Jewish Family and Children's Services

JFCS of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin, and Sonoma counties serves 65,000 people annually with social services designed to strengthen individuals, families and the community.

How do you help people in my community?

Last year, JFCS provided help to strengthen the lives of 65,000 individuals of all ages and backgrounds in San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma counties. In 2008 – 2009 alone, JFCS helped:
• 110 babies to find new homes and loving families through Adoption Connection.
• 450 individuals to receive comfort through our Spiritual Care Services and Palliative and End of Life Care program.
• 600 teens to receive counseling, internships, and loans and grants for college and study in Israel through YouthFirst programs.
• 700 refugees to become citizens through our Naturalization program.
• 700 individuals to find jobs, training, and health care through our Social Enterprise program.
• 1,115 individuals to receive citizenship, green cards, political asylum, conservatorship, benefit claims, and Holocaust restitution through our Legal Services program.
• 1,550 people with disabilities to live more independently and comfortably through our Disabilities program.
• 1,660 families to receive expert help, including financial and credit counseling,
• 2,500 LGBT families to receive counseling, adoption, parenting support, and senior care through LGBT outreach initiatives.
•  them to self-sufficiency.
• 3,050 at-risk children to receive help to grow up successfully through our Early Childhood Mental Health program.
• to provide 5,000 rides to frail elderly and disabled people through JFCS RIDES transportation program.
• to deliver 6,100 bags of holiday foods to seniors and people with disabilities living alone or in nursing or assisted care facilities.
• 14,200 frail seniors to live safer, healthier, and more independent lives through our Seniors At Home program.  
• 31,000 children, teens, parents, and caregivers to receive the support they need to grow up successfully or raise happy and healthy families through our Parents Place programs.
• to provide 55,000 delicious and nutritious meals to homebound seniors and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Why do you need my support?

JFCS receives only a small percentage of its support from foundation, corporate, and government grants, including the Jewish Community Foundation. In the 2007 -2008 fiscal year, the most recent year in which data are available, JFCS received only 12 percent of its funding from such sources.

For almost 160 years, it has been the voluntary, generous support of enlightened individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations that has allowed us to care for tens of thousands of community members annually. As the costs of such care have risen dramatically in recent years, many of our friends and neighbors have recognized the vitally important work we do and have begun giving, or have increased their giving, to JFCS. In particular, they recognize our effectiveness in providing direct services to the thousands of individuals and families in the Bay Area who have been negatively affected by the current economic crisis—services that include emergency assistance, financial and credit counseling, support through our food programs and Food Pantry, and other programs that are helping to alleviate the effects of the recession. 

In addition, many in the Bay Area, as well as across the nation, recognize that JFCS’ services have continued to evolve and grow to reach communities most in need. Twenty-five years ago, JFCS was the first Jewish organization in this country to create a program to care for people with AIDS. Since then, we have enhanced the quality of life of thousands of men and women living with HIV.

JFCS also took the lead in resettling Jews from the former Soviet Union. Since the massive exodus of Jews from then-Soviet republics, we helped approximately 40,000 émigrés to the Bay Area build new lives.

Today, we are still pioneering and developing thoughtful and innovative programs, including our Child Trauma Training Institute, the Gary Shupin House – Independent Living Community for adults with developmental disabilities, and a broad range of services for older community members through our Seniors At Home program.  

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Donors appreciate that 85 percent of our operating budget goes toward direct programs and services. That means that the cost of administration and fundraising combined is only 15 percent of our budget—well below the national “gold” standard of 20 percent, or $.20/per $1.00. Charity Navigator, this country’s largest evaluator of nonprofit organizations, concurs with our donors’ assessment of our success in providing direct services to those who need it most. It has given us its highest rating: four stars.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Thousands of acts of loving kindness—paying home visits to elderly and disabled community members, tutoring youngsters, delivering meals and holiday treats to frail seniors and the homebound, providing transportation to those who cannot drive, and many other meaningful expressions of community service—are performed by more than 2,000 dedicated JFCS volunteers annually. They believe, as we do, in the reaching out to, and with others, to create a more caring community.

JFCS values all of its volunteers and welcomes your participation. We look forward to your sharing your time, talents, and caring with us and with those we serve. Whether you have an hour a week or an hour a month, JFCS has volunteer opportunities to fit your particular interests, schedule, and desire to be of service. To learn more about specific volunteer opportunities, go to www.jfcs.org/volunteer.