The Jewish Community Foundation can accept a wide variety of assets, including:

• Cash 
  
  Cash, usually in the form of a check, is an easy and convenient way for you to make a gift.  You can claim a current tax deduction of up to 50% of your adjusted gross income in any one year when you itemize deductions, with the excess, if any, carried forward for an additional five years.  Simple instructions and a printable Donor Gift Form are available.
  
• Securities 
  
  Gifts of appreciated securities offer important tax advantages, since their full fair market value is deductible as a charitable contribution up to 30% of your adjusted gross income each year.  Gifts that exceed the limit can be carried forward for up to five additional years.  You do not have to pay federal or state capital gains taxes on the appreciation when making a gift to the Foundation.
  
  After the Foundation sells the securities, the full proceeds are available to support your charitable goals.  For instructions on how to contribute securities to the Foundation, click here.
  
• Real Estate 
  
  The Jewish Community Foundation can accept a gift of a house or other personal residence, commercial buildings, and income-producing or non-income-producing land.  A gift of real estate that you have owned for more than a twelve months generally entitles you a tax deduction for the fair market value of the property. You also avoid paying capital gains tax on the appreciation.  The Foundation can accept most unencumbered real property gifts, but our Real Estate Committee must approve a proposed gift of real estate in advance.  If you are interested in making a gift of real estate, please call our office at 860.523.7460 or contact us at giftplanning@jcfhartford.org.
  
• Bequests 
  
  Naming the Foundation in your will or living trust is a popular way to leave a legacy to our community.  A charitable bequest can be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate, or what remains after other bequests,  including those to family members, are made.  Or, your will can specify that your heirs receive lifetime income from your estate, with the remainder going to the Foundation for charitable purposes.  If you choose, the bequest can flow into a donor advised fund for your children to carry on your family’s philanthropy.  Sample bequest language and additional information are available.
  
• Retirement Plan Assets 
  
  Retirement plan assets are ideal to give to charities when you are gone because they are so heavily taxed if left to heirs.  Income and estate taxes can easily consume over 65% of the account balance at death.  By naming the Foundation as a remainder beneficiary of these assets, you can leave a very efficient legacy.  For more information, click here.
  
• Life Insurance 
  
  For those whose need for life insurance has decreased over the years, making a gift of a paid-up policy can be a convenient and effective way of meeting your charitable goals.  When you transfer ownership of a policy with a cash surrender value to the Jewish Community Foundation, you are entitled to a charitable tax deduction approximately equal to its value.  For more information, click here.

To learn more about establishing a fund at the Jewish Community Foundation, contact giftplanning@jcfhartford.org or call 860.523.7460.