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✡ We Stand With the People of Israel ✡

What is Legacy?

Legacy is what you leave
behind for your loved ones
and your community.

“As my forefathers planted these carob trees for me
so I too plant these for my children.”

— Talmud (Ta’anis 23b)

In one way or another, your life is rooted in Jewish experiences connecting you to the Jewish community. By making a legacy gift, you can assure that the traditions and institutions that mean so much to you today will exist for future generations. 

You can provide support for one or more organizations. Your legacy gift of any size can be customized and structured to fit your dreams, lifestyle, family and financial needs. 

Contact Frances Skolnick via email or by calling (502) 238-2735 for more information.

 

LIFE & LEGACY is a partnership between the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and Jewish Community of Louisville, with the support of the Jewish Heritage Fund, that trains and supports our Jewish agencies, congregations, and other social service agencies in legacy giving, to ensure the future of Louisville’s Jewish community.

Anyone, regardless of wealth or affiliation, can leave a legacy.

Legacy gifts are usually given without restrictions, and are therefore flexible and used by the organization for the most appropriate needs. However, you can also designate your gift to an existing program or even create an initiative that will receive funds from your gift, year after year.

It’s easy to do. It’s revocable at any time. There are many ways to do it, but when your gift comes through, you will be supporting the Jewish community forever. 

How to make a legacy gift



Giving some of what’s left over

Most legacy gifts are set up in a will, retirement fund, or life insurance policy, so they don’t affect your income or needs during your lifetime. There are many ways to put a gift in place



You can fund a gift now

There are certain life events (selling a business, receiving an inheritance, etc.) that can make this option interesting, or you might just want to see the effects of your gift in your lifetime.

Ways to make a legacy gift

Retirement Fund or IRA

Naming an organization as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan (IRA, 401k), investment account, or annuity is an easy way to make a future gift. There is no cost to make these designations and they can easily be changed at any time. Passing this gift to charity is 100 percent tax free.

Donor-Advised Fund

Receive an immediate tax deduction when you contribute cash, stocks, or other assets to a donor-advised fund, and you can make annual gifts to the charitable organizations of your choice whenever you wish, and designate any remaining funds as a legacy gift.

Will or Trust

You have supported your family and charities during your lifetime. A will or trust is a purposeful way for you to continue your tradition of lifetime giving. Designating community organizations as beneficiaries in your will or trust is a simple way to make a future gift. In addition, you can change or revoke this type of gift if your situation changes.

Life Insurance

Life Insurance can be used to fund a charitable gift, enabling you to make a substantial legacy gift for a relatively modest cost. There are several ways to utilize life insurance as a legacy giving strategy either through an existing life insurance policy that you already own or through a newly issued policy owned by the Jewish Federation or organization of your choice.

Endowments are not just for the wealthy — they are the means by which ordinary people make extraordinary, impactful gifts.

You can make a legacy gift now by simply designating a gift of cash, securities, or other assets to an endowment fund. The organization will place it into their permanent endowment so the gift will remain in place forever.

You can also choose to endow a program, scholarship, award, or other initiative, to see the results of your giving year after year and ensure those programs exist forever.