GIVE

Support Federation’s Work

Connect with our Community - Locally and Globally

Since 1913, we have helped sustain and improve the quality of Jewish life in New Orleans, in Israel, and around the world. Along with our partners, Jewish Federations across North America, we act nationally and globally on challenges such as antisemitism, Israel advocacy and the quality of Jewish life for Jews everywhere, and we offer support to those affected by disasters.

Our work ensures the vitality of our local Jewish community through program and relational engagement, support for formal and informal Jewish education, grants and scholarships to individuals and agencies and so much more. We also support Jewish communities in Israel and around the world.

Find Your Philanthropic Journey

As philanthropists we are the change-makers and community-shapers of the world. Our Lions of Judah, for example, are sisters and daughters, mothers and friends, compassionate and committed women at every stage of life. The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans offers many paths to engage in the fulfilling work of tikkun olam. Our collective philanthropy enriches our own lives while improving the lives of others.

To learn more about the Federation Community Campaign and its giving levels, please contact Lisa McCaffety-Scott, Chief Development Officer, at lisa@jewishnola.com.

Donor Resources

Giving Levels

Chai Society

The Chai Society recognizes JNOLA donors (ages 21-39) who give either $180 individually or $360 per household each year to the Community Campaign. JNOLA hosts an annual celebration of Chai Society members.

Major Donor

Major donors who give a minimum annual household gift of $10,000 are celebrated in our community annually at the Goldring-Woldenberg Major Donor Dinner, and receive invitations to other special events and Jewish Federations of North America missions.

Ben-Gurion Society

The Ben-Gurion Society is our community for emerging philanthropists giving $1,000 or more to our Community Campaign.

King David Society

The King David Society is a community of philanthropists who contribute between $25,000 and $99,000 to our Community Campaign.

Lion of Judah

The Lion of Judah was established to celebrate a woman’s commitment to the worldwide Jewish community through a minimum annual household gift of $5,000 - wherever Jews live, wherever Jews are in need. Lions are feted annually at the Lion of Judah luncheon.

Prime Minister’s Council

Members of the Prime Minister's Council are the Jewish Federation's leaders in giving, contributing more than $100,000 each year to our Community Campaign.

Cultivating Jewish scholars
Tulane Hillel provides college students with vital Jewish programming on campus, from leadership training to holiday services. A gift of $1,500 funds Hillel’s landmark program, Tulane Jewish leaders, enabling students to be social action leaders on campus.
Strengthening Jewish identity
A $3,000 gift helps support the Jewish Community Day School’s Hebrew as a Living Language program, which connects JCDS students to the land, language, culture and people of Israel. Using digital technology, this year’s third, fourth and fifth graders are learning Hebrew online with a teacher from Jerusalem. Your gift allows JCDS to upgrade its technological equipment to create better connections between school, home, and Israel.
Providing assistance to the disabled and elderly
Jewish Family Service’s (JFS) Homemaker Program offers in-home assistance to disabled and/or older adults. Since 1975, JFS homemakers have been helping people with tasks of daily living, ensuring both the safety and independence of individuals in their home. $1,350 provides six months’ worth of weekly visits from a Homemaker.
Resettleing Immigrants
Over this past decade, the Jewish Agency for Israel has noted a surprising trend: global Aliyah to Israel is up more than 55%. A majority of these immigrants are coming from Europe, due to a marked rise in anti-Semitic attacks in France and the continuing war in Ukraine. Ukrainian Aliyah alone will surpass 5,000 by the end of this year. $5,000 helps an immigrant adjust to a new life in Israel, providing six months of invaluable education, counseling and social support.
Enhancing quality of life for the aging
$6,000 will provide a senior with transportation to and from our Jewish Community Center three times per week for one year for social and recreational programming - including chair exercise classes, recreational opportunities such as luncheons, games days, the Morris Bart, Sr. Lecture Series at the J, and field trips provided by the Seniors On the Go program. Combined, these offerings enhance the quality of life in the aging population in a respectful and loving manner.
Rescuing the most vulnerable
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has worked tirelessly to protect vulnerable Jews in Ukraine during the ongoing war. Currently, thousands Ukrainian Jews are displaced and/or living in refugee camps. In Lugansk, shootings on the streets are common, supermarkets are closed, most medications are unavailable and ATMs are out of order—but JDC is providing relief to those most in need. An increase of $360 can provide emergency aid to a displaced Jewish family.
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Endowing Your Federation Gift

The Lion of Judah Endowment (LOJE) is an endowment component of the Lion of Judah program. A LOJE is created by establishing a minimum fund of $100,000 or more in the donor’s name, ensuring the perpetuation of a donor’s Lion of Judah level annual campaign gift. A LOJE is a permanent restricted fund, a component of the national PACE or Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment program of The Jewish Federations of North America. PACE is an endowment vehicle at any amount, so long as it perpetually endows your gift.

The Lion of Judah Endowment is a powerful statement of a donor’s commitment to tzedakah, providing a legacy for herself, her family and her community. Establishing a LOJE allows women the opportunity to take the extra step to endow their gift in perpetuity. A LOJE may also choose to enhance her Lion of Judah pin by adding a flame, known in Hebrew as or l’atid, to recognize this commitment.

How can I create a LOJE?

Every woman has a unique family and financial situation. In recognition of different estate planning and tax objectives, a LOJE can be easily and positively designed to match an individual’s personal circumstances in a beneficial way. 

Our partners at the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana (JEF) will work with you to design a Lion of Judah Endowment to help you realize your philanthropic vision, and, at the same time, meet the required criteria. There are various ways to create endowments, many of which do not have to be funded during your lifetime.

A LOJE fund is not intended to substitute for any part of a gift to our Community Campaign. LOJE funds are invested and prudently managed for maximum yield.

New Orleans has: 95 Lions of Judah  |  37 Lions of Judah Endowments  |  21 Perpetual Community Annual Campaign Endowments

Lion of Judah Giving Levels

The cost of the 14 karat gold Lion of Judah pin is dependent upon the current value of gold, and may be purchased by the woman herself.  Each year that a woman sustains or increases her minimum $5,000 household gift, she is eligible to add a small diamond set into the pin.  

Lion of Judah – Diamond $5,000

Ruby Lion of Judah – $10,000

Sapphire Lion of Judah – $18,000

Emerald Lion of Judah – $25,000

Double Chai Lion of Judah – Amethyst Diamond – $36,000

Zahav Lion of Judah – Canary Diamond – $50,000

Sabra Lion of Judah – Cognac Diamond – $75,000

Prime Minister’s Council Lion of Judah – White Gold with Black Diamond – $100,000

International Leadership Reunion Lion of Judah – White Gold Diamond Pave – $250,000

To learn more about endowing your gift, or about how to create a Jewish legacy, contact Debbie Berins at debbie@jefno.org.