Jewish Community Foundation, which is based in West Hartford, is leading a program to ensure the future of the Greater Hartford Jewish community, with nine West Hartford organizations participating.

Submitted

The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford (The Foundation) is spearheading a regional legacy giving initiative with 14 Jewish organizations that’s part of Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s (HGF) LIFE & LEGACY program. A nationwide Jewish legacy giving initiative, LIFE & LEGACY has secured more than 28,000 after-lifetime commitments with an estimated value of over a billion dollars for Jewish organizations across North America.

The local Jewish participating organizations and their towns are:

FARMINGTON — Voices of Hope

GLASTONBURY — Congregation Kol Haverim

HARTFORD — Charter Oak Cultural Center

SIMSBURY – Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation

SOUTH WINDSOR – Temple Beth Hillel

WEST HARTFORD — Congregation Beth Israel, Hebrew Senior Care, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, Mandell JCC, New England Jewish Academy, Solomon Schechter Day School, The Emanuel Synagogue. and Young Israel of West Hartford.

In partnership with HGF and local Jewish organizations, the Foundation will lead a local LIFE & LEGACY community-wide initiative to promote after-lifetime giving to benefit Jewish day schools, synagogues, social service organizations and other Jewish entities. Organizations will participate in a four-year initiative that provides coaching, training, and incentive grants to ensure that legacy giving becomes further integrated in the philanthropic culture of the community.

“The pandemic has shown that organizations with endowments are faring better than those without them,” says Jacob Schreiber, president and CEO of The Foundation. “It’s inspiring to see so many Jewish organizations having the foresight to work on securing their – and our community’s collective – future, even as they continue raising annual dollars to maintain their current programs and services.”

The Foundation will receive a 1:2 matching grant from HGF of approximately $100,000 each year to provide participating local organizations with unrestricted incentive grants, for meeting legacy commitment benchmarks. The Foundation will fund the rest of the cost of the program.

“The Harold Grinspoon Foundation is excited to help the Jewish Community Foundation further establish a culture of legacy giving in the Greater Hartford Jewish community,” says Arlene D. Schiff, national director of the LIFE & LEGACY program. “This legacy initiative will make the most of the generational transfer of wealth and provide generous members of the Greater Hartford Jewish community with the opportunity to express their passion, purpose and commitment to their most valued Jewish organizations.”

LIFE & LEGACY is investing $30 million dollars over a 10-year period to preserve vibrant Jewish life for future generations by ensuring the long-term financial health of Jewish community organizations in cities across North America.

“Providing Jewish communities with proven tools and training to help them secure their long-term financial goals is vital,” says Harold Grinspoon, the founder of HGF. “Through the LIFE & LEGACY program, I am hopeful that we will be able to help sustain vibrant communities that allow future generations to enjoy our rich Jewish culture and heritage.”

For more information about the LIFE & LEGACY program in Greater Hartford, contact Elana MacGilpin at [email protected].

ABOUT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER HARTFORD

The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford was founded in 1972 with an initial gift of $50,000. Thanks to the vision and generosity of individuals, families, businesses and organizations, past and present, the Foundation now has $145 million in assets under its management and stewards grants totaling $4.5 million annually.

The Foundation unlocks the power of individual and collective philanthropy to solve problems, strengthen community organizations and provide permanent support for Greater Hartford’s Jewish community. The nonprofit is a proud partner to the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and a member of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.

For more information, visit www.jcfhartford.org.

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