Your Support Strengthens Us — As One

At the Jewish Community Alliance (JCA), we are more than an organization — we are a living, breathing expression of Jewish life in Southern Maine. Every day, we bring people together across generations and backgrounds to learn, celebrate, and care for one another. Through educational programs, cultural events, social services, and moments of connection both joyful and profound, we nurture a Jewish community that is vibrant, inclusive, and filled with compassion.


Your generosity makes this possible. Together, we:

  • Offer meaningful educational opportunities for learners of every age
  • Support families and individuals with care, connection, and community resources
  • Celebrate Jewish heritage, values, and tradition
  • Partner with organizations across Maine to build understanding and strengthen community ties
  • Extend help to those in need, here at home and across the globe



Every gift — no matter the size — builds something larger than any one of us. It ensures that Jewish life in Maine not only endures, but thrives. When you give to the JCA, you become part of a story of resilience, belonging, and hope — one we are writing together, As One.

Support the

Annual Campaign



The JCA's Annual Campaign is the heart of how we sustain and grow our work year after year. Your support ensures that the JCA can continue to offer meaningful programs, resources, and services to our community - welcoming people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests.

Read More About the '25/'26 Campaign
Support the Annual Campaign

Tree of Life Society

With deep gratitude to Rachael and Justin Alfond for pioneering this giving society in 2020, the Tree of Life Society celebrates the generosity and vision of donors who double their Annual Campaign gift each year.


This community of givers embodies tikvah — hope — for the future. By stepping forward in this way, Tree of Life members ensure that Jewish life in Southern Maine continues to flourish for generations to come.



Each gift represents faith in our collective story: that when we give as one, we nurture growth, strength, and continuity in Jewish life across Maine.

Pomegrante Society

The Pomegranate Society honors women who make a personal commitment of $1,800–$4,999 annually to the JCA’s campaign. The pomegranate, one of the seven fruits named in the Torah, is said to contain 613 seeds — one for each mitzvah. It is a symbol of abundance, compassion, and a woman’s power to nourish the Jewish people through giving.


Members of the Pomegranate Society embody these values, uniting generosity with purpose. Their philanthropy strengthens Jewish life in Maine and around the world, building bridges of connection and care.



If you are interested in joining this inspiring circle of women, we warmly invite you to reach out and learn more.

Lion of Judah

The Lion of Judah is an international sisterhood of philanthropic Jewish women who give a minimum annual gift of $5,000 and lead with courage, compassion, and conviction.


Lions of Judah stand at the forefront of Jewish giving — shaping the future, strengthening our people, and inspiring others to act. Their leadership sustains the JCA’s work here in Maine while contributing to a global movement of Jewish women who believe in the power of tzedakah to heal, uplift, and transform.



To learn more about joining this extraordinary community of women leaders, please contact us.

Ways to Give

There are many ways to support the JCA and the community we build together.
You can make a one-time, monthly, or tribute gift online or by mail. You can also explore tax-wise giving options such as gifts of stock, IRA distributions, or contributions from donor-advised funds.


Some supporters choose to extend their impact beyond their lifetime by including the JCA in their will or naming the JCA as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, life insurance policy, or financial account — a beautiful way to leave a legacy of Jewish continuity and care.


If you’d like to learn more about these opportunities or talk with us about your philanthropic goals, our Development Office would be honored to connect with you.

Contact our Development Office

Giving Options

  • How to Give

    SEND A CHECK IN THE MAIL

    Checks can be made to the Jewish Community Alliance (JCA) of southern Maine and mailed to 1342 Congress Street, Portland, ME, 04102



    USE A CREDIT CARD 

    Use our secure online platform and seclect the amount, frequency, and type of gift you would like to make. 



    CONTRIBUTE USING A DONOR-ADVISED FUND

    Contact Ashley for more information.



    CONTRIBUTE THROUGH A STOCK TRANSFER 

    Contact Ashley for more information.



    USE YOUR IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER,

    If you are 70 1/2 or older you can direct your IRA administrator to distribute a gift from an IRA to support JCA of Southern Maine. Any amount transferred counts against the required minimum distribution. To do so, contact your IRA administrator for the required paperwork. 



    SET UP A RECURRING DONATION



    NEED ASSISTANCE OR HAVE QUESTIONS?

    Contact Ashley Inbar, Chief Development Officer.

  • Tribute Gifts

    A Tribute Gift is a traditional Jewish way to mark important dates or milestones in honor or in memory of those we know and love. Just a few examples of when Tribute Gifts are especially popular: birthdays, anniversaries, religious and secular holidays alike, from Rosh Hashanah and Passover to Mother’s & Father’s Day. Many also choose to mark the passing of a respected community member or loved one through tribute gifts, or to honor someone on their Yahrzeit (the anniversary date of a death).


    When you make a Tribute Gift to the J, we notify the honoree (or the tribute’s family in the case of memorials) with a beautiful card and note of your choosing, and your gift is memorialized in our Honor Roll/Report on Giving which is distributed annually.


    Please note, Tribute Gifts require a minimum donation of $18 per card you would like sent. Tribute Gifts can be made securely online, as well as by mail and phone. When sending donations by mail, please allow a little extra time for processing and gift acknowledgement.


    Todah Rabah (thank you) for your ongoing support of the J and all the many ways it allows us to enrich our community!


    There are two types of tribute gifts: 


    Memorial (honoring someone who has died) 

    Honor (recognizing someone's accomplishment) 



    Some examples of honor gifts include: 

    • Marriage
    • Anniversary
    • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
    • Birthday
    • Graduation
    • Other meaningful milestones

  • Corporate Support

    We value our community and partnerships with local businesses. Learn how your business can support the good we do! 



    Corporate Sponsorship

    Many of our programs are made possible with support from local, caring businesses. Your corporate sponsorship has the potential to reach hundreds of households in the Southern Maine community and gives you direct access to a group of professional, well-educated, socially active, family-oriented consumers and opinion makers. Your sponsorship dollars help support our growing line of social and cultural programming. Click here to learn more information about our Corporate Sponsorship opportunities. 

  • In-kind Support

    Giving is more than dollars!


    Every year, we rely on the generous support of our community. We collect non-perishable and hygine items for our Essentials Pantry. Seasonally, we have other calls for requests, for example the annual Joe Bornstein Winter Warmth Drive. There are so many ways to get involved at the J. Contact us today for more information. 

  • Giving Circles

    Click here to learn more about Giving Circle opportunities at the JCA. 


Your generosity fuels Jewish life — here in Maine, in Israel, and around the world. Through careful stewardship, the JCA invests Annual Campaign dollars into programs and partnerships that embody our shared values: education, inclusion, compassion, and continuity.


This past year, thanks to your support, the Southern Maine Jewish community allocated $188,293 to strengthen Jewish life locally and globally. Together, As One, we ensure that Jewish learning, belonging, and hope endure for generations.

Allocations

Our local allocations invest in the institutions, programs, and creative initiatives that make Jewish life in Maine vibrant and resilient. This year, As One, we invested $104,500 in our local community — sustaining schools, cultural programs, and sacred spaces that nurture identity, connection, and pride.



Examples include:

$25,000


Serving as the only Jewish day school north of Boston, the Levey Day School welcomes community, strong academics, arts, Hebrew, and outdoor learning.

Community Theater Fund

$10,000


Nurturing creativity and Jewish storytelling, the Community Theater Project builds confidence and connection while bringing meaningful productions to life on stage.

$8,000


Bringing free, engaging lessons to Maine's middle and high schools, the Delet Program builds understanding of Jews and Judaism, supports Holocaust and World Religion studies, and combats antisemitism. 


$5,000


Offering a sacred space to mark life's transitions through ritual immersion, the mikveh, available free to partner organization members, celebrates spiritual renewal, healing, and other meaningful moments.


$5,000


Preserving and restoring the region's historic Jewish cemeteries, the Association honors our forebears in accordance with Jewish tradition, protects Jewish heritage, and keeps the memory of past generations alive.


$3,500


Fostering deep-rootedness and relationships within Maine's Jewish community, this project curates the largest repository of information about Jewish Individuals, families, businesses, institutions, and communal organizations.

Maine Jewish Film Festival

$3,000


Celebrating filmmaking and inspiring conversation through the lens of global Jewish experience, MJFF brings innovative programming and a diverse statewide audience into the dialogue. 

Local Innovation Fund

$10,000


Recognizing the diversity of our community, the JCA has set aside a portion of allocations for members to use for projects and activities that enrich and enhance Jewish life in Southern Maine.

Southern Maine Religious Schools

$35,000


Reaching across Southern Maine, religious schools enrich students with Hebrew, prayer, and Jewish values, grounding young people in an identity and tradition that lasts a lifetime. The JCA granted a total of $35,000 to local religious schools at the following synagogues: Beth Israel Congregation in Bath, Kadima Beth El, and Congregation Bet Ha'am.

Your giving also extends far beyond our borders — strengthening Jewish communities and advancing shared values of justice, dignity, and care around the world. In 2024–25, As One, we invested $76,000 overseas through trusted partners including:

Overseas Allocations

$21,000


Bringing Israel to Maine each summer, this program welcomes highly trained young adult shlichim (ambassadors) to work as members of the Center Day Camp staff.


$12,500


Bringing together over 2000 Jewish and Arab students to learn, grow, and build a shared future, Hand in Hand, an Israeli network of bilingual, integrated schools and communities founded in 1997, fosters equality, inclusion, and mutual respect through education, multicultural curricula, and active community engagement.


$12,500


Working with hundreds of needy elderly around Jerusalem, Yad LaKashish, founded in 1962, provides stimulating work opportunities, a warm community environment, and invaluable support services.


$10,000


Offering support and hope for Jews and others in need since 1914 as the world's leading Jewish humanitarian organization, the JDC provides aid, strengthens communities, and responds to crises in over 70 countries.


$10,000


Focusing on collecting and distributing surplus, nutritious food to those in need, Israel's leading food rescue organization reaches over 330k individuals.


$5,000


Supporting survivors of sexual violence in Jerusalem and beyond while working to change societal attitudes, JRCC, founded in 1981, offers a 24-hour hotline, counseling, and volunteer-led programs, providing vital care and empowering survivors in their healing and pursuit of justice.


$5,000


Unleashing young people's potential to lead fulfilling lives and positively impact the world around them, the World ORT network reaches more than 350K people each year in over 40 countries, providing a combination of high-level science and technology education with strengthened Jewish identity.


For tax purposes, our EIN is:

01-0530420