LIFE & LEGACY - JewishColumbus

Creating a vibrant tomorrow for our entire Columbus Jewish community.

JewishColumbus is delighted to host the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s (HGF) LIFE & LEGACY® initiative. Thanks to our Columbus Jewish Community for securing a vibrant and beautiful Jewish tomorrow through the LIFE & LEGACY program!

Click here for a full list of our community participants, as of the close of Year 1, Feb. 28, 2021.

What is LIFE & LEGACY?

LIFE & LEGACY is a four-year legacy giving program to secure the financial future and success of local Jewish organizations.

Why participate in LIFE & LEGACY?

Every member of the Jewish community has been touched by one or more of our partner organizations (listed below). Now is your chance to ensure these institutions can thrive in perpetuity. You can assure continuity of services and programs in Columbus by making a legacy gift in your will or estate plan. Within this special partnership, you can then choose one or more of these partner organizations to benefit from your gift. It’s simple and yet very powerful.

We believe a strong Jewish community means a strong Columbus community. The endowments you create will ensure the long-term sustainability of our values and our dreams for all future generations.

Who are the local LIFE & LEGACY partners?

Nineteen local Jewish organizations have made a commitment to work together to support the future of the Columbus Jewish community:

Beth Jacob Congregation
Chabad Columbus
Columbus Community Kollel
Columbus Jewish Day School
Columbus Jewish Historical Society
Columbus Torah Academy
Congregation Agudas Achim
Congregation Ahavas Sholom
Congregation Beth Tikvah
Congregation Tifereth Israel
Congregation Torat Emet
JewishColumbus
Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus
Jewish Family Services
Kehilat Sukkat Shalom
Ohio State Hillel
Temple Beth Shalom
Temple Israel
Wexner Heritage Village

LIFE & LEGACY Resources

This is an extensive archive that contains LIFE & LEGACY® templates and materials, in addition to marketing and stewardship examples from other communities. The username is “Resources” and the password is “hgflegacy.”

Life & Legacy Resources

Letter of Intent

Gift Confirmation

LIFE & LEGACY Presentations Archive and Shared Marketing Assets

Want to access past LIFE & LEGACY training materials? Or, does your organization have an ad or article that you’re proud of that you would like to share with other teams? Please visit the LIFE & LEGACY Team Resources Archive for many helpful local resources.

Getting Started

Our community’s synagogues and agencies have had a tremendous impact on generations of Jews. Have you considered including the organizations that you cherish in your will, or as a beneficiary of your retirement fund, so you can help those organizations continue to make a difference for a new generation?

Ready to begin? Download our Letter of Intent here and please contact one or more organizations of your choice today.

Questions to Consider

Can anyone do this?

Yes! You don’t have to be wealthy, just passionate about an organization’s mission. This decision is for after you are gone, and you can decide exactly what part or percentage of your estate to leave via your will or by simply naming an organization(s) as a beneficiary of your retirement plan. You can make sure that that people you love are taken care of first, while still making plans to support the Jewish community long after you are gone.

How do I begin?

It’s easy to do. Reflect on your Jewish passions. What is important to you about our faith and people? What work in our community do you want to support? Then contact the team leader from the organization or organizations you want to work with.

When should I start thinking about leaving a legacy?

The answer is different for everyone. Some people make a will after the birth of a child; others may wait until they receive an inheritance. Whether you already have a will or are just getting started, it’s always right to think of how you want to be remembered. Now is the time.

Who can help me?

We encourage you to begin your legacy conversation by contacting the team leader of the organization(s) you care about most to share your interests and learn about the organization’s long-term needs. JewishColumbus staff is available to assist you with the technical aspects of legacy giving. You may also want to contact your financial advisors and/or estate planning attorney at this time.