The Jaffe Family Foundation appears to focus its philanthropy on supporting Jewish community philanthropic infrastructure, demonstrated by a single very large grant to the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego. The foundation’s giving is regionally oriented (Southern California) and oriented toward long‑term endowment or philanthropic capacity rather than many small program grants. This pattern suggests the donor prioritizes centralized, institutional vehicles that steward Jewish community resources and grantmaking locally.
A single $8.74 million unrestricted grant to the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego defines Jaffe Family Foundation - Agy’s recent giving. That award stands far above the rest of the foundation’s 2024 record and points to a donor strategy centered on Jewish communal philanthropy and institutional stewardship. The foundation’s other recent grants show a mix of support for endowment-building, scholarship pledges, and event-based fundraising, with many awards routed through established community organizations rather than direct program delivery. The pattern includes a $100,000 annual pledge to Orangewood Foundation for Samueli Academy, a $100,000 capital campaign commitment to Congregation Shir Ha-ma Alot, and a $45,000 scholarship commitment to the National Outdoor Leadership School. Smaller gifts also reach arts, food security, youth services, and health-related nonprofit events, but the heaviest support goes to organizations that can hold and direct philanthropic capital over time. Recent recipients include Jewish Federation and Family Services of Orange County, City of Hope, and Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach, reflecting a locally oriented donor profile with a strong institutional bias.
Jewish communal infrastructure is the clearest theme in the foundation’s grant list. Beyond the large gift to the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, the foundation gave $25,000 to Jewish Federation and Family Services of Orange County for its Generations Fund, linking its philanthropy to community endowment and continuity. Education appears through both scholarship and school support. The foundation awarded $45,000 to the National Outdoor Leadership School for scholarships tied to the Step Forward campaign, and it also made a $2,500 grant to Chapman University for Holocaust education. Youth-oriented and family-serving organizations also receive support. Grants include $80,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach for development of “The Dream Play Yard” skate park conversation, and $100,000 to Orangewood Foundation for Samueli Academy under a five-year pledge. Event-linked philanthropy is another recurring mode, with gifts directed to gala, luncheon, and paddle-raise efforts across health and community nonprofits.
$8.7M
$0
$264K
$8.8M
Most grants fall between $3K and $40K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$40K
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Highly concentrated giving: one very large, likely strategic or endowment gift to a single regional Jewish community foundation rather than multiple small or programmatic grants.
Notable grantees: Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego
Typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $7,500 at the median, and $40,000 at the 75th percentile, but the distribution is pulled upward by a very large institutional grant. The foundation also uses multi-year pledges, including a five-year commitment to Orangewood Foundation and another five-year commitment to Congregation Shir Ha-ma Alot. Its recent record shows repeated support to some recipients in the same year, such as multiple awards to Eco Center Inc, City of Hope, Human Options Inc, Orangewood Foundation, and Oceana Inc. The organization funds individuals as well as institutions, and it does not make program-related investments.
Grants are overwhelmingly local, with 87% going to recipients in California. The largest concentration of recipient cities appears in Orange County and nearby Southern California communities, including San Diego, Irvine, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and San Juan Capistrano. Outside California, the foundation’s recent grants also reached Lander, Wyoming; Aspen, Colorado; Miami Gardens, Florida; and Elburn, Illinois. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the recent grants listed.
The recent grants point to Jewish communal philanthropy, endowment support, scholarship funding, youth programming, and event-based fundraising. Examples include a $8.74 million unrestricted gift to the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, a $25,000 grant to Jewish Federation and Family Services of Orange County for its Generations Fund, and a $45,000 scholarship commitment to the National Outdoor Leadership School.
Yes. The recent grants include a five-year $100,000-per-year pledge to Orangewood Foundation for Samueli Academy and a five-year $100,000-per-year capital campaign commitment to Congregation Shir Ha-ma Alot.
The typical grant size is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $7,500 at the median, and $40,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent giving also includes much larger commitments, including an $8.74 million unrestricted grant and several $100,000 awards.
It gives most often in California, with 87% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include San Diego, Irvine, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and San Juan Capistrano.
The list includes unrestricted support, capital campaign funding, scholarship support, and event-linked gifts. Examples range from unrestricted grants and capital campaign awards to support for gala fund-a-need efforts, paddle raises, luncheon sponsorships, and scholarship pledges.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $8,743,876 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ECO CENTER INC | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $208,333 | 2023 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| ECO CENTER INC | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $164,570 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CONGREGATION SHIR HA-MA ALOT | IRVINE, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | "MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE" CAPITAL CAMPAIGN(5 YEAR GRANT $100,000/YEAR) |
| CITY OF HOPE | DUARTE, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | FUND-A-NEED - RESTRICTED TO QC-PRESIDENT'S VENTURE FUND- 2022 QC HOPE GALA |
| ORANGEWOOD FOUNDATION | SANTA ANA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | SAMUELI ACADEMY PLEDGE(5 YEAR GRANT $100K/YR.) |
| ORANGEWOOD FOUNDATION | SANTA ANA, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | SAMUELI ACADEMY PLEDGE(5 YEAR GRANT $100K/YR.) |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LAGUNA BEACH | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $80,000 | 2023 | DEVELOPMENT OF "T HE DREAM PLAY YARD" SKATE PARK CONVERSATION |
| CITY OF HOPE | DUARTE, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | IN SUPPORT OF SPIRIT OF LIFE GALA; NO BENEFITS RECEIVED |
| NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL | LANDER, WY | $45,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS PER THE PLEDGE FORM/STEP FORWARDCAMPAIGN |
| JEWISH FEDERATION AND FAMILY SERVICES OF ORANGE COUNTY | IRVINE, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERATIONS FUND |
| OCEANA INC | IRVINE, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | SEACHANGE EVENT |
| COMMUNITY AGROECOLOGY NETWORK | SANTA CRUZ, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CITY OF HOPE | DUARTE, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | PADDLE RAISE - 2022 CIA SPIRIT OF LIFE GALA |
| HUMAN OPTIONS INC | IRVINE, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | SPRING GALA - SERIOUS FUN |
| HUMAN OPTIONS INC | IRVINE, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | FALL LUNCHEON SUPPORT |
| DOLPHINS CYCLING CHALLENGE INC | MIAMI GARDENS, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | JONATHAN JAFFE RIDER SPONSORSHIP |
| HORSEPOWER THERAPEUTIC RIDING | ELBURRN, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ORANGEWOOD FOUNDATION | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | ORANGEWOOD ADVENTURE CHALLENGE/JEREMY PARNESS |
| DANCE DOWNTOWN LA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DOWN FOR DANCE | NEWPORT BEACH, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OCEANA INC | IRVINE, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | PADDLE RAISE AT OCEANA'S 2022 NEW YORK GALA |
| SAMUELI ACADEMY | SANTA ANA, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | AN EVENING WITH SAMUELI ACADEMY LIVE-ASK PLEDGE |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF ORANGE COUNTY INC | IRVINE, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | ANNUAL HARVESTERS LUNCHEON, "GOLDEN HARVEST" LEVEL |
| NEW DIRECTIONS FOR WOMEN INC | COSTA MESA, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHP 11 99 FOUNDATION | FULLERTON, CA | $3,009 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CONGREGATION SHIR HA-MA ALOT | IRVINE, CA | $2,785 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MOUNTAIN RESCUE ASPEN INC | ASPEN, CO | $2,500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | ORANGE, CA | $2,500 | 2023 | HOLOCAUST EDUCATION |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | COSTA MESA, CA | $2,000 | 2023 | GREATEST NEEDS FOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING |
| RYMAN CARROLL FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,500 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LOS ANGELES SOUTH HOPE FOUNDATION | CARSON, CA | $1,500 | 2023 | FOR COMMIT TO SOMETHING GREATER-SPRING FUNDRAISER |
| IMPACT GIVING | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $1,250 | 2023 | PARTNER DUES WITH IMPACT |
| ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | NEWPORT BEACH, CA | $1,000 | 2023 | BIG CANYON COUNTRY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP |
| PULMONARY FIBROSIS FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2023 | 2022 PFF WALK - SHELLEY WHITEHOUSE/TEAM WHITEHOUSE SPONSORSHIP |
| SALLY'S FUND INC | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $500 | 2023 | SUNSET IN EMERALD BAY |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LAGUNA BEACH | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $500 | 2023 | HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE |
| GLENNWOOD HOUSING FOUNDATION | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $500 | 2023 | GRATITUDE FOR GLENWOOD |
CONGREGATION SHIR HA-MA ALOT
$100,000"MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE" CAPITAL CAMPAIGN(5 YEAR GRANT $100,000/YEAR)
FUND-A-NEED - RESTRICTED TO QC-PRESIDENT'S VENTURE FUND- 2022 QC HOPE GALA
SAMUELI ACADEMY PLEDGE(5 YEAR GRANT $100K/YR.)
DEVELOPMENT OF "T HE DREAM PLAY YARD" SKATE PARK CONVERSATION
NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL
$45,000TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS PER THE PLEDGE FORM/STEP FORWARDCAMPAIGN
JEWISH FEDERATION AND FAMILY SERVICES OF ORANGE COUNTY
$25,000GENERATIONS FUND
OCEANA INC
$25,000SEACHANGE EVENT
HORSEPOWER THERAPEUTIC RIDING
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
DOWN FOR DANCE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
OCEANA INC
$5,000PADDLE RAISE AT OCEANA'S 2022 NEW YORK GALA
SAMUELI ACADEMY
$5,000AN EVENING WITH SAMUELI ACADEMY LIVE-ASK PLEDGE
ANNUAL HARVESTERS LUNCHEON, "GOLDEN HARVEST" LEVEL
CHP 11 99 FOUNDATION
$3,009UNRESTRICTED
CONGREGATION SHIR HA-MA ALOT
$2,785UNRESTRICTED
MOUNTAIN RESCUE ASPEN INC
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$2,000GREATEST NEEDS FOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING
RYMAN CARROLL FOUNDATION
$1,500UNRESTRICTED
LOS ANGELES SOUTH HOPE FOUNDATION
$1,500FOR COMMIT TO SOMETHING GREATER-SPRING FUNDRAISER
IMPACT GIVING
$1,250PARTNER DUES WITH IMPACT
2022 PFF WALK - SHELLEY WHITEHOUSE/TEAM WHITEHOUSE SPONSORSHIP
SALLY'S FUND INC
$500SUNSET IN EMERALD BAY
GLENNWOOD HOUSING FOUNDATION
$500GRATITUDE FOR GLENWOOD