Giant Eagle, others, unveil matching grant for federation’s annual campaign

Giant Eagle, others, unveil matching grant for federation’s annual campaign

In an effort to attract new contributors and bolster existing ones, the Giant Eagle Foundation and a group of private philanthropists have offered a $100,000 matching grant challenge to the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

The grant will donate 50 cents for every new and increased dollar, up to $100,000, raised toward the Centennial Year Annual Campaign goal of $13 million.

Campaign Chair Jimmy Wagner said he can’t recall a bigger matching challenge in the campaign’s history, nor one as encompassing as this.

“Unlike past challenges, which have been smaller in nature, this year we decided to make it a communitywide challenge and publicize it.”

He described the grant challenge as a “generous” offer from the Giant Eagle Foundation and philanthropists, whom he said prefer to remain anonymous.

The twofold goal of the challenge — to attract new donors and encourage current ones to increase their gifts — is meant to push the campaign toward its goal while replacing donors lost through attrition — donors who have died, moved away or fallen on hard times themselves.

He said he’s optimistic the campaign can raise $100,000 in new or increased donations.

“I can tell you the campaign is ahead of last year,” Wagner said.

The Giant Eagle incentive is being offered as a means to celebrate the federation’s centennial.

“This remarkable opportunity allows us to raise the funds to meet the ongoing needs of the community,” federation President and CEO Jeffrey H. Finkelstein said in a prepared statement.

Contact Jessica Brown Smith, director campaign and financial resource

development, at 412-992-5248 or jsmith@jfedpgh.org for more information.

(Lee Chottiner can be reached at leec@thejewishchrnicle.net.)

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