We would like to invite you to play a game of “tell me the first two or three things you think of when I mention X”. If “X” is your children or grandchildren, we are sure you have images of family trips or celebrations, or their smiles and laughter during family gatherings. If “X” is the Nashville community, you may think of good times with friends, music you have heard and venues you have visited, your synagogue, the JCC, Hillel, Jewish Family Services, restaurants, the symphony, sporting events, or museums. If “X” is charitable planning, what comes to mind?
Believe it or not, the Jewish Foundation, an arm of our Federation, can enable you to make wonderful memories and lasting contributions for your children, grandchildren, the Nashville community, Israel, and beyond. When you are asked “tell me the first two or three things you think of when I mention the Foundation”, we want you to think of us as a resource for your charitable planning, and as a means to help you achieve your goals and aspirations for yourself, your family and your community.
Some of you already have established “designated funds” to support specific charities - locally, nationally, and internationally. Others may have created “donor advised funds” that allow you to support whichever charities you choose each year. Some of you may have set up plans for “legacy” giving. You may have created B’nai Tzedek funds for Bar/Bat Mitzvah children and grandchildren to start them on their own philanthropic journey. Have you periodically revisited the funds you previously set up to see if they are still accomplishing your goals, or have those goals changed? We can help you with those evaluations.
On the other hand, maybe you have had the best of intentions to set up a fund to support a specific charity or activity, but you have not actually taken the extra steps to formalize your plans. Maybe you do not know how to begin and need some advice about possible alternatives. We are here to help you get started.
We want you to think of the Foundation as a trusted partner and resource to help you achieve your charitable goals. You do not need large sums of money to establish a fund; you can start small and build it over time. If you have a fund that you have not added to recently, we can help you with new contributions. If you are not sure whether an older fund is flexible enough for you, we can help you modify the fund, create a new one, consolidate funds, change the name, add new advisors, or make other needed modifications.
We are available to talk, to help you plan, and to assist you in achieving your charitable goals. For more information, or to begin a conversation, please contact Barry Allen, Director of Planned Giving & Endowments, for the Foundation. Call his office at 615-354-1637 or email him at barry@jewishnashville.org. Remember the Foundation and let us plan together!
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