The LIFE & LEGACY Program celebrated an end to its first successful year on February 28. The program, which seeks to ensure a healthy Jewish future by creating endowments for ten local Jewish organizations, received promises of after-lifetime gifts totaling nearly $7.5 million, said Samantha Hammond, who coordinates the program locally.
“This success reflects both the generosity of community members and the dedication of LIFE & LEGACY team members, who are mostly volunteers,” said Hammond. These dedicated volunteers also supported the program as legacy donors, she added.
Over the past year, the ten participating organizations collectively strove to meet the goal of attaining 180 total legacy commitments from people in the community. The organizations ended up surpassing this goal, obtaining 194 legacy commitments. The ten participating organizations were Avoda, Beth Israel, Beron Jewish Older Adult Services, Board of Jewish Education (BJE), JCC, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties, Shirat Hayam, Seashore Gardens Living Center (SGLC), and Jewish Federation of Atlantic & Cape May Counties, which was also the program’s convener.
The program brought these organizations together into a cohesive whole, working for the greater good of the entire community, said Jeff Kripitz, the community chair for LIFE & LEGACY. “The program really inspires people to be community focused,” he noted.
Each organization’s “legacy team” members spoke with people in the community, asking them to support their own organizations as well as other local Jewish organizations. “They spoke [to donors] on behalf of the entire community, not just their own organization. Everyone cheered each other on, congratulating each other for meeting the program goals. It’s very positive, and it’s exciting. By the end of the year, everyone felt inspired and motivated,” said Kripitz.
Of the 10 organizations involved in LIFE & LEGACY this year, six met or exceeded the program goals set by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, which created the LIFE & LEGACY Program and helps to fund the program locally.
Beth Israel, Jewish Family Service, and Seashore Gardens Living Center all exceeded the program goal of 18 legacy commitments in the first year. Each obtained the program’s “reach goal” of 25 or more commitments, with front-runner Beth Israel amassing 29 commitments totaling an estimated $1 million in future endowment money, said Hammond. Each of these three organizations will now receive a $10,000 incentive grant for their efforts. Board of Jewish Education, JCC, and Shirat Hayam all met the goal of obtaining at least 18 legacy commitments and will each receive incentive grants of $7,500 that can be used immediately.
Although Avoda, Beron Jewish Older Adult Services, and Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties did not qualify for incentive grants, they nevertheless built up their endowments through legacy commitments. The Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties was the most dramatic example, receiving ten legacy commitments representing more than $1.5 million, said Hammond. “They had some very, very generous donors,” she noted.
Jewish Federation of Atlantic & Cape May Counties received the most legacy commitments of any organization involved in the program—a total of 31 commitments for more than $1 million. “Many people who gave to other organizations also gave to our Federation,” said Hammond. “Many community members feel passionate about Federation.” Yet as a funder and convener of the program, Jewish Federation of Atlantic & Cape May Counties will not be receiving an incentive grant, she added.
Notably, Stockton University’s Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center also received a handful of legacy commitments totaling nearly half a million dollars, despite the fact that it was not a program participant. “The LIFE & LEGACY Program allows donors to designate any organization they care about to be named as a legacy gift recipient,” noted Hammond, adding that a few donors made gifts to synagogues in other parts of New Jersey and to other Jewish and even non-Jewish organizations.
This month, our community began its second year of the four-year long LIFE & LEGACY Program, said Hammond. Only one organization—Avoda— opted not to continue, although it will still be among the organizations that donors can check off when filling out a legacy commitment form (known as a “declaration of intent”).
In the second year, incentive grants will once again be offered to organizations attaining the basic goal of at least 18 legacy commitments and the reach goal of at least 25 commitments. “This means that if you were thinking about leaving money to a local Jewish organization, now is an ideal time,” said Hammond. Thanks to the incentive grants, “giving now will allow your gift to go that extra mile.”
She’s optimistic that year two will also be a success. “There are still a lot of potential donors out there,” she stressed. “This year will also be easier in many respects because more people in the community are realizing what LIFE & LEGACY is all about, how it allows donors to perpetuate Jewish life and make a lasting difference.”
After a successful first year, legacy team members are also more confident and enthusiastic. “Team members are so excited about LIFE & LEGACY! They feel like the work they’re doing is really going to ensure the future of their organizations and the community as a whole. A lot of the team members are also donors who are very invested in their organizations and are really committed to a vibrant Jewish future.”
For more information about becoming a legacy donor or team member, please contact Samantha Hammond at samantha@jewishbytheshore.org or call the Jewish Federation at 609-822-4404.