Why I Give

IMPACT: LEAVING A LEGACY

They’re not looking for fame or notoriety for their legacy gift—they just want people to know that if they can leave a gift, you can too.

Our Hope to Inspire

Paul and his wife Pam don’t need a football field named after them, or even a plaque on a park bench.

“I don’t believe in giving anonymously,” says Paul Bernstein. “Give with your name because it inspires others.”

Pam and Paul recently left a legacy gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, a meaningful gift for them.

“Anyone can leave a legacy gift of any size, based on what is meaningful to them,” explains Alene G. Sussman, Executive Director of the Foundation.

A legacy gift is defined as a planned future gift that designates some part of an individual’s estate as a donation to a nonprofit….

Rita and Ron Kelner on Leaving a Legacy Gift

Rita and Ron Kelner don’t consider themselves typical legacy donors.

“We’re familiar with legacies and endowments,” says Rita, referencing Ron’s tenure on the Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation’s Investment Committee. “I just never thought they would be an option for us.”

The Kelners have been involved with both Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation and Minneapolis Jewish Federation for more than two decades, but they hesitated to call themselves the face of Federation. Their modest but meaningful potential gift, they thought, wasn’t large enough to make that big of a difference…..

Bresslers’ Gifts Perpetuate Their Values

Drs. Eric and Sally Bressler believe their financial support of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation makes a statement about what is important to them.

“Their goals are consistent with our goals,” Eric says. “By donating to the Federation, we support all the valuable community programs and charitable organizations the Federation funds.”

In addition to their generous outright gifts, Eric and Sally have designated Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment (PACE) bequests in their wills to endow their support of the Federation’s Annual Campaign. They say this was an easy way to perpetuate their support of charitable causes funded by the Federation to benefit seniors, families and children in need, and people with mental disabilities. The Bresslers have also created the Bressler Family Philanthropic Fund, a donor-advised fund through which they support the Federation and other charitable organizations that are meaningful to them. “We expect the fund to continue and eventually be run by our children after we are gone,” Eric explains.

Eric, a neuroradiologist, and Sally, a Ph.D. in Russian literature and language who has chosen to focus on raising their children and volunteering, began considering a family philanthropic fund a few years ago.

Barb: Anyone Can do This

Planned giving ensures that our Jewish community remains strong for generations to come. By including the Minneapolis Jewish Federation in your estate plans, you extend your impact far beyond your lifetime—helping to sustain vital programs, care for those in need, and nurture Jewish life locally and around the world. These legacy gifts strengthen our community’s future, build lasting endowments, and reflect the timeless Jewish values of tzedakah and l’dor v’dor—giving from generation to generation.

Hear Barb’s story in this video

Ways to give

WAYS TO GIVE

Gifts in Your Will

Making a gift in your will, or a bequest, is simple way to support the future of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation

A gift through your estate can touch the lives of thousands who depend on the Minneapolis Jewish Federation—and may also lessen your estate tax burden. Your gift may take the form of:

A specific dollar amount
A percentage of your overall estate
Specific property
As with any gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation , you may choose to direct your estate gift to a specific purpose, such as a Minneapolis Jewish Federation endowment

Suggested bequest language: “I give, devise, bequeath, ______ [insert percentage or dollar amount or item of property to be donated] [of my gross estate, but no more than $ _____] to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation (Tax ID number: 41 – 0693866) to be used as an unrestricted gift to support the mission, programs, or services of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, or its successor organization, located at 4330 Cedar Lake Road South, Minneapolis, MN 55416; (952) 593-2600”

Gifts that Cost Nothing Now

Make the Minneapolis Jewish Federation a beneficiary of your IRA or other retirement plan to support our future, and potentially reduce your estate’s future taxes.

Making the Minneapolis Jewish Federation a full or partial beneficiary of a bank account or an IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement plan is easy and flexible and allows you to make a planned gift separate from your will.

Bank or Brokerage Accounts:

Most investment companies offer the option of a transfer on death (TOD) for accounts holding stocks and bonds. Banks offer a payable on death (POD) option for bank accounts (checking, savings, etc.).

To make an estate gift using direct transfers, contact the bank or company where the assets are held and request to add a POD or TOD designation to your account. You can then name the Minneapolis Jewish Federation as a beneficiary on the account.

Each company has its own forms and requirements to designate or change a beneficiary. Please contact your bank or investment company to request the appropriate forms.

For Retirement Plans:

Simply request a beneficiary form from your plan administrator. On the designation line, write “Minneapolis Jewish Federation (Tax ID number: 41 – 0693866).”

Gifts that Generate Income

Making a gift in your will, or a bequest, is simple way to support the future of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation

Charitable Gift Annuities: Along with an upfront tax deduction, part of the income you receive may be tax-free—making this an especially appealing option for many donors aged 70 and older.

Charitable Remainder Trusts: With this option, you can create a charitable plan designed around your personal financial goals. As the trust’s assets grow, your payments could potentially increase over time, while also providing meaningful tax benefits. After the trust expires, the remaining assets will support the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and any other charities you choose.

Share Your Gift with the Federation

If you’ve already named the Minneapolis Jewish Federation as a beneficiary of a brokerage or bank account, we thank you for your generous gift! We encourage you to tell us about your gift by completing our Estate Gift Form. This document does not create a binding commitment. Any information you provide about your gift will be kept confidential. You can share your gift with us and remain anonymous if you choose.

By sharing your gift, you ensure that the Federation understands your wishes for how you would like your gift to be used.

Anyone who includes the Minneapolis Jewish Federation in their estate or planned giving is honored as a member of our Legacy Society.

What to give

WHAT TO GIVE

By naming the Minneapolis Jewish Federation in your will or other estate plan, you will have a tremendous impact on our Jewish community l’dor vador, from generation to generation.

Stocks and Bonds

Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. As with any gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, you may choose to direct your estate gift to a specific purpose, such as a Minneapolis Jewish Federation endowment.

Appropriate for: any age 21 or older

Benefits of gifts of stocks and bonds

Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of appreciated stock
Receive a charitable income tax deduction
Further our mission today

How to make a gift of stocks and bonds

MN JCF’s stock account is with Charles Schwab under the “Minneapolis Jewish Federation”. We work with a local office in Wayzata and their phone number is 1-800-435-4000. Account information is as follows:

Minneapolis Jewish Federation

Account number: 6347-5114

DTC number: 0164

Federal ID: 41-0693866

In order to process your gift, please contact Rafina Larsen at 952.417.2320 or rlarsen@jewishminneapolis.org to let us know the name of the stock you are transferring and the number of shares.

The estimated time to complete your gift is dependent on how it’s held. If you’re unclear about how your stock is held, please call us for assistance with related paperwork (statement and/or report) in hand. While there is typically no cost associated with the transfer of stock or mutual funds, there is a nominal fee incurred when we liquidate the transferred assets. These charges are deducted from proceeds of the stock or mutual fund sale/liquidation and do not reduce your potential charitable deduction.

To make a gift of mutual fund assets, please contact us. We will provide specific instructions based on if it is held:

By a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution
By a company with a transfer agent
In paper certificates

Please contact us HERE with questions on how to donate stocks and bonds.

Retirement Assets

Donating part or all of your unused retirement assets, such as your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan, is easy and flexible and allows you to make a planned gift separate from your will. If you are like most people, you probably will not use all of your retirement assets during your lifetime. You can make a gift of your unused retirement assets to help further our mission.

In addition, as a tax-exempt organization, we will receive your gift tax free. Depending on your state and tax bracket, as much as one-third of inherited retirement assets may be lost to taxes—or even upwards of 90% in extreme cases under combined federal, state, and estate tax rates. As with any gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, you may choose to direct your estate gift to a specific purpose, such as a Minneapolis Jewish Federation endowment.

Appropriate for: any age 21 or older

Benefits of gifts of retirement assets

Avoid potential estate tax on retirement assets
Your heirs would avoid income tax on any retirement assets funded on a pre-tax basis
Receive potential estate tax savings from an estate tax deduction

How to make a gift of retirement assets

To leave your retirement assets to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, you will need to complete a beneficiary designation form provided by your retirement plan custodian. If you designate the Minneapolis Jewish Federation as beneficiary, we will benefit from the full value of your gift because your IRA assets will not be taxed at your death. Your estate will benefit from an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift.

Simply request a beneficiary form from your plan administrator. On the designation line, write “Minneapolis Jewish Federation (Tax ID number: 41 – 0693866).”

Each company has its own forms and requirements to designate or change a beneficiary. Please contact your investment company to request the appropriate forms.

Please contact us HERE with questions on how to donate retirement assets.

Real Estate

Real estate held for more than one year can be an attractive asset for donors to use in making a gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation. Donors may wish to gift residences, vacation homes, farms, or undeveloped land.

The Minneapolis Jewish Federation will generally not accept outright gifts of real estate but will consider accepting a gift of a single purpose, single member limited liability company whose only business purpose is the ownership, development, management and operation of the real estate.

As with any gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, you may choose to direct your estate gift to a specific purpose, such as a Minneapolis Jewish Federation endowment. Please contact us HERE with questions on how to donate real estate.

Appropriate for: any age 21 or older

Benefits of gifts of real estate:

Potentially eliminate capital gains on appreciation, which may increase the amount available to charity
Claim a fair market value charitable deduction in the tax year the gift is made
Leveraging Federation’s expertise in liquidating a complex charitable asset

Insurance

A life insurance policy can become a gift of much greater value than the actual money expended when the Minneapolis Jewish Federation is named as a beneficiary or gifted the policy. The donor may be entitled to a charitable deduction based on the cash value of the policy and premium payments and proceeds to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation are not subject to probate. Donors wanting to donate life insurance policy gifts to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation should do so to “Minneapolis Jewish Federation ”.

Appropriate for: any age 21 or older

Benefits of gifts of life insurance

Receive a charitable income tax deduction
If the Minneapolis Jewish Federation retains the policy to maturity, you can receive additional tax deductions by making annual gifts so that we can pay the premiums.
If you name us as a beneficiary, once the policy matures, the proceeds of your policy will be paid to our organization so that we can use the proceeds to further our charitable work.
If the Minneapolis Jewish Federation cashes in the policy, you will be able to see firsthand how your gift supports our charitable work.

Life insurance beneficiary designation: A donor can designate the Minneapolis Jewish Federation as the primary or contingent beneficiary for some or all of the proceeds of any life insurance policy. Beneficiary designations do not require Minneapolis Jewish Federation approval.

Gift of existing policy: A donor can give an existing life insurance policy to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation , making the Minneapolis Jewish Federation the policy’s owner and beneficiary. The donor can either pay-up the entire policy or give his/her intent to make annual contributions to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation for the cost of the premiums (premium notices come to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation which pays the premium). The Minneapolis Jewish Federation will provide the donor with a receipt in the amount of the premium payments.

Please note that in making a gift acceptance determination, there are many factors to be considered.

Please contact us HERE with questions on how to donate life insurance.

Cash

A donation of cash is a simple and easy way for you to make a gift.

Appropriate for: any age

Benefits of gifts of cash

See an immediate impact with your gift
Reducing taxable income through deductions
Convenience
Personal and emotional benefits such as: modeling generosity for your family and successive generations, happiness and personal fulfillment, putting your values into action, deeper sense of meaning in life, a greater sense of purpose and connection to community

How to make a gift of cash

Online gifts of cash – please click here and complete our online donation form.

Mailing a gift of cash – You can send us a check or money order made out to the “Minneapolis Jewish Federation”. Please let us know if you want your gift used for a specific purpose by indicating that purpose either in the memo line or in a letter to us.

More on gifts of cash

Did you know that if a check is postmarked December 31st and, even if the check is not received and cashed by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation until after the new year, the IRS will allow you to take a deduction in the year the check was mailed? Keep this in mind for year-end tax planning.

As with any gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, you may choose to direct your estate gift to a specific purpose, such as a Minneapolis Jewish Federation endowment.

Business Interests

As a business owner, you have the opportunity not only to build your business and accumulate wealth for yourself and your family, but also to accomplish your philanthropic goals through charitable planning. A gift of your corporate stock or assets can provide you with tax and income benefits and help further our mission.

Securities, other than publicly traded securities, including but not limited to stock in closely held corporations, partnership interests, whether limited or general, and limited liability company interests, and restricted securities (also known as unregistered securities, investment-letter stock, control stock or private placement stock) (aka, “Closely Held Securities”) may be accepted by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation.

As with any gift to the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, you may choose to direct your estate gift to a specific purpose, such as a Minneapolis Jewish Federation endowment.

Benefits of gifts of business interests

Receive a charitable income tax deduction
Avoid tax on the sale of your business stock or assets
Receive lifetime payments if your business stock or assets are used to fund a planned gift

Please contact us HERE with questions on how to donate business interests.