Popular Gift Plans

Wills and Living Trusts

You may have a desire to help the Jewish people with gifts, but are also concerned that you may need certain assets during your lifetime — to cover future living expenses or health care costs, for example. You can retain ownership and use of assets during life and still benefit The Fellowship by leaving the assets to us through a charitable bequest.

A bequest may be conveyed through a will or a trust (most commonly in the form of a “revocable living trust.”) An existing will or trust does not need to be re-written to include a charitable bequest—you often can add a “codicil” or amendment to your current estate plan.

Here is an example of how some donors have included The Fellowship in their will or trust (Please consult with your personal advisor for information on how to best plan your own bequest.)

“I give to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, EIN #36-3256096, 303 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2300, Chicago, Illinois 60601, …

The sum of $_______ .
_______________________ (description of specific property)
____% of my estate owned by me at my death.
The rest, residuary and remainder of my estate

… for its unrestricted use and benefit in furthering its mission of building bridges of cooperation between Christians and Jews.”

Beneficiary Designations

You can make a gift to The Fellowship from your financial accounts, retirement plans or life insurance plans. This can be done outside of a will or trust and is one of the easiest ways to leave a legacy (be sure, however, to coordinate this type of gift with your overall estate planning strategy.)

Through a charitable beneficiary transfer, the remaining balances in a checking or savings account, Certificate of Deposit, brokerage account, or retirement account may be transferred directly to a charity upon your death by designating the account as Payable on Death (“POD”) or Transfer on Death (“TOD”) to a charity.

You may also name The Fellowship as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy.

These transfers may be made quickly and easily by contacting your financial institution to obtain a beneficiary designation form, which should then be completed and returned as directed.

The Benefits

You keep control and ownership of the asset during your lifetime
Potential estate tax savings
An efficient means to provide a gift which will benefit the life changing work of The Fellowship
The transferred account avoids probate
For more details on making a beneficiary transfer gift and other planned gifts, please contact us.

Charitable Gift Annuities

A charitable gift annuity is a gift that gives back to you! It is created when you give assets to The Fellowship in exchange for a guaranteed, fixed payment, which is made to you or another beneficiary you’ve specified. A charitable gift annuity can be established with as little as $5,000 for donors who are at least 65 years of age. With most charitable gift annuities, payments begin immediately, but you may also consider a deferred charitable gift annuity—an arrangement in which payments begin at a later date.

Payment rates for charitable gift annuities are based on the age of the annuitant (the person receiving the income). The Fellowship follows the guidelines established by the American Council on Gift Annuities to determine payments. You can also reduce capital gains taxes when appreciated assets are used to fund the annuity. Use our online planning tools to see if a charitable gift annuity may be right for you.

The Benefits

A potential increase in retirement income
Quarterly payments guaranteed for life, partially tax free
Reduction of capital gains taxes on appreciated assets that fund a charitable gift annuity
Immediate tax deduction and potential estate tax savings
A generous gift to The Fellowship for the support of Israel and Jewish people in need around the world