named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Donor Advised Funds
Enables donors to establish charitable accounts with immediate tax deductions and recommend grants to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations over time
IRA Restricted Funds
Specialized funds that accept Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs for donors aged 70½ and older, allowing tax-advantaged giving
Legacy Society
Recognizes donors who create endowed funds and include the Foundation in their estate plans, supporting long-term community impact
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Donor-Advised Fund Grantmaking 2 activities
- Donor advising and legacy planningProvides counseling and support to individuals and families in planning charitable gifts, preserving legacies, and facilitating intergenerational education support, including research to identify and cultivate potential donors.
- Funding grants through donor-advised fundsProcesses and disburses grants to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations on behalf of donor-advised fund holders, supporting a wide range of charitable causes including education, health, environment, and social services. Annually funds over 1,100 organizations with grants totaling over $9 million.
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Student and User Data Privacy & Security 1 activity
- Ensuring donor privacy and record stewardshipMaintains restricted access to gift records, honors donor requests for anonymity, and excludes donors from published listings in accordance with its Privacy Policy.
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Endowment and Gift Fund Management 1 activity
- Establishing and managing endowments and permanent fundsCreates and manages permanent endowments, restricted funds, and charitable remainder trusts to ensure long-term stewardship of philanthropic legacies. Includes managing the Waterman Fund since 1912 and establishing endowments for institutions such as the University at Buffalo’s Department of Jewish Thought. Holds over 960 funds with total assets exceeding $340 million.
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Church and Congregation-Based Financial Aid 1 activity
- Providing financial assistance for burial and hardship reliefGrants financial support to Jewish families unable to afford burial expenses and provides aid to individuals and families facing economic or personal hardships.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Providing scholarships and financial aid to Jewish studentsOffers academic scholarships and loans to Jewish students in Western New York and provides scholarships for Jewish students to study in Israel, supporting educational advancement within the Jewish community.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognizing community leadership and philanthropyBestows the Endowment Leadership Award and Community and Corporate Leadership Awards to honor exceptional service, generosity, and commitment to the Buffalo Jewish community and Western New York.
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General Operating Support Grants 1 activity
- Supporting Jewish and community organizations through targeted grantsProvides grant funding to key Jewish institutions such as the Buffalo Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, Jewish National Fund, and Roswell Park for cancer research, reflecting a strategic focus on local, national, and global Jewish life and community needs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$33.33M
Contributions & grants$15.97M48%
Program service revenue$536K2%
Investment income$16.82M50%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$14.22M
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$687K
Grants paid out$10.50M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$271.36M
Cash$7.34M
Investments$194.96M
Liabilities$135.83M
Net assets$135.53M
Liquid reserves170.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +21.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRVING LEVY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $252K |
| RACHAEL SANDOR | CFO | 40 | $113K |
board members · 23
- ALON KUPFERMAN — DIRECTOR
- ARNOLD KAHN — HONORARY TRUSTEE
- BRUCE CORRIS — DIRECTOR
- BRUCE LEVINE — DIRECTOR
- CRAIG SMALL — VICE PRESIDENT
- DANIEL KESTER — PRESIDENT
- DAVID FEUERSTEIN — HONORARY TRUSTEE
- DONALD KOHNSTAMM — HONORARY TRUSTEE
- DR BRIAN SNYDER — DIRECTOR
- ERIC RECOON — DIRECTOR
- ESTHER QUARTARONE — DIRECTOR
- GARY GREENFIELD — HONORARY TRUSTEE
- JAKE WARNER — DIRECTOR
- JEFF BAGEL — VICE PRESIDENT
- JONATHAN SCHECHTER — HONORARY TRUSTEE
- JORDANA MAISEL — DIRECTOR
- JUDITH KATZ — HONORARY TRUSTEE
- LENORE J LEVY — HONORARY TRUSTEE
- LISA ALLEN — DIRECTOR
- MELISSA STEVENER — DIRECTOR
- MORT ABRAMSON — DIRECTOR
- PENNY HOWARD — TREASURER
- RAYMOND FINK — HONORARY TRUSTEE
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- Buffalo Jewish Community Partner — Collaborates with organizations and congregations within the Buffalo Jewish Community.
- Buffalo Jewish Federation Partner — Partner organization that receives annual income from the Waterman Fund and is responsible for annual fundraising and allocations, while the Foundation manages permanent endowment funds.
- Internal Revenue Service Government — Follows IRS rules to determine eligibility of recommended charities for grant distributions.
- Irv Levy Partner — Executive Director of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies, primary contact for establishing a fund.
- Jewish Buffalo Partner — Collaborates with families and organizations in Jewish Buffalo to support community needs.
- Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo Partner — Partner organization that receives annual income from the Waterman Fund to support special programs.
- WNY Jewish students Partner — Jewish students in Western New York who receive academic scholarships and loans
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Partnered Legacy Buildingmethodology: intergenerational legacy buildingBy partnering with families and organizations in Jewish Buffalo and empowering individuals to create philanthropic legacies, the foundation strengthens intergenerational continuity and collective impact, because shared ownership and values-based giving sustain community resilience over time.
- Donor-Advised Fund Model with Strategic Alignmentmethodology: donor-advised fund modelBy offering donor-advised funds and other tax-efficient giving vehicles, the foundation enables donors to make strategic, sustained philanthropic contributions that align personal intent with community needs, thereby increasing both donor engagement and long-term giving impact.
- Perpetual Endowment for Long-Term Community Supportmethodology: perpetual endowment managementBy managing permanent endowments and distributing funds over time, the foundation ensures sustained financial support for Jewish institutions, because long-term stewardship of capital produces greater cumulative impact than short-term funding cycles.
- Tikkun Olam through Coordinated Philanthropymethodology: tikkun_olamBy guiding philanthropy rooted in Jewish values such as charity, justice, and loving kindness, the foundation mobilizes giving that repairs the world (tikkun olam), because values-driven collective action produces deeper and more enduring social impact than transactional giving.