Ways to Give

We’re working to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world, and we can’t do it without you! Learn more about the many ways you can give to American Jewish World Service to help build a better world.

Learn How to Give

Become an AJWS Supporter

By making a tax-deductible, online gift to AJWS, you’ll support social justice organizations in 17 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin American and the Caribbean. Become a monthly donor to fight injustice all year-round—or make a donation in someone’s honor. Learn more about our levels of giving here.

Make an Honorary or Memorial Gift

Celebrate someone’s birthday or honor the memory of a loved one by making a donation in their name.

Fundraise

Start a fundraising campaign for a special day or event to support global justice.

Donate by Mail or Phone

Would you prefer to send a check? No problem! Please fill out this form and make checks payable to:

American Jewish World Service
PO Box 568
Etna, NH 03750

To make a credit card donation by telephone, please call 212.792.2900.

Match Your Gift

If your company has a matching gift program, you can double or even triple your donation! Find out if your employer has a matching gift program today.

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

Make a gift to AJWS through your donor-advised fund (DAF). A donor-advised fund (DAF) enables you to support human rights with AJWS while making the most of tax benefits and seeing your investment grow.

Gift of Stock

Make a gift of appreciated stock and maximize your gift and tax savings.

Transfer Electronic Funds

To make an electronic funds transfer (ETF) to AJWS, please contact donations@ajws.org and a member of our team will share instructions for making the transfer via your banking institution.

Planned Giving

Learn how to include AJWS in your charitable estate plans to promote human rights for generations to come.

AJWS has received an “A” rating from Charity Watch (formerly the American Institute of Philanthropy) since 2004 and a top rating of four stars from Charity Navigator for 17 years. AJWS also meets all 20 of Better Business Bureau’s standards for charity accountability and has received the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is my donation tax-deductible?

    Yes, AJWS is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, which means your gift to AJWS can be deducted from your taxes. You will be provided with a gift acknowledgment that shows the amount and date of your tax-exempt donation.

  • How do I get a tax receipt (gift acknowledgment) for my donation?

    For online donations, a transaction confirmation email, which can be retained for your records, will be sent to you within a few minutes of donating. For online gifts above $1000, you will also receive a paper acknowledgment via the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) within two weeks of our receipt of your gift. If you’d like to opt-out of paper acknowledgments for your online gifts, or if you’d like to request an acknowledgment reissue for a previous gift, please contact donations@ajws.org.

    For donations made by check or money order, you will receive an acknowledgment via USPS within two weeks of our receipt of your donation.

  • Can I designate my donation to a specific grassroots organization?

    According to US tax laws, you may not designate your gift to a specific grantee, entity or individual. However, you may restrict a donation of $10,000 or more to support specific AJWS programs, such as sexual health and rights, civil and political rights, climate justice and natural resource rights or general disaster relief. AJWS requires donors to specify gift restrictions in writing.

  • Will my employer match my gift to AJWS?

    Please contact the Human Resources department where you work to inquire about your company’s policies on matching gifts. Once you have more information, please contact us at donations@ajws.org.

  • How can I make a gift of mutual funds?

    To learn more about making a gift of mutual funds, please visit our Gift of Stock page or contact Cathy Wolf at 212.792.2822 or cwolf@ajws.org.

  • How can I make an IRA gift?

    For information about making an IRA gift, please contact your financial advisor or the organization that houses your IRA and request your gift transfer to AJWS.

  • Does AJWS accept contributions of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)?

    Yes, you are permitted to direct gifts to a charitable organization through Donor Advised Funds (DAFs). Your contribution to qualifying DAFs (often held at community foundations) are treated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a charitable contribution at the time of the contribution to the DAF. You may subsequently advise as to which charitable organization or organizations distributions are to be made. IRS regulations prohibit you, your donor advisor, or your family members from receiving any benefit in excess of an incidental one as a result of the DAF distribution. Failure to adhere to these regulations could put you, the DAF, or the charitable organization receiving the gift at risk.

  • Can my DAF gift support an AJWS event?

    Yes, AJWS can accept DAF gifts supporting an event only if you do not attend the event. If you plan to attend the event, AJWS will be unable to accept your DAF contribution. A ticket or table purchase for an event may be considered an impermissible benefit resulting from a DAF distribution. Guidelines published by several Donor Advised Funds prohibit you from using the DAF distribution to cover the deductible portion of an event ticket or table price and using other (non-DAF) funds to cover the non-deductible portion. If you wish to purchase a ticket or table to a charitable event and receive the corresponding benefits, you should make a non-DAF gift.

    For more information, please consult your professional advisor.

  • I purchased a ticket or table for an event and cannot attend. Can I consider this purchase 100% tax deductible?

    The ticket or table can be considered 100% tax deductible if you return the table or ticket to AJWS prior to the event and AJWS has the opportunity to make the ticket or table available for resale. The ticket or table cannot be considered 100% tax deductible if you do not inform AJWS in advance of the event that you will not be attending. In such instances, you should claim the tax-deductible amount listed on the event invite or receipt.

  • Does AJWS share donor information?

    Please see "Sharing of Your Information" in our Donor Privacy Policy.

  • May I donate clothing or other goods for disaster relief?

    AJWS does not accept material donations, as they pose a financial and logistical burden to providing urgently needed assistance. Cash donations to AJWS are the most efficient way to give people what they need rapidly and appropriately.