• Philosophy
    • Q: What is JChoice?
      A: JChoice.org – the website for the next generation of giving – is a non-profit organization that supports overlooked and meaningful Causes embodied in Jewish values. JChoice offers a social network for learning and consciousness raising that connects these important Causes with the next generation of contributors.

      JChoice facilitates and broadens the opportunity for individuals to perform Tzedakah (charitable giving) through an organization global in reach and open to helping many deserving Causes in the United States and Israel.
    • Q: What is JChoice’s mission?
      A: JChoice’s mission is to empower the next generation of contributors to learn and experience the Mitzvah of Tzedakah and become more thoughtful in their relationship to society.

    • Q: What Cause is worthy of our attention as a Jewish community?
      A:

      A Cause worthy of our attention as a Jewish community is one whose mission embodies core Jewish values that may include, for example, saving a life, repairing the world, or protecting the earth .

    • Q: What role does education play in JChoice?
      A: One of the most exciting elements of JChoice is the opportunity for the JChoice community to learn and engage each other about Tzedakah. The JChoice website features music, videos, and wisdom relating to Tzedakah and our obligations to participate as a giving community.

       
      Not only can we learn about our obligations, but we can communicate about them with a network of equally concerned individuals.
    • Q: What does JChoice have to do with a Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
      A: Being that the Bar or Bat Mitzvah was intended to occur at the beginning of one’s Jewish journey into adulthood, we have chosen to focus most of our initial campaign efforts on this age group. If a person begins adulthood by performing Tzedakah (which “is as important as all the other commandments put together” -- Baba Batra 9a, Babylonian Talmud), then, presumably, that person will perform Tzedakah for the rest of his or her life.

      As a result, many of the Causes that JChoice features are particularly meaningful to this age group. Nevertheless, persons of any age can also consider themselves part of “the next generation of contributors,” and we encourage their participation in JChoice.
    • Q: How does JChoice provide the Bar or Bat Mitzvah student an opportunity to make clear, relevant connections with his or her D’var Torah, Mitzvah project, and choices of Tzedakah as they relate to the larger global community?
      A: The opportunity to expand the Bar or Bat Mitzvah experience in a vibrant and dynamic way within a larger global community of peers has not been possible until now.

      JChoice is launching in the spring of 2009 with several contests and Tzedakah promotion opportunities (Yes, students will be able to win money to give away to their Causes of choice!)  One contest involves the creation of a “donor reflection” video featuring the experience of an individual’s Tzedakah efforts.   Another contest involves the submission of D’var Torah projects featuring values in action, wisdom experienced, and Mitzvah projects that show the high levels of thoughtfulness and involvement of Bar and Bat Mitzvah students.
       
      Over time, JChoice members will be able to learn from each other and network about their concerns and accomplishments as they deepen their relationship to important Jewish values they admire.
    • Q: Why should I use JChoice?
      A:  

      JChoice provides the online ability to easily search, compare, and select a Cause closest to your heart and donate directly to it. In many cases, small non-profit organizations do not have the mechanism to receive online donations, and even if they do, they are rarely directed to a specific project.  
    • Q: Are there laws relating to Tzedakah?
      A: There are numerous laws and traditions relating to Tzedakah. The most basic Tzedakah law mandates that we are obligated to give. Although this is an obligation, there is a great spiritual value found in the process of “giving of ourselves” which interestingly makes us “a whole person.” For thousands of years, Jewish tradition has taught that we become better humans when we act outward, performing commandments and good deeds (Mitzvot) while treating all people with dignity.

    • Q: How does JChoice hope to stay relevant to the youth of today?
      A: JChoice is both an attractive, appealing website AND a social network that empowers this online generation to explore Jewish values in action and discover their own character growth and heightened consciousness. At JChoice, the individual makes his or her own Tzedakah choices; group consensus is not required.

      In addition, JChoice is creating ways for teens to get involved through YouTube videos and other viral sensations.
  • Financial
    • Q: How can I donate money?
      A: Donations may be made via credit card, check, or money order.  You can also buy a JChoice Gift Card and give it as a gift for lifecycle events, and in honor or in memoriam. 

       

    • Q: Is there a minimum donation?
      A: Every donation makes a difference. The minimum donation is $18.00. Larger donations (divisible by 18) are most welcome. In Jewish tradition, the number eighteen is symbolically special because it is the numeric equivalent of the letters that spell “Chai” (Life).

      The message at JChoice is the same as the message of Tzedakah: It is not how much you give, but simply the fact that you give something.

    • Q: Can I use any credit card to make a donation?
      A: JChoice accepts most major international credit cards:  VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

    • Q: How much of my donation actually gets to the Cause I select?
      A: JChoice allocates 90 percent of your donation directly to the cause. As a public charitable organization, JChoice’s operations are transparent, reported as required by law on a regular basis. Our goal is to enable a greater thoughtfulness in society, which includes our own effectiveness. (For more details see "How is JChoice Funded?")

    • Q: Is my contribution tax deductable?
      A: The parent of JChoice.org – Jewish Causes of Choice, Inc. – is a US 501(c)(3) organization, which means that 100 percent of every donation to JChoice is tax-deductible under the US tax code.

    • Q: How do I track my donations?
      A: Once you become a member of JChoice, you can easily track the history of your donations online.

    • Q: Will I receive a receipt for my donation? From whom?
      A: You will receive a tax deductable receipt by email for all transactions from Jewish Causes of Choice, Inc., the parent of JChoice.org.

    • Q: How can I be sure that the money was used for the purposes of the donation?
      A: Every JChoice cause will submit an annual report providing extensive financial reporting for the period covered, a narrative description of grant activities, and detailed information on program objectives and milestones consistent with the application the cause originally filed with JChoice. Additionally, visits from JChoice field officers will be scheduled with each grantee so that we may evaluate the use of the funds. 

    • Q: Does JChoice have any say about how the money received from a donor is spent?
      A: All JChoice causes sign a grant agreement with JChoice to use JChoice-allocated funds only in the manner as declared on their Tzedakah application. Any cause that improperly uses funds will be required to repay JChoice any portion of the funds not used for the purposes identified in the Tzedakah application and the grant agreement, including any unexpended funds. All donors who contributed to that cause will be notified and money returned to JChoice will go back into the donor’s accounts for redistribution.

    • Q: When do the causes receive funds from JChoice?
      A: When the total balance pledged to a cause reaches $500.00 a check or electronic transfer will be made to that cause within the next calendar month. The cause receives exactly 90 percent of the allocated amount. (For more details, see "How is JChoice Funded?")

    • Q: How is JChoice Funded?
      A: JChoice is a new model in giving and in Tzedakah.

      At the current time, 10 percent of JChoice donations are retained by the parent of JChoice.org, Jewish Causes of Choice, Inc., a non-profit, tax exempt organization, to help defray the expenses of JChoice program administration. These costs include the evaluation of JChoice causes, credit card and transaction fees (which can run as high as five percent of total donations), web hosting, maintenance and content, financial reporting, educational content, and support of staff.
       
      The remaining amount of JChoice expenses are generously donated by a group of philanthropists who want to enable the next generation of contributors, and believe that a lifetime of giving should start early in life.
       
      JChoice encourages donors to give a tax-exempt donation to the capital campaign of Jewish Causes of Choice, Inc., so that we can achieve our goal of having 100 percent of allocated funds go directly to the important causes we highlight on JChoice.org. When donating to a JChoice cause, donors may also choose to donate an additional 10 percent directly to JChoice to help defray expenses.
    • Q: Does JChoice take donations? How will the funds be used?
      A: Absolutely!  The vision of our founders is to create a JChoice endowment, the income of which will be used to pay any and all of our administrative expenses. We believe that by limiting our administrative costs and judiciously applying our future donations, we will be able to make their dream a reality.

      If our capital campaign is as successful as we believe it can be, we will take JChoice to the highest level possible – that is, 100 percent of our donations will go to the causes chosen by the participants.  Please note the general rule for fundraising organizations is that administrative costs of 35 percent or less are considered excellent.  We are starting off at less than one-third of that figure (10 percent) … we are already an A+! 
       
      We encourage every donor to check the box to donate an additional 10 percent to JChoice, so that the day when we can begin full allocations comes sooner.
    • Q: Are there ways that I can give in a non-monetary way?
      A: There are many ways to help us advocate for Tikkum Olam without spending money.

      Are you on Facebook? We started a jchoice.org fanclub. You could join with one click and invite your friends in a few minutes.  In this simple act of support, you will bring more attention to our new social network. Since we just launched, every positive word about us really helps.

      Also, joining is free. You can open a profile and experiment. If you load in a d'var Torah, or make a video reflection, you can earn $18 each into your Tzedakah account to give away. If your entry is selected as a monthly winner, you can earn $180 to give away to Tzedakah!

      Each cause has ways to get involved on their page as well. As you find the causes that you care about, you are welcome to contact them and reflect about it on your profile, too.

    • Q: Is JChoice.org PCI compliant?
      A: When you make a contribution on JChoice.org, your credit card information is collected and processed by our secure third-party credit card vendor First Data. No data is stored on JChoice.org servers.

    • Q: Is JChoice a Donor Advised Fund?
      A: JChoice.org enables you to establish a donor-advised fund at no cost and with no minimum contribution. When you make a contribution to your JChoice.org account, you are making a charitable donation to a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity. Consequently, you are entitled to receive the maximum tax deduction allowed by law. You no longer need to track receipts from multiple charities.  You receive your tax receipt from JChoice.org. We provide reports on all activity related to your fund that you can access online at your convenience. At this time, individual account balances do not accrue interest or receive dividends. JChoice.org does retain any interest earned on these balances to simplify bookkeeping and to help offset administrative and programmatic costs.

       

       

       

       

       

      Since the maximum tax deduction is received by the donor at the time of the gift, JChoice.org gains full control over the contribution, granting the donor advisory status. As such, JChoice.org is not legally bound to the donor, but make grants to other public charities upon the donor's recommendation.

      JChoice.org cannot honor prior pledges that you have made to an organization. This is a personal obligation that you have entered into and cannot be honored through your JChoice.org account.

      You cannot receive anything of value in return for your donation.

  • Causes
    • Q: Which causes are included in the JChoice site?
      A: There are well over a million charitable causes available online these days, a rather daunting figure when asked to make a “choice.” The mission of our JChoice Causes Department is to primarily help the most overlooked and underfunded causes acquire their necessary funds through JChoice.org, in order to continue their work of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).  JChoice will also help “well known” causes if they are considered “meaningful” to the next generation of donors.

    • Q: What is an overlooked cause?
      A: An overlooked cause may include one that is not well known or is relatively new to the non-profit world. It may have a small staff, limited budget and/or facilities, or be mainly staffed by volunteers.

    • Q: How do I know that a JChoice Cause is legitimate?
      A: At JChoice, there are very detailed and thoughtful evaluation criteria all causes must pass that look at their impact and effectiveness as well as  projects and programs offered. You may view a Cause application on the “Becoming a JChoice Cause” page from the About JChoice link.

    • Q: Do charities pay to become a cause on JChoice?
      A: There is no fee to be approved as a cause on JChoice.

    • Q: How is it possible for “Percent of Overhead Expenses” to sometimes be “0 percent”?
      A: Sometimes a larger organization (like a synagogue) is acting as an umbrella organization over a smaller program for which funding is being requested. They are providing the administrative support so that 100 percent of the donation goes to the program itself.

    • Q: What is an organizational budget and how does JChoice evaluate the use of its funds?
      A: An organization’s budget usually consists of two parts: Program Expenses and Overhead Expenses. “Program Expenses” are those costs directly related to the running of the organization’s program. “Overhead Expenses” are those costs involved in running the organization itself including administration and fundraising.

      When giving Tzedakah, one wants to donate to those organizations that are the most efficient users of funds. The lower the percent of “overhead expense,” the more Tzedakah-efficient an organization is.
       
      While this formula helps assess an organization’s use of their funds, it is also important to consider how “effective” an organization is with their money in relationship to their mission. It is important to remember that in some cases, the “overhead expenses” may be supporting more than one program. In many cases, the most effective organizations use of funds does not translate exactly to a rigid formula.
       
      Our evaluation process takes all these factors into consideration so that JChoice may help and support unusual and overlooked programs.
    • Q: How does an organization become a JChoice Cause?
      A: Any charity, program, or organization may download and complete a Tzedakah grant application from our website at any time. We have rolling admissions and intend full capacity to be 10 causes for each of our 18 cause categories.

      Once approved, the organization will be notified of their acceptance and profiled on our site. Over the next year, we will follow up on a regular basis with phone calls and visits to monitor the organization’s use of provided funding. We want to make sure the received funding is being used directly for the profiled program.

      Every organization will be reviewed on an annual basis, plus additional reviews if they have reached their funding potential, or $18,000 cap. At these reviewing milestones, JChoice retains the right to continue the cause, ask the organization to switch to another program within its organization, or remove the cause to give another compelling Cause the opportunity to be profiled.

      If you know of an organization that is seeking help, please contact us and we will be happy to consider their cause for JChoice inclusion.

    • Q: Can causes acknowledge their supporters?
      A: Causes are required to regularly communicate about their program’s effectiveness as well as news and events from the cause. These actions will be taken only within the context of the JChoice website.  

      Additionally, causes will only know the identity of donors by their JChoice screen name. Causes are not allowed to solicit the donor directly through mail and phone calls.



  • Security
    • Q: What is our system/procedure for insuring anonymity of JChoice members?
      A: We understand that a parent could be concerned about privacy and security, as JChoice features the use of the Internet and social networking as a method of community building. However, we have found a way to alleviate that fear by utilizing a principle found in Jewish tradition, namely that giving anonymously is a higher level of giving.  As a result, each member of JChoice is encouraged to choose their own screen name, which should not be an identifiable real name.

    • Q: What protections are available online for abusive behavior?
      A: In order to send and receive emails and messages within JChoice, each member must set up a JChoice account by entering and confirming their real identity. This data is kept in confidence by JChoice and will not be discoverable outside of our organization.

    • Q: How do I know my child is protected from bad influences online?
      A: Should there be any abuse in the system or inappropriate correspondence or postings, we can be notified immediately and we will hold the individual accountable, up to and including termination of their account if they are found to have engaged in objectionable behavior.

    • Q: Do parents have to give permission for children under 13 to be allowed online?
      A: The JChoice.org website is intended for people of all ages. We recognize the concerns of parents, however, and the importance of protecting the privacy of information we collect from minors under the age of 13 on our site. As a result, everyone under the age of 13 must provide permission from a parent or guardian to participate in the JChoice social network.

    • Q: As a donor or member of JChoice, will I ever be solicited by a Cause directly as a result of using JChoice as the mechanism for donating?
      A: Although Causes are required to regularly communicate with donors and the JChoice community about their Cause, they are not allowed to solicit the donor directly through mail and phone calls.

  • Methodology
    • Q: How do JCards work?
      A: A JCard is a customizable gift card that can be purchased in any multiple of $18.00. JCards are among the most convenient ways to honor any person or life cycle event. JCards can be redeemed for any JChoice Cause.

    • Q: What is the fee for a JChoice Gift Card?
      A: There is no fee to purchase a JChoice Gift Card.

    • Q: Do JChoice Gift Cards expire?
      A: No, but we will send out regular email reminders for donors to allocate their Tzedakah funds if they leave a balance for a length of time.

    • Q: Can I cancel a donation?
      A: Jewish tradition has a long history of taking oaths and pledges very seriously. Once donations have been allocated to a Cause, they are not easily retracted. We do have a customer service department, however, and donors and Causes are encouraged to discuss any issues with us. All efforts will be made to make a speedy resolution in any cases of misunderstandings.

    • Q: What is our response if someone calls to report a technical problem on the site?
      A: As a policy, one of our customer service representatives will get back to the person within 48 hours.

  • Community
    • Q: Who can donate money?
      A: Anyone can donate money through JChoice.org.  Those under the age of 13 must have parental consent.

    • Q: What is a donor group?
      A: A Donor Group is a community of donors who support a favorite cause. By establishing a Donor Group, one person can multiply the power of his or her donation and increase the impact by having friends and family join in supporting a JChoice cause.

    • Q: What does it mean to be a member of JChoice?
      A: Membership means an individual has given a donation of a multiple of $18.00 to a cause through JChoice, and thus created an account on our website, JChoice.org.  A person must be registered as a member to direct funds to a cause and use the social networking tools on the site.

    • Q: Why did I get a rejection notice when I asked to join a Donor Group?
      A: Please be advised that JChoice.org is not responsible for any decisions made, or actions taken,  by Donor Groups, including but not limited to, allocation of funds, member requests, and favorite Causes.

  • Community Guidelines for Members
    • Q: Sexual Content
      A: Nudity and other sexual content is not allowed anywhere on JChoice, for any reason.  Posting photos or videos with nudity or sexual content will get your account immediately suspended or banned.  If you are unsure whether your picture or video is inappropriate, don’t post it.

    • Q: Harassment and Hate Speech
      A: We respect your right to speak your ideas freely.  However, we draw the line when it comes to harassment and hate speech.  Your comments are not okay if they are meant to harm someone else personally, or if they promote hatred against a people because of their race, religion, or gender.

    • Q: Offensive Material
      A: JChoice is meant to be a friendly environment for all ages and types of people.  Don’t post photos, videos, or comments with violent or disgusting content that may offend others, and don’t use swear words in your posts.

    • Q: Spam
      A: Posting multiple identical or meaningless comments clutters up our pages and makes JChoice less enjoyable for the rest of the community.  Please help keep JChoice clean by posting content that is meaningful and to the point.

    • Q: Copyright
      A: Don’t post photos or videos on JChoice unless you created them or you have permission from the creator.  If you are referencing someone’s statement in a comment, be sure to use quotation marks and cite who made the statement.

    • Q: JChoice Removal Policy
      A: JChoice reserves the right to remove any posts we deem inappropriate without advanced notice. This includes photos, videos, and comments. We also will not hesitate to suspend or ban accounts permanently if the offence is great enough. If your content has been removed and you are not sure why, feel free to email us at info@jchoice.org.

    • Q: How to Submit Video to JChoice
      A: Video Production Tips from JChoice

      Length of Submission: Please keep your video under 3 minutes in length.

      Content: Make sure you keep the video appropriate. No “dirty” language. Make sure you don’t show or say something that you wouldn’t want to share on the internet.

      Equipment you need:
      A digital video camera. Quality footage is important so try to use the best camera available, but any camera will work because the content is what matters most. Use a cellphone, ipod, still camera, flip camera or webcam.

      Equipment to make your video stand out.
      •    External Microphone 
      •    Tripod/Steady pair of hands
      •    Computer with editing software and access to the internet

      Setting up:
      Camera:
      •    Holding the Camera: Steadiness is key! No one wants to watch shaky video.  If you have a tripod, use it.  Otherwise, insert one hand into the camera strap, and use the other hand open-palmed to support and steady the bottom of the camera. (Lock both arms to your body to brace the shot.)

      •    White balance: Some cameras have this feature which helps to make sure your video doesn’t turn-out too orange or too blue due to the lighting. Once you’ve located the white balance feature, focus the camera on something as pure white as possible. (printer paper should do fine) and set it.

      •    Framing: Make sure that you aren’t cutting-off your subject. Think about what is in the background. You don’t want distractions such as bright windows or other people moving around.

      Audio: If you have a microphone, use it. External mics are always better than built-in camera mics. Auto audio levels usually work okay. Ideally, you will control the audio levels manually, setting them so your voice is around  -12dB.  Settings can usually be found in the cameras menu system. Find a spot that is quiet so that you don’t pickup the sound of other people, music/tv, or cars.

      Lighting:
      Most people don’t have professional video lights so try to use existing sources. The key is that your subject is well exposed. No one wants to watch a dark grainy video. Watch out for shadows.

      Editing: Editing your video can be the most fun as part of the process. This is your chance to add music, tighten your scenes, and let your movie truly shine! Adding titles/credits and transitions between shots can make your movie look and feel like the pros!

      •    Software: Every new MAC comes with iMovie. This is a basic editing tool that can be a great help. For PCs, you can download Movie Maker for free at: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx
      (Other software, although costing money, includes: Final Cut pro, Avid, Adobe Premier, etc.)
      •    Edit tutorials:
      o    iMovie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_sZ4AeT8a4
      o    Windows Movie Maker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOE-Sx9QvYA&feature=related


      Upload video to YouTube: The last step is to upload your movie to YouTube (watch a tutorial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w-gQAwS2uc&feature=related
      ). At that point, copy and paste the YouTube link into JChoice

      Above all, have fun!


       

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