Life and Legacy

About the Program

What Is LIFE & LEGACY™?

It is an endowment program created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) to ensure the sustainability of local Jewish communities through after-lifetime giving. In 2017, HGF partnered with the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville to administer the program in our community. There are 14 participating organizations in the Nashville community.

How Does It Work?

Each participating Jewish organization has created a team of volunteers who meet with potential donors for a “conversation” about after-lifetime giving. After-lifetime giving allows a donor to use their resources during their lifetime, while promising to provide support later to their selected organizations. The gifts are most commonly made as a bequest in a will or adding an organization as a beneficiary to a 401(k) account or life insurance policy.

Key Documents

Letter of Intent (LOI): Each donor signs this form to signify their intent to leave a gift to the named organization or organizations. In Nashville, donors leave a gift to an average of 2 organizations.

Gift Formalization Form: Each donor must provide “proof” that they have completed the legal requirements for leaving a gift, such as adding a codicil to their will or completing a beneficiary form for their 401(k) account or life insurance policy. A gift must be formalized so that the donor’s intentions will be fulfilled, ensuring the organization will receive the intended gift later.

What is a Legacy Gift?

A legacy gift is an after-lifetime gift that you donate to the local Jewish organizations you wish to support. You may leave a bequest in a will. You may add the organizations as a beneficiary of a retirement account or a life insurance policy. Another option is to create an endowment fund for the benefit of your designated organizations.

What about my children and grandchildren?

Your most important responsibility is to take care of your family and yourself. Legacy commitments allow you to fulfill that responsibility while still leaving something for the organization(s) that are important to you and your family. Many legacy donors leave a small portion, such as 1%, 5%, or 10% of their assets or their estate, as a gift to their designated organizations.

Creating a legacy gift is a powerful way to teach your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews about Jewish tradition. Jewish tradition teaches us that one of our key duties is to make the world a better place for future generations. Legacy gifts allow us to do just that.

I am not wealthy, so how can I be a legacy donor?

Legacy gifts are powerful because nearly everyone has the ability to be a legacy donor. We may not have significant wealth during our lifetime, but we will leave behind assets such as a retirement plan, a home, a life insurance policy, or a car. Designating a portion of these assets to the organizations that mattered most during your lifetime will honor your legacy long after you are gone.

For more information, contact one of the participating organizations, or: