Endowments

People demonstrate caring, tzedakah, and charitable giving through endowment. An endowment fund creates a legacy to ensure donor values are passed through the generations. Endowments can be created with practically any asset, though typically through gifts of cash, securities, life insurance, or retirement assets. The income produced by an endowment fund may be used to support designated public charities like the Jewish Federation, synagogues, or agencies. A minimum of $5,000 is needed to establish an endowment fund. The principal of the endowment will never be invaded to ensure future charitable support.
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Types of Endowments:

Unrestricted Endowment
These types of funds offer the broadest giving option. The
Foundation and the Jewish Federation staff work together to allocate these funds in times of emergency or to create pilot projects. These funds provide the community with resources to meet any need.

Designated Endowment
This fund is designated to support a field of interest, such as a scholarship for continuing education or activities to improve the quality of life of the aged. The trustees of the Foundation will only authorize grants from the fund for the purpose specified.

Restricted Endowment (Agency Endowments)
Income from the fund can support a specific charity or be used to support a particular program at a non-profit organization. Donors have a choice of specifying a percentage or fixed amount for one or more special purposes.

Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (PACE)
A PACE fund is used to endow an annual gift to the Jewish Federation. Every year, in perpetuity, a gift will be made in honor of or memory of the donor. This is an important vehicle to ensure the growth and stability of the community in the future. United Jewish Communities recommends a PACE fund be established at a level equal to twenty times the donor’s annual campaign gift.

Lion of Judah Endowment Fund (LOJE)
This program is a joint effort between the Foundation and Jewish Federation’s Women’s Division. A LOJE gift is created through a minimum gift of $100,000. The income is designated for the Jewish Federation/United Jewish Communities Annual Campaign. In recognition of this gift, a flame (“Or L’Atid” – Light Unto the Future) is attached to the outstretched paw of the lion pin. Gifts may be made through a charitable remainder trust, life insurance, retirement funds, bequest, charitable gift annuity, or an outright gift of cash or appreciated securities.

Benefits of bequests, will and other assets:

• Your investment will be used to secure the future of the community.
• Your gift will provide a permanent source of funding to programs, agencies, synagogues and/or other areas of importance to you.
• If you make the gift during your lifetime, you receive a charitable income tax deduction.
• If you make the gift through a distribution from your estate plan, your estate receives a tax deduction.