Chicago’s Jewish Day Schools Get $1.67m Boost

The Jewish Day School Guaranty Trust Fund, a collaboration of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the local day school community, will distribute $1,670,513 to 17 participating schools in the coming year – approximately 12 percent more than the current year. This brings the total distribution to $12.3 million since 2003.

The increased distribution this year is due, in part, to a renewed push to secure additional gifts for the endowment that sustains the Fund. Community leaders organized efforts that, as of the end of 2013, boosted commitments to the Fund by more than $2.7 million, to more than $34 million.

The annual distribution to each school is based on enrollment, and is in addition to a wide range of other support the Federation provides. That includes a $3 million allocation each year, administrative and educational training and services, security seminars, legislative and regulatory advocacy, JUF Right Start preschool tuition assistance, health programs, and tens of millions in loan guarantees for expanded facilities at individual schools.

Gifts to the Trust Fund, including testamentary gifts, are part of the Federation’s Centennial Campaign and are over and above the donors’ annual gifts to the Jewish United Fund Annual Campaign and to the individual schools.