How To Become A Donor

Jewish tradition teaches us the importance of planting seeds of growth for our Jewish community - today and tomorrow.

The tools of planned giving provide a wonderful way to fulfi ll this time-honored tradition in Jewish life. Leaving a Jewish legacy for your family and community keeps our people strong. By making a planned gift , your legacy will become a part of the OJCF’s future and will serve as a permanent reminder of your generosity to and love for our Jewish Community.

Here are just a few ways to create that legacy. For more information on these and other planned giving options, please call Julie Diamond at (503) 248-9328.

The OJCF Community Endowment Fund: In 2006, OJCF's Unrestricted Fund was formally renamed the OJCF Community Endowment Fund to more accurately reflect the fund's scope and purpose. These funds ensure the survival of the local Jewish community awarding annual grants to both Jewish and secular organizations. The fund gives priority to Jewish projects relating to art and culture, community development, education, health, social welfare. The fund also awards grants for projects which represent an innovative, start-up effort, are capital in nature, promote collaboration among qualified organizations, serve a broad segment of the community and are located in Oregon or SW Washington.

Donate to the OJCF Community Endowment Fund online

Donor Advised Funds: A Donor Advised Fund allows you to give back to the Jewish and secular community in an informed and active way. Named for you, your family or in memory of a loved one, the fund enables you or your family to make recommendations for grants to qualified charities. A Donor Advised Fund provides you with the greatest flexibility and maximum tax benefits. Once you open a Donor Advised Fund, you may make grant recommendations to any 501(c)(3) organization for causes/programs of your choice, or view the OJCF Book of Community Needs for specific requests. Click here to open a Donor Advised Fund!

Endowment Funds: By establishing an Endowment Fund, you help to create a permanent, secure method of supporting OJCF and Jewish Portland. Endowment Funds may be tailored to provide support for particular efforts or interests. Some examples of activities that designated Endowment Funds at OJCF support are: scholarships at Jewish or other educational institutions; programs at Jewish Community Centers; cash grants to meet the essential needs of the Jewish poor in Oregon and Southwest Washington; and the needs of seniors at the Robison Jewish Home. Plus, you enjoy a current income tax charitable deduction and avoid estate taxes on contributed assets. An Endowment Fund can also serve as a perpetual legacy to honor or memorialize a loved one or an entire family. Click here to create an endowment fund!

Charitable Bequests: A charitable bequest is a gift made through a provision in your will or trust. A named endowment fund will be named in honor of you and benefits the charity or purpose you designate. Or, you may leave the bequest unrestricted and allow the designated charity's Board of Trustees to determine the best use of the funds. Your estate receives a full federal estate tax charitable deduction for the amount of bequest in the year of your death. During your lifetime, the assets remain in your control. Click here for language you can use to form a bequest

Charitable Gift Annuities-Profiting from Your Generosity: Charitable Gift Annuities are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to make a difference because they provide funding for you or your loved one now, while providing funding for the community upon your passing. A charitable gift annuity is a contractual arrangement between you and the OJCF in which you make an irrevocable gift of cash or securities ($10,000 and above) in exchange for immediate, guaranteed lifetime payments. After your passing, the remaining value will benefit the OJCF's Community Endowment Fund, which provides emergency and programmatic support for our shared Jewish community and the community at large. You can claim a charitable income tax deduction for the part of the transfer representing the charitable gift. Also, a portion of the payments you receive is tax-free. If you use highly appreciated assets that you have owned for longer than 12 months, the capital gains tax is generally spread over your lifetime, offering further tax relief. To learn more about Charitable Gift Annuities, please call Julie Diamond at (503) 248-9328.

Charitable Remainder Trusts: With a charitable remainder trust, you retain an income interest for a specified period of time. The charity serves as trustee and/or beneficiary, and receives the remaining trust principal upon the death of the last income beneficiary, or at the trust term expiration. The proceeds remaining are used to create a named endowment fund. Donors may designate whether the proceeds are unrestricted, or used for a specific purpose. View the different types of Charitable Remainder Trusts

Life Insurance: You allow the OJCF to purchase and own a life insurance policy on the life of yourself or other designatee. Your small contribution toward the premium, which is tax deductible, will generate a large future benefit used to establish an endowment fund in honor of yourself or a loved one. With life insurance, you can make a sizable bequest without significantly depleting your existing assets. You may also convert old policies, or may gift a paid-up policy outright.

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