Create a Legacy
What kind of legacy do you want to leave?
What’s your vision for the future, and how can you transform it into reality? How can you involve your family in your legacy and share your ideals of tikkun olam, repairing the world?
That’s where we come in. We’re here to guide you through every step of the process, helping you build a legacy that aligns with your philanthropic vision.
How We Work With You
Step 1.
Decide on Your Goals & Values
You’ll meet with our team and your financial advisors to identify your philanthropic goals. Do you want to create an endowment, provide a scholarship fund, or support a favorite organization? We’re here to give you the guidance and resources you need to envision your legacy.
Step 2.
Develop Your Plan
We’ll guide you through the process of setting up and customizing your plan. There are many possibilities, and we’ll help you explore the various giving options to find one that best suits your needs.
Legacy Options
Here are some ideas we have presented to clients in the past to give you an idea of what is possible.
Unrestricted Giving to HJCF with a Competitive Grant Program
Field of Interest with a Competitive Grant
Designated Fund to Specific Organizations
Outright gift to the Houston Jewish Community Foundation
Jewish Future Pledge
The Jewish Future Pledge is a worldwide movement inspiring Jews of all backgrounds to commit that from the charity they leave at their passing, at least half is earmarked to support the Jewish people and/or the State of Israel. The Pledge is not a fundraiser for a specific Jewish organization. It is a moral commitment to the Jewish people.
Create a Legacy
Our primary goals are to:
- Connect the values and passions of donors to organizations they care about
- Motivate donors to commit to and formalize after-lifetime commitments
- Integrate legacy giving and strong stewardship practices into our community culture
- Secure the future of Jewish Houston
Community Partners & Affiliate Organizations
Partners
Alexander Jewish Family Service
Congregation Beth Israel
Congregation Beth Yeshurun
Congregation Brith Shalom
Congregation Emanu El
Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center
Holocaust Museum Houston
Houston Congregation of Reform Judaism
Houston Jewish Geriatric Foundation
Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
Robert M. Beren Academy
Temple Beth Torah
Temple Sinai
Yeshiva Torat Emet
Affiliates
Beth Yeshurun Day School
B’nai Brith Youth Organization
Camp Young Judaea
Congregation Beth El
Congregation Beth Rambam
Congregation Beth Shalom of the Woodlands
Congregation Or Ami
Congregation Shma Koleinu
Texas Friends of Chabad Lubavitch
The Emery/Weiner School
The Shlenker School
TORCH
United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston
Young Israel of Houston
Impact of Create a Legacy
In 2014, we selected 15 local Jewish organizations to participate in the inaugural Create a Legacy program in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life and Legacy Program. Each organization formed a legacy team comprising a professional – rabbi, executive director, or development director – and three volunteers. The teams participated in training sessions on topics such as writing a legacy plan, making the ask, marketing your legacy program, and stewardship of legacy donors.
The teams also met one-on-one with HJCF leadership and development experts from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. For the first four years of the program, they had the opportunity to earn incentive grants for reaching their goals for securing legacy gifts.
In 5 years, the program has succeeded in helping our partners secure more than $30 million in expected legacy gifts for our community.
