There were no caps and gowns, but several Jewish agencies, synagogues, and day schools celebrated a graduation last month all the same. In July, 24 organizations graduated from two cohorts of JUF’s Create a Jewish Legacy program-a hands-on endowment fundraising training program that has yielded $25.6 million in additional support for participating institutions. This program strengthens the Jewish community by teaching organizations the importance of growing an endowment and coaching them on ways to secure legacy gifts that sustain their Jewish institution in perpetuity.

The Create a Jewish Legacy program has found great success because of the comprehensive training curriculum, the JUF staff expertise, the opportunity amongst organizations to share ideas, and the monetary incentives for organizations who meet the program goals.

“Because of the support we receive, we are more successful in engaging donors and securing legacy gifts,” said Linda P. Foster, CEO/Head of School at Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago in Northbrook. ” Create a Jewish Legacy motivates us and keeps us on task, helps us overcome our fears of approaching potential donors, teaches us how to prioritize and create strategies, demonstrates the importance of ongoing stewardship, and invokes accountability in our team.”

“The Create a Jewish Legacy program has provided a platform for Jewish institutions to focus on endowments,” said Linda Ginsburg, Steering Committee Chair for the second cohort of JUF’s Create a Jewish Legacy . “Income from endowments provides a steady and reliable source of financial support year after year. Legacy giving is a means to show commitment to an institution, even beyond one’s lifetime, and teaches children the importance of tzedakah .”

JUF’s Create a Jewish Legacy is part of a national program created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to preserve vibrant Jewish life for future generations by ensuring the long-term financial health of Jewish community organizations. JUF’s program is also generously supported by the Crown Family. Nationally, the program has helped participants from 36 communities secure more than 14,000 after-lifetime commitments valued at more than a half-billion dollars.

This year, a total of 24 organizations met the goals. JUF will distribute $195,000 in incentive grants.

” Create a Jewish Legacy has provided us with the necessary tools to grow our endowment to the level needed for our sustainability,” said Todd Wiener of Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston. “We appreciate JUF’s incentive grant and we look forward to our second year, when we will secure legacy giving as a permanent part of Beth Emet’s culture.”

This year’s graduates of Create a Jewish Legacy include:

COHORT 1

1. Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation

2. Chicago Jewish Day School

3. CJE SeniorLife

4. Hebrew Theological College

5. Jewish Child & Family Services

6. North Shore Congregation Israel

7. North Suburban Synagogue Beth El

8. Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago

9. Temple Jeremiah

COHORT 2

1. Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School

2. Arie Crown Hebrew Day School

3. Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School

4. Beth Emet The Free Synagogue

5. Congregation Beth Shalom

6. Congregation Etz Chaim of DuPage County

7. Ida Crown Jewish Academy

8. Jewish Community Centers of Chicago (JCC Chicago)

9. Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago

10. Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago

11. SHALVA

12. Sinai Health System

13. Temple Beth-El

14. Temple Chai

15. Temple Sholom of Chicago

Four simple ways to Create a Jewish Legacy include i) making a gift through a bequest in a will or estate plan; ii) adding or changing a beneficiary designation on an IRA or life insurance policy; iii) giving an outright cash gift to the endowment; or iv) increasing your current income while making a gift through a Charitable Gift Annuity or Charitable Remainder Trust.

To learn more about Create a Jewish Legacy or to make a gift to one of the participating organizations, contact Tamar Wolf at [email protected].

Tamar Wolf is program manager of JUF’s Create a Jewish Legacy.