The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles announced July 17 that it awarded a record $100 million in grants to more than 2,600 nonprofit organizations last year.

Grant distributions increased 23 percent from $81 million in 2016, enabled by $120 million in contributions, according to the Jewish Community Foundation, which says it is the largest manager of charitable assets and planned giving for the Los Angeles area Jewish community. Over the past five years, the charity has distributed $413 million.

Nearly half ($48 million) of the grants were awarded to causes in the greater Los Angeles area, with the rest going to programs across the U.S. and the world, principally Israel. About $61 million went to Jewish-affiliated causes.

“The Foundation and its donors distributed a record-breaking $100 million of grants in 2017, reflecting our unwavering belief in tikkun olam (Hebrew for “repair the world”) and the incredible generosity of our family of donors,” Jewish Community Foundation Chief Executive Marvin Schotland said in a statement. “Nearly 50 percent of last year’s grant awards were distributed to local programs, which speaks to our mission as a community foundation. (And) nearly a quarter of all monies granted went to programs and causes that support human services, underscoring a fundamental obligation to assist those less fortunate in meeting basic human needs.”

The foundation’s total charitable assets under management stood at $1.25 billion at the end of 2017, up 14 percent from $1.1 billion a year earlier, due to increases in donations and investment returns.

The Jewish Community Foundation was founded in 1954 as the primary vehicle for the region’s Jewish populations to make charitable donations. While the foundation shares its headquarters with the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, the two organizations are separately managed.

Economy, education, energy and transportation reporter Howard Fine can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @howardafine.