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Create a Jewish Legacy


JUF's Create a Jewish Legacy is a hands-on endowment fundraising program that strengthens the Jewish community by supporting Chicago Jewish agencies, day schools and synagogues in the area of legacy giving and endowments. The program offers one-on-one consultations, incentive grants, and free community training to teach professional staff and volunteers how to secure legacy gifts for endowments, which will provide a steady and potentially growing stream of dollars to sustain them for generations to come.

Supported by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and Crown Family Philanthropies, Create a Jewish Legacy has helped 40+ Jewish organizations across Chicagoland raise over $63 million in legacy commitments since 2014.

Why Create a Jewish Legacy?

In one way or another, your life is rooted in Jewish experiences connecting you to the Jewish community. Chances are you already support Jewish charitable organizations in Chicago, but have you included these organizations in your will or estate plan? By leaving a legacy, you can assure that the traditions and institutions that mean so much to you today will be there for future generations. For more information or to help your organization build an endowment, contact [email protected].

By making a legacy commitment you can:

  • Express values instilled in you by your parents and grandparents.
  • Perpetuate the Jewish traditions you cherish.
  • Preserve the programs and organizations that support Jewish life in Chicago.

How to Create a Jewish Legacy

  1. Make a gift through a bequest in a will, trust, or estate plan.
  2. Add (or change) a beneficiary designation on an IRA, pension fund, or life insurance policy. Your legacy commitment can be expressed as a specific dollar amount or as a percentage.
  3. Give an outright cash gift to the endowment.
  4. Increase your current income while making a gift through a Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust.

You can make it happen in four easy steps:

  1. Reflect on your Jewish passions and discuss them with your loved ones.
  2. Contact the organization(s) closest to your heart. If you make your legacy commitment now, or share with the organization(s) that you have already made a legacy commitment, the organization(s) can secure an incentive grant!
  3. Contact JUF with any questions or simply fill out a Declaration of Intent Form.
  4. Formalize your commitment by having a conversation with your personal financial advisor or attorney or contact [email protected] for more information.
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