Charitable Giving and Estate Planning
Jewish tradition states one of our key responsibilities is to make the world a better place for future generations.
Your legacy can reflect everything that is most important and meaningful to you. The Jewish Foundation can help you give to organizations that hold a special place in your heart. The legacy planning process can engage heartfelt conversations with your family and build bonds with your partners in the community.
The Foundation is honoured to provide charitable estate planning services to help individuals and families plan the transfer of assets. An estate plan is designed to preserve the maximum amount of wealth possible for the intended beneficiaries while maintaining flexibility.
We help people create their legacy to support Jewish life for generations to come. What will your legacy be?
Planned Giving Resources:
Giving Checklist
The Jewish Foundation can use the following information to assist you and your advisors to design the optimum legacy plan:
- Do you want to include charitable organizations in your estate plan?
- Would you be interested in making a gift that will provide you with lifetime income?
- Do you own appreciated stock?
- Can you gift part of or your entire retirement plan?
- Do you own real estate or other business interests?
- Do you own life insurance? If so, would you consider naming a charitable beneficiary for part or all of the proceeds?
- Would you consider purchasing a new life insurance policy to fund a legacy gift?
The Impact:
Estate Planning Vehicles:
There are many ways to leave a meaningful legacy in the community. To determine what is best for you, please consult your tax or estate planning professional.
RRSPs, RRIFs, and TFSAs
Gifts of Life Insurance
Gift in Your Will
Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
A Charitable Gift Annuity
Real Estate
Works of Art & Cultural Items
Private Company Shares
Frequently Asked Questions:
When should I start to think about leaving a legacy?
Jewish tradition teaches that one of our key duties is to make the world a better place for future generations. The time is always right to think about how you wish to be remembered.
How can my legacy reflect what is important to me?
Your legacy planning can be a meaningful, life-changing experience. Picture the community decades from now. What do you see? Consider institutions and causes you are involved with now. Why have you made gifts of money and time? What have been your most significant gifts and which have provided you with the most satisfaction? Through your legacy, you can ensure that the organizations you love thrive and the issues you are most concerned with, will continue to be addressed.
Who will receive my legacy?
Organizations you have supported in your life are natural choices. Help keep the Jewish community strong by considering UJA Jewish day schools or other Jewish organizations. You can also support organizations in the community that have touched your life. Besides specific institutions, you may wish to target special interests such as Jewish education, care for the elderly or social services in Israel.
Also consider designating a share of your legacy to the Jewish Foundation’s Unrestricted Community Fund or the Centennial Endowment Fund. While some issues remain constant, priorities can shift in sudden and unexpected ways. This is an excellent way to express your trust in future community leaders.
What about my children?
You can engage your children in every step of the legacy planning process. Here are some suggestions:
- Hold a family discussion about how your values have been expressed through giving.
- Visit organizations you are considering as beneficiaries of your legacy.
- Share with your children the reasons certain issues are important to you.
How can the Jewish Foundation help me?
The Foundation is here to be your key resource, advisor and guide. Because we distribute millions of dollars in grants each year, we can help you identify community needs and potential beneficiaries. We can meet with you before you meet with your advisors to brainstorm initial ideas and goals. In future years, we can help involve your children and grandchildren in carrying out your legacy.
How can the Jewish Foundation work with my professional advisors?
We can work with you and your professional advisors to plan your gift in a way that furthers your unique financial and charitable goals. We are available to meet and consult with your advisors throughout the process.
How can my legacy inspire the community?
The legacy planning process can be a wondrous journey. It can engage heartfelt conversations with your family and build bonds with your partners in your community. It is truly a way to let your name be remembered as a blessing.
Your promise to provide for the Jewish community after your lifetime also makes you eligible to sign the Book of Life, a treasured archive. By inscribing your name and including a personal message, you express your belief in and commitment to Jewish values and heritage—ensuring that our people will survive and flourish. The Book of Life is displayed prominently at the Jewish Community Foundation, an ever-growing record of names and legacies—a true portrait of our community.
How can I get started?
Call the Jewish Foundation at 416.631.5703 for a confidential meeting. We look forward to working with you to keep our community strong and vibrant for generations to come.