Planned Giving
Planned giving is deeply intertwined with beliefs, ethics, and identity
A planned gift is any gift made during lifetime or at death as part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate plan.
Giving is complex and planned giving can be even more so — requiring more preparation, negotiation and counsel than many other donation options. Because each family has its own unique makeup, internal challenges, and particulars, receiving proper professional stewardship through the process is a vital service. Our approach focuses on the connection between estate planning, philanthropic giving, and Jewish values.
Planned giving is possible today, for anyone, at any phase of life, and not only during the sunset years. It is a proactive act of affirmation of your legacy, the organizations with which you seek to partner, and how to make the greatest impact on the causes most precious to you.
Driven by values, not valuables
As you consider your options, you might find our Estate Planning Workbook a helpful tool to help you organize your personal estate planning information. Our teams of experts go beyond just administering and managing your fund. They help you honor your family legacy by consulting with you on the philanthropic needs of today’s world. Thus, your philanthropy will be infused with meaning and will build and strengthen our Jewish community, locally and globally, for future generations.
Our suite of philanthropic options:
| Your Personal Objective | Gift Type | Your Philanthropic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce estate tax |
|
Any of these gifts, either alone or in combination, can be used to honor your legacy by:
|
| Avoid Capital Gains Tax |
|
|
| Generate lifetime income and reduce income tax |
|
|
|
Create tax benefits for yourself and your heirs |
Our Philanthropic Services:
| Your Personal Objective | Service | Donor Benefit |
|---|---|---|
|
Be recognized as a visionary donor who is committed to the future of our Jewish community |
By including the Federation in your estate plan or establishing a permanent fund during your lifetime, Centennial Living Legacy Society members are acknowledged at Federation events and will receive invitations to special programs for legacy donors. The Book of Life documents personal thoughts, stories and values that inspire Jewish connection and philanthropy, to be shared with future generations. | |
| Ensure the continuity of a secure, vibrant Jewish community capable of adapting to ever-changing needs while safeguarding our future for the next 100 years and beyond. |
Centennial Donors will be recognized on a wall in the Federation building and other offices (with permission); be remembered annually in Federation publications and programs; attend a special exclusive event; and, write an inscription in the Book of Life. Read the full list of our 2024 major donors. |
Discussing finances
Every family situation is unique and there is no universal approach. Making decisions about gift planning provides opportunities to address questions and begin conversations. For many, having a dialogue about money raises an array of anxieties, traumas, and cultural challenges. Fortunately for us, Jewish tradition offers a wealth of ideas about how to approach money. In fact, Judaism views wealth as a blessing and a special responsibility. And, with wealth, we are able to actualize abundant charity. As Rabbi Reuven Bulka wrote:
"As with almost everything else, the Jewish attitude to money is quite balanced. It is not only via money that we can be charitable. Our words and deeds, our time and concern, are likewise agents for the good. But money can be of immense help, and the charity opportunities made possible by the judicious and sensitive expenditure of money are enormous."
