Who Can Join?

Membership is open to independent funders, trustees from private, supporting and public foundations*, and grant making professionals. JFN members range from grantmakers who fund as individuals, to many of the largest Jewish foundations that distribute millions to Jewish and general causes each year. It is expected that each member personally funds or is associated with a foundation that grants at least US $25,000 annually.

Trustees of donor-advised funds and supporting funds managed by public charities, if they are not yet making grants of at least US $25,000 annually, may join if the fund contains minimum assets of US $500,000. Membership dues should be calculated as if the fund was making grants equivalent to 5 percent of its assets.

*Public foundations with the primary purpose of allocating or granting funds to multiple institutions may join provided they meet the application guidelines indicated below. All information pertaining to members is held by JFN in strict confidence and is not publicly disclosed. Public foundations and non-grant making foundations pay dues as per the JFN dues scale according to their annual budget. The maximum dues these agencies are required to pay is $1,200

Applying For Membership

Individuals and foundations applying for membership (both new and renewing) are requested to submit the items indicated below. Renewing members will be given the opportunity to update this information every two years.

Independent Funders

• Completed membership application
• Annual membership fee (check or credit card accepted)
• Signed statement indicating the range of funds granted annually
• List of additional members, including name, address, telephone and email (see guidelines below)

Private Foundations (independent, family, operating foundations)

• Completed membership application
• Annual membership fee (check or credit card accepted)
• IRS determination letter
• Most recent IRS Form 990-PF complete with all schedules. Newly established foundations may submit a complete copy of IRS Form 1023.
• Copy of grant guidelines and/or a letter outlining the goal(s) of the grant program, including any limitations based on geography, field of interest or other factors
• Copy of the most recent annual report (if one is published)
• List of additional members, including name, address, telephone and email (see guidelines below)
  

Public Foundations

• Completed membership application
• Annual membership fee (check or credit card accepted)
• IRS determination letter
• Most recent IRS Form 990-PF complete with all schedules. Newly established foundations may submit a complete copy of IRS Form 1023.
• Copy of grant guidelines and/or a letter outlining the goal(s) of the grant program, including any limitations based on geography, field of interest or other factors
• Copy of the most recent annual report (if one is published)
• List of additional members, including name, address, telephone and email (see guidelines below)
• Statement affirming that grant making and program expenses meet the following criteria in the most recent fiscal year, and that such expenses are expected to reasonably meet these criteria in future years:

1. Direct grants must be at least $100,000 per year
2. At least 50 percent of the expense budget is for direct grants (these grants may not include amounts paid to subsidiary chapters or organizations, nor allocations to pre-selected grantee organizations – as in federated funds)
3. Grantees must be multiple individuals or organizations
4. Funding is predominantly private, rather than public (i.e. governmental)
   

Non-U.S. Foundations

• Completed membership application
• Annual membership fee (check or credit card accepted)
• Copy of grant guidelines and/or a letter outlining the goal(s) of the grant program, including any limitations based on geography, field of interest or other factors
• Copy of the most recent annual report (if one is published)
• Country in which the foundation is legally established
• List of additional members, including name, address, telephone and email (see guidelines below)
• Statement affirming that grant making and program expenses meet the following criteria in the most recent fiscal year, and that such expenses are expected to reasonably meet these criteria in future years:
  

1. The organization makes grants for charitable purposes
2. Direct grant program must be at least U.S. $25,000 per year
3. At least 40 percent of the total organizational budget is for direct grants to multiple individuals or organizations
4. Funding is predominantly from non-governmental sources
   

• Complete financial statements for the most recent fiscal year of operation with exhibits sufficient to document that the foundation meets the criteria described herein

Additional Members

Primary members are entitled to all membership benefits and receive all membership correspondence, program notices/invitations, complimentary publications and voting privileges at the Annual Meeting.

Board members/trustees of private foundations or up to 7 family members may benefit from the primary membership. Public Foundations are permitted 2 members who, if they are staff, must be responsible for assisting donors with grantmaking.

Additional trustee members of private and public foundations must be listed on the foundation's Form 990-PF.

Additional members of non-U.S. foundations must be listed on its financial statements.

Professional Staff - Individuals who are paid full-time grantmaking professionals may be included in the primary membership, and must be indicated as such on the additional member list which accompanies the membership application.