The Jewish Community Foundation fulfills its mission through its leadership in serving as a role model and teacher of family philanthropy and by communicating, educating and motivating donors by providing opportunities for philanthropy. The following programs have been created to help us inspire a wide range of families and individuals to join in our sacred mission of repairing the world.

B'nai Tzedek is designed to introduce youth who have just celebrated their Bar/Bat Mitzvah to the joys and pleasures of tzedakah. B'nai Tzedek ("children of justice") teaches youth about the value and rewards of philanthropy, and provides an exciting way to give and become involved with local Jewish organizations.

J-LEAD (Jewish Leadership, Education, Action and Development) is a program dedicated to encouraging young Jewish adults in Kansas City to join together to make a substantive impact on the Jewish community through fundraising, education and volunteering. J-LEAD helps Kansas City’s young professionals better understand Jewish philanthropy, encourages the establishment of roots in the community and further develops their leadership skills. The goal of J-LEAD is to provide a means of combining the spirit and resources of its members to achieve a greater good than any one member could do alone.

The Endowment Book of Life honors those who have made arrangements for a permanent commitment of $10,000 or more to the Jewish Community Foundation. The Endowment Book of Life is a beautifully designed book on permanent display at the Jewish Community Campus, and is inscribed with each donor’s photo and personal story of commitment and motivation. This inspirational book reflects our people’s proud philanthropic traditions: a promise from one generation to the next that the values of our Jewish heritage will be preserved and that community resources will be available for future generations.