Legacy Giving

“Live the way you want to be remembered.”

Your Values
Your Community
Your Legacy

If you have supported JFCS East Bay year after year, a legacy gift—such as a charitable bequest in your will, retirement plan, or trust—will ensure that our work in the community stays strong and thriving for generations to come. You can find our Legacy Society Commitment Form here.

We can work with you and your professional advisors to help you determine the most appropriate gift for your personal and financial goals. Donations may be made to honor the memory of a family member, friend, or colleague.

No matter the size of your estate, your legacy gift will be part of ensuring the future of our agency, now more than 140 years old.

By making plans for a legacy gift, you’ll be invited to join JFCS East Bay’s Legacy Society, which comes with the following benefits:

• Contribute to the long-term strength of our community.
• Invitations to special appreciation events.
• Special updates from our Executive Director.
• Recognition in agency publications.

Easy Ways to Leave Your Legacy

Gift in your will
Bequests in your will or trust can be designated to a specific JFCS East Bay program or to the agency as a whole. You can indicate a specific amount or leave a percentage of your estate. [showhide type=”post” more_text=”View sample bequest language here.” less_text=”Hide sample language.” hidden=”yes”]To leave an unrestricted JFCS East Bay bequest, you may use the following language in your estate documents:

“To Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay, Berkeley, California, taxpayer identification number 94-3250304, I give [#% of the remainder of my estate] or [the sum of $#] to the board-directed reserves of JFCS East Bay.”

This example is provided for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal advice. If you decide to make a bequest, please consult with your legal professional, who can draft appropriate language for your will or trust.[/showhide]

Retirement plan assets
Because retirement plan assets can be heavily taxed when left to family, it can be tax-savvy to leave these assets to a charity. You can specify a percentage, a specific amount, or the balance of your IRA or retirement plan.

Life insurance
Giving a gift from your life insurance benefits is a simple way to make a big impact. By including JFCS East Bay as a beneficiary of your insurance policy, you can leave all or a portion of your life insurance to the agency.

Please consult with your attorney and financial advisor to determine the best option for you.

Why We Gave

“The traditions of charity, knowledge, and lending a helping hand are part of our family’s fabric. Through our deeds, we hope to be remembered as kind, caring, honest, and responsible toward others and the environment. We hope our legacy gift will be a reminder to our children to also always give back.”
—Aliza & Peter Metzner

“Witnessing JFCS East Bay’s impact, we knew we wanted to help make a difference. First as volunteers, then as annual donors, and now providing a legacy gift to ensure that future generations have continued access to the outstanding services provided by JFCS East Bay.”
—Katherine & Steven Resnik

Please Let Us Know

If you haven’t told us about your legacy gift, please do so. We would like to thank you for your
generosity, vision, and partnership.

Please contact Courteney Coolidge, Donor Relations Manager, at (510) 704-7480, ext. 760 or  to learn more about making a legacy gift to JFCS East Bay.