Orlando's JCA and Top Jewish Foundation announce formal affiliation

In a landmark agreement for both institutions, the Jewish Capital Alliance of Central Florida, Inc. and the TOP Jewish Foundation, Inc., announce the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding to expand the mission of providing low-cost Impact Loans to local Jewish institutions. The MOU establishes an outline to jointly market, manage, and fund loans to Jewish organizations throughout greater Central and West-coastal Florida. In addition, TOP will provide investment management of JCA’s $3.2MM capital portfolio.

Both JCA and TOP contribute distinct strengths to the new relationship. Since its incorporation in 2011, JCA’s has provided twenty-nine Impact Loans, exceeding $3.25MM, for institutions within the Greater Orlando Jewish community. These loans have provided expansion assistance to agencies such as the Jewish Community Centers, Jewish Family Services, and Hillel, as well as multiple synagogues and Jewish educational facilities throughout the area. Additionally, JCA has provided direct assistance to community-wide capital programs of an additional three-quarters of a million dollars.

Since its founding in 1980, TOP has expanded its Jewish philanthropic consulting, fund accounting and nonprofit investment services from the original counties of Orange, Hillsborough, and Pinellas, to communities within the Florida west coast counties of Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Pasco and Hernando; east coast counties of Brevard, Volusia, and Flagler; and central Florida counties of Alachua, Seminole and Lake. TOP’s managed asset portfolio has grown to $85MM, and today services and administers 750 funds. By affiliating with JCA, TOP’s expanded regional exposure will open opportunities to its Donor Advised Fund holders for participation in Jewish Impact Lending directly into their local communities.

Impact Lending typically provides below-market interest rate loans for assistance with capital and/or programming expansion. The JCA/TOP Lending Committee will assess the applicant organization’s business structure, financials, and mission goals. An Impact Loan is then custom-tailored to meet the organization’s needs and capabilities. The process is fast, formal, and efficient, taking into consideration the applicant’s mandatory status as a 501c3.

The JCA/TOP relationship has commenced and will formalize as of Jan. 1, 2025. During this transition time, new JCA lending activity is continuing and will be accommodated and incorporated into the new JCA/TOP relationship without interruption. Interested organizations can contact Howard Lefkowitz at Hlefkowitz@leedsholdings.com; Ed Kleiman at ed.kleiman@cedcapital.com, or Ellen Weiss at ellen@topjewishfoundation.org.