By Jeremy Hirsh, JCF, General Counsel

A few years ago, my wife and I met with our attorney to prepare our wills. With three young children, we knew that we needed to provide for the unimaginable, and we were overwhelmed by many of the decisions before us. 

Shortly after we sat down, our attorney asked a bunch of questions. Her advice and counsel were a tremendous help, even on some of the bigger issues, such as guardianship, that we had already given some thought to.

One of the questions was: “Are there charities to which you would like to leave a bequest?”

While there were charities we had long supported, had Allison not asked us, we might not have decided to include them in our estate plan at that point in our lives.

Whether it is a matter of suggesting a straightforward bequest in a will, a donor-advised fund, or something more specialized, the advisors in our community are in a privileged position to guide clients on the benefits of charitable giving.

Here at the Jewish Community Foundation (“JCF”), we partner with donors and advisors, every day, to help donors realize their charitable dreams. We work with advisors and donors to create lasting, meaningful contributions to the future of the Jewish community. Those contributions arrive in all sorts of ways: appreciated securities, insurance policies, through charitable remainder trusts, as well as through supporting foundations and other vehicles. The pathways are numerous, but, inevitably, one key element is an informed and aware advisor.

At JCF, our commitment to working with donors and their advisors is embodied in our Professional Advisors Network. Through its events, the Professional Advisors Network is one way that JCF provides opportunities for professionals to learn, network, and connect.

JCF's talented team of professionals are ready to support and enhance the advisor’s client relationships, either behind the scenes or side-by-side with the advisor. To learn more about our Professional Advisors Network or for general information about JCF, please call us at (973) 929-3113.