed about the Foundation, yet wear not only the Foundation "hat" but also that of the community at large. Members are respected leaders, well known to our Board, as well as the community and serve in the capacity of "advisor" on issues that might involve decision making or possibly consensus. Members would be listed on the letterhead as the Honorary Board, though they would be "ex-officio" members, or non-voting members.

  • Stanford Alexander
  • Allen Becker
  • Irving Pozmantier
  • Arthur Schechter
  • Gary Stein

 

 



About the Jewish Community Foundation

The Houston Jewish Community Foundation was established in 1985 and has helped individuals and families alike achieve their philanthropic dreams by enabling them to ensure that the community’s needs are met – now, and for generations to come – in lasting and meaningful ways.  Now, over twenty years later, the Foundation manages over $100 million in assets and has matured into a true community foundation, administering funds donated by individuals and organizations for the benefit of the Greater Houston community, both locally and nationally.  The funds are professionally managed to ensure that donors receive the greatest benefit from their charitable contributions and to ensure philanthropic dollars are used to the fullest extent.  The Investment Committee of the Foundation oversees prudent management of the funds.

The Foundation has a long-term approach to charitable giving which facilitates the charitable intentions of donors during and beyond their lifetimes.  By working with professional advisors, the Foundation is able to develop innovative philanthropic strategies with optimal tax benefits that help donors create their own personal legacy.

The Foundation is structured to advise on and receive gifts of cash, stock, bonds, life insurance, real estate, and other property, and facilitates the creation and administration of Donor Advised Funds, supporting organizations, endowments, and trusts.  The Foundation is able to offer donors an outlet for community involvement while providing them with significant tax savings and freeing them from record keeping and reporting responsibilities. 

The Houston Jewish Community Foundation benefits from the experience and dedication of local community members.  Lawyers, accountants, bankers, estate planners, financial planners, investment advisors, tax counselors, trust officers, life insurance experts and other professionals provide expert counsel through our Professional Advisory Steering Committee and various other committees. 

 

 

Our Mission


The Houston Jewish Community Foundation is a donor centered community foundation which seeks to perpetuate Jewish values and institutions through the acquisition, professional management, and distribution of charitable resources.


What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

Since 1986, hundreds of worthwhile organizations—here in Houston, across the United States, in Israel, and around the world—have benefited from the millions of dollars in distributions made through the Houston Jewish Community Foundation—organizations that support the arts, healthcare research, education, the environment, law enforcement, care for the elderly, youth programs, outreach to vulnerable populations, social action initiatives, religious pursuits, and countless other worthwhile causes. As diverse as these organizations may be, they enjoy one common denominator: the generosity of hundreds of fundholders, who have placed their trust in the Houston Jewish Community Foundation for four important reasons:

1) Our management team’s knowledge, experience, attention to detail, and personalized service, which ensures that our fundholders and their families feel well taken care of at all times.

2) Our investment performance and fee structure, both of which are competitive with other major charitable giving programs across the country.

3) Our foresight, responsiveness, and unique sensitivity to the special interests and needs of the Jewish community, which enables us to keep our fundholders informed about philanthropic opportunities which may not otherwise be brought to their attention.

4) Our unique ability to help fulfill the philanthropic goals of our donors, whose benevolence reaches across the entire spectrum of giving and includes both Jewish and non-Jewish causes.

No matter how complex or simple your charitable giving plan may be, we are well-equipped to meet your needs. The Houston Jewish Community Foundation makes it possible for you to achieve your short- and long-term philanthropic goals through a variety of Legacy Giving options:

The key to Legacy Giving is in the planning. Once you and your loved ones carefully consider all your options and determine your financial and philanthropic goals and priorities, the Houston Jewish Community Foundation will work with you and your professional advisors to create the charitable giving plan and establish the philanthropic vehicles which best enable you to realize your goals over both the short- and long-term—and ensure that you are able to leave the legacy you intend.