cai legacy incentive grant
A Wonderful Beginning for the CAI Legacy Program
A few years ago, CAI began building our Legacy Circle with the support of Create a Jewish Legacy (CJL) and their wonderful coordinator, Karen Secular. The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) of Greater MetroWest NJ’s program has provided incredible assistance and training throughout the past year.
Last spring and summer, our amazing CAI Legacy Team ─ chaired by Esther Kartus ─ received training and brainstormed about the appropriate name for our recognition society. Esther spoke from the Sanctuary Bimah last August about the Legacy Program, and we all began discussing the program with any member who would listen. As a result of our outreach, we secured new legacies and learned that some members had included CAI in their estate plans years ago, but never told anyone.
Slowly but surely, the program took off. By June 30th, we had 33 legacy commitments. Two more were received in July. As the conversations continue, we look forward to more and more members joining in this vital effort.
On July 29th, our initial accomplishments were rewarded when we received a $10,000 incentive grant from CJL and JCF at a celebratory breakfast. The congratulatory speeches and photographs instilled our team members with great joy and a feeling of appreciation for their roles in helping provide for CAI’s future.
Our early success in securing 35 legacy commitments and receiving the first $10,000 incentive grant is just the beginning. If we can meet our goals for 2015-16, we will earn another $10,000 incentive grant, to be paid in July 2016. However, the potential for incentive grants is not our primary motivation and earning these dollars is not our ultimate goal. Our goal is to help ensure CAI’s financial security in the decades to come by gradually building our Endowment Fund. We hope that – over time – more and more of our members will participate in this vital effort for the future. Won’t you consider joining in?
How can I become a member of the CAI Legacy Circle?
It is easy to join the CAI Legacy Circle. You simply have to include CAI in your estate plans through a bequest in your will, a beneficiary designation in your retirement plan or insurance policy, a charitable gift annuity, or a charitable reminder trust. You will also be included in the CAI Legacy Circle if you make an outright gift to the CAI Unrestricted Endowment Fund right now. Once you have made your legacy commitment, you sign a simple, non-binding form, and you are included! The amount of your gift is completely confidential and does not have to be disclosed on the commitment form. To learn more about the CAI Legacy Circle, please contact our Development Office, at development@agudath.org or by calling 973-226-3600, ext. 113.
