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User Not Found | Jan 06, 2026
THE SECOND PHASE OF A MATCHING PROGRAM HELPS ENSURE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba is proud to announce the launch of FundMatch II, a follow-up to the incredibly successful FundMatch pilot program.
In 2012, we launched FundMatch, an initiative funded by the JFM and generous community members, to encourage Jewish charities to grow their Organizational Endowment Funds.
Organizational Endowment Funds are a tool for charities to build for the future. The annual distribution garnered from their growth greatly aids in budgeting and operational planning. The revenue from these endowments bolsters organizations, leading to added financial stability as they endeavour to provide their irreplaceable community service.
Now, 13 years later, sixteen organizations have embraced this opportunity and collectively added nearly $17 million to their endowments. The buy-in from participating organizations led to fundraising campaigns that earned $900,000 in matching dollars, and their combined distribution grew from $163,000 to $1.18 million annually.
“The success of FundMatch and the growth of these Organizational Endowment Funds mean stable, robust and impactful community agencies,” says John Diamond, JFM CEO.
Currently, charitable organizations are experiencing the effects of reduced public spending and declining government funding, resulting in an increased reliance on fundraising and grants. With increased requests for grants, resources are stretched thin, and funds cannot be guaranteed.
In the face of this, thriving endowments are another tool that helps provide stability during economic uncertainty in a way only they can, and matching funds for gifts help expedite the growth of an organization’s annual income.
“Matching gifts are an overwhelmingly compelling incentive for gift-giving,” explains Diamond. “Donors give to causes near and dear to their hearts, and when their donations are matched, the decision to give becomes even easier.”
A primary focus for the JFM is encouraging agencies to allocate their resources toward long-term goals and providing the tools to make that happen. Endowment building is not a pursuit of immediate gratification, and with the increasing strain on annual budgets is not always the first method of fundraising that charities choose to pursue.
On October 30, we held a learning session for our community organizations. The session was intended to inform and educate the leaders of eligible agencies about FundMatch II and provide ideas about how to utilize this opportunity.
“Ultimately, the goal of FundMatch II is to help create a self-sustaining Jewish Community,” says Diamond. “The stability of our future dependson the foresight of our current members, and a forward-looking mindset from our organizations.”
FundMatch II offers the opportunity to continue along the path its predecessor charted, serving as an incentive to build organizational endowments and a fundraising tool for fundraisers to use when speaking with donors.
The Asper Foundation has returned in its role as the lead supporter of FundMatch II, committing to $250,000 in matching gifts over the next five years.
“We were proud to be there initially, with a lead gift helping launch the pilot FundMatch program,” said Anita Wortzman, President of The Asper Foundation at the FundMatch II launch. “We want to motivate others to set up endowments to ensure long-term sustainability of key Jewish agencies, and we’re now seeing the growth of the sustainability we hoped to inspire when we first supported FundMatch. That first initiative generated tremendous value, and we’re eager to see that success continue.”
As a donor, you have countless options for giving. Endowment building stands out among those options as the most powerful way to ensure stability now and in the future. Gifts to an endowment create lasting impact, providing ongoing support for the organization well into the years ahead.
As you consider your philanthropic goals each year, we encourage you to connect with the charities close to your heart and discuss their endowment funds with them. A gift to an endowment, especially when matched through FundMatch II, creates meaningful, lasting change for you and the organizations you care about.
FundMatch II presents you with a golden opportunity to launch your Organizational Endowment into a new phase of growth, and we are thrilled to assist you along the way.
For more information please contact Stephanie Casar, Director of Development and Gift Planning at 204.202.7377 or by email at [email protected]