by Shiela Steinman Wallace
Editor
If you are part of a Jewish family and have a young child or grandchild or if you read Community regularly, you have probably heard of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. It’s the organization that underwrites the popular PJ Library program that provides free, high quality books and music to young Jewish children.
PJ Library has transformed the way Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Federations connect with young children and their families by allowing local organizations to provide free gifts and quality, low-cost programs to constituents and an effective, low barrier way to reach out to unaffiliated and marginally-affiliated families.
Now, the Grinspoon Foundation has developed a program, Life and Legacy, to assist Jewish Federations and Foundations across North America promote after-lifetime giving that will benefit Jewish day schools, congregations, service organizations and other entities.
The Jewish Foundation of Louisville knows the future security of the Jewish community here depends upon a strong endowment program, and is taking steps to ensure that happens. The Foundation has been invited to submit a grant proposal to the Grinspoon Foundation to enable the community to participate in this exciting program and join other communities across North America in securing the future and ensuring the impact of Judaism.
The Life and Legacy program provides training, support and monetary incentives designed to help the Jewish Foundation secure meaningful after-lifetime legacy gifts and encourages all Jewish communal agencies and institutions work in close partnership to ensure the entire community will have the resources it needs to move forward.
Life and Legacy’s guiding principles are implemented through programs and services designed to help Foundation professionals build trust and strong relationships with the other community organizations to work collaboratively for the future of the community.
“If we are fortunate enough to receive this generous grant,” said Jewish Federation of Louisville Chief Development Officer Stew Bromberg, “we will work with the Grinspoon Foundation to create programs and to engage potential donors to ensure the future of the programs and services they value and to enable them to perpetuate their values in the community.”
A key component of this program involves the awarding of incentive grants to the organizations who participate to help offset administrative and other costs associated with starting this type of legacy building program for the entire Jewish community.
Those principles also give communities guidance on showing appreciation through professionally implemented stewardship and serve as a means to engage local Jewish organizations in partnership.
For more information, contact Jewish Foundation of Louisville Chief Development Officer Stew Bromberg, sbromberg@jewishlouisville.org or 238-2739.