It is affiliated with the Jewish Federations of North America.
In 1939, when United Jewish Appeal (UJA) was formed from the merger of United Palestine Appeal and the fundraising wing of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Welfare Association became the DC headquarters of the UJA.
The Jewish Welfare Association primarily focused on Jews in Europe and Palestine, with a smaller focus on local Jews.
As the Jewish community of DC grew, the Jewish Welfare Association decided to expand its mandate and form a community-wide organization.
[1] During the 2023 Hawaii wildfires, the Jewish Federation created a fund to benefit relief work in Maui, raising nearly $25,000.