Dear Friends of DJCF,
Much to the dismay of most male figures in my life, I am decidedly athletically challenged. In fact, the closest I’ve ever been to a locker room was during my undergraduate years in Bloomington, when I worked as an academic tutor for the athletic department.
My siblings and I all graduated from Indiana University (IU), whose football team just secured a historic win at the 2026 Rose Bowl and faces Oregon tonight in the Peach Bowl. Football is all anyone can talk about in Indiana after a season in which IU achieved its first-ever undefeated regular season, conference title, and CFP berth—shattering every historical norm for the program. One of my favorite storylines has been the dynamic between IU’s effervescent, wholesome, Heisman-winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, and the serious, rarely impressed head coach, Curt Cignetti. The social media memes comparing them to the boy scout and grumpy old man from Disney’s Up have been a personal highlight.
As we look back on the past year, I’m reminded of another 2025 story defined by grit and momentum: that of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation. The parallels between IU’s season and DJCF’s year reveal shared themes of resilience, purpose, and momentum.
“Never Daunted, We Shall Not Falter”—a line from IU’s fight song—captures the mindset that propelled the team from the losingest program in college football history to #1 in the nation. Coach Cignetti led the greatest turnaround in the sport by setting a clear goal and committing to a strategy that matched his ambition.
At DJCF, we share that same clarity of purpose. Guided by our strategic plan, we have set out to foster a vibrant community of philanthropists, embrace emerging opportunities, and strengthen our operations to meet the growing needs of the Dallas Jewish and broader community. Like IU, we exceeded expectations, expanding grantmaking to more than $41 million in the last fiscal year, launching new collaborations with private foundations and nonprofit partners, and delivering measurable impact during a year when many organizations were forced to scale back.
In December, our board chair, Mike Weinberg, had the extraordinary honor of representing DJCF on the podium at the New York Stock Exchange as the first-ever Jewish values ETF, TOV, rang the closing bell. This historic moment occurred shortly after the awful tragedy in Bondi Beach, during Hanukkah, offering a powerful moment of light in a difficult time. DJCF was proud to be among the first Jewish institutions to recognize the potential for advocacy in the corporate arena; educating investors and companies about the importance of Israel and the dangers of the boycott, divest, and sanction movement.
While no season is perfect, IU played with the belief that every game was winnable. At DJCF, our own “undefeated” record shows up in the way our fundholders, partners, and staff consistently rise to meet community needs with creativity and determination. IU proved that a team doesn’t need the biggest stadium or the flashiest recruiting class to make an impact. Likewise, DJCF continues to deliver outsized results relative to our peers, thanks to our dedicated staff, the commitment of our fundholders, and the trust our community places in us.
Much like IU’s season, our success was no accident. It came from preparation, teamwork, and a shared belief that we can shape the future of our community, not simply react to it. That mindset will carry us into the coming year as we:
- Build on our momentum. By our fiscal year end in July, we aim to reach the halfway point of our long-term goal of $1 billion in assets under management (AUM) and $50 million in annual grant volume. With $29.5 million in new fundholder contributions and $10 million in grants to nonprofits in December alone, we are incredibly close. Our current AUM stands at $440 million.
- Expand partnerships that amplify impact. We are continually exploring new ways to celebrate and strengthen our partner organizations. This year, we look forward to key milestones within the Senior Services Coalition – a collaborative effort among DJCF, The Legacy Senior Living Communities, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas, CHAI, and the Aaron Family JCC to support seniors at all stages of life. We are also launching an Angel Guarantor Program with the Dallas Hebrew Free Loan Association, inviting DAF fundholders to serve as anonymous guarantors for borrowers who lack the required two guarantors. Additionally, we will continue supporting the legacy society goals of numerous organizations and facilitating transformational gifts across our community.
- Continue investing in bold, community-centered solutions. Our staff and trustees are evaluating several emerging opportunities for DJCF to expand operations or services that fill critical gaps and use philanthropy to solve community challenges. Stay tuned, there is exciting news ahead.
As we step into 2026, I’m reminded that seasons like IU’s don’t come around often. When they do, they show us what’s possible when belief meets preparation and when a community rallies behind a shared purpose. DJCF is entering its own defining season, fueled by your generosity, your partnership, and your trust. Together, we are proving that our foundation doesn’t need the biggest platform to make the biggest impact, it simply needs people who care deeply and act boldly, holding one another to high expectations and aiming to exceed them.
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. With your continued support, I know we will keep pushing boundaries, lifting our community, and writing a story of resilience and hope that future generations will look back on with pride.
Scholarships
Scholarship season has begun at the DJCF!
- Full-time students for college scholarships now until February 16, 2026.
- Scholarships based on financial need are available for overnight Jewish camp from now until February 17, 2026.
- For more information, please click the buttons below.
Staff Openings
We have an exciting staff opportunity available! If you’re interested in joining our team and making an impact, reach out to Lisa Wile at [email protected] for more details. To access the application and review the job description, please click the button below.
Employee Spotlight: Jerry Blair
Social Media
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