Your Legacy at JFS

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Whether your estate is large, modest or somewhere in between, you can help ensure that JFS will not only meet the needs of our “family” today, but will also be here tomorrow to assist our children and our children’s children.

Legacy giving – sometimes called planned giving – strengthens the community that JFS serves and, in many instances, also provides you with tax advantages. It ensures that you will be remembered both by those who directly benefit from your generosity to JFS as well as those who will be inspired by your example of planning for future donations.

The most common form of legacy giving is a bequest in your will specifying a gift to JFS. A bequest affords you flexibility and control over the legacy you leave behind plus, for some donors, it means a portion of your assets will go directly to a cause you value rather than to the government in the form of taxes. If you already have a will, you may be able to make your gift by preparing, with the involvement of your estate planning attorney, a codicil (a brief written amendment) to your will.

Another method of legacy giving is a contribution of funds in a retirement plan such as an IRA or 401(k). This method typically offers the greatest income tax savings (and perhaps estate tax savings) when you direct that the gift be made from your estate. As an alternative, those age 70-1/2 or older wishing to make lifetime donations can transfer funds from an IRA directly to JFS tax fee so long as certain conditions are met. Either option is easy to arrange.

Many donors overlook life insurance as a source for charitable giving, yet it can be utilized to increase the impact of your philanthropy. This is done by transferring ownership of a life insurance policy to JFS or simply changing the policy’s beneficiary designation to JFS for some or all of the policy’s proceeds. This type of gift is particularly popular with donors who have policies that are no longer needed to provide for their families. It is also an attractive way to give if you want to provide significant support for JFS but are unable to make a large outright donation.

Remember: You should always involve your attorney and, as necessary, other advisors  in your estate planning.

There are several other possibilities that may be appropriate for you depending on your financial resources and needs. To learn more about your planned/legacy giving options or other ways to support JFS, please contact Executive Director Debbie Zoller at 610-821-8722 or dzoller@jfslv.org.  If you have already made arrangements for a planned gift to JFS, please let us know – we would love to thank you!

Jewish Family Service is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are deductible under section 170 of the IRS Code.

To learn more about ways that you can remember JFS and other local Jewish organizations with a gift in your will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy​, contact Executive Director Debbie Zoller at 610-821-8722 or dzoller@jfslv.org. 

You may also explore your gift options at www.lvjfgiving.org.