In 2018, Rose Community Foundation partnered with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to create Live On | LIFE & LEGACY®, an initiative to help Jewish organizations establish and grow their endowments and foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the Jewish community. The program utilized the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s national curriculum and built on Rose Community Foundation’s previous endowment work to provide participants with hands-on training on topics such as donor solicitation and stewardship, marketing and gift acceptance policies. The program also offered ongoing incentive grants to encourage organizations to secure legacy gifts to help grow their endowment funds over time. 

“When we began this initiative in 2018, we had no idea how much would change over the course of four years,” says Amelia Fink, Rose Community Foundation’s director of nonprofit funds and endowments. “We’ve seen how a strong endowment is key to securing an organization’s stability during challenging times and can help organizations remain nimble and ready to face future hurdles.” 

Rose Community Foundation recently held two receptions to celebrate the completion of the four-year initiative and thank those who are strengthening the Greater Denver and Boulder Jewish communities through their legacy gifts. Nineteen participating organizations were recognized at the events: 

• ADL Mountain States 
• Boulder JCC 
• Congregation Beth Evergreen 
• Congregation Bonai Shalom 
• Congregation Har HaShem 
• Congregation HEA 
• Congregation Nevei Kodesh 
• Denver Community Kollel 
• Denver Jewish Day School 
• JCC Denver
• JEWISHcolorado  
• Jewish Family Service of Colorado
• Judaism Your Way 
• Kavod Senior Life 
• Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society 
• Shalom Park 
• Temple Sinai 
• The Jewish Experience
• Yeshiva Toras Chaim 

In the four years of Live On | LIFE & LEGACY®, participating organizations collectively secured over 920 new legacy commitments from 550 donors with an estimated value of $46 million, helping to reenergize legacy giving in the community. In addition to securing new legacy commitments, organizations formalized 611 legacy commitments ensuring that the intentions of donors will be honored and realized. Many groups met or exceeded their fundraising goals, qualifying them for a total of $452,000 in unrestricted incentive and bonus grants.

“Live On | LIFE & LEGACY® has been instrumental in putting legacy giving into focus for the Boulder JCC,” says Jenny Cohen, development and data coordinator at the Boulder Jewish Community Center.  “The program inspired us to be strategic, thoughtful, and forward-thinking not only about meeting our goals, but in creating a culture of planned giving that will lead to long-term sustainability. “Rose Community Foundation and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation have been amazing thought partners and have taught us much along the way.” 

If you would like to make a lasting impact on the Greater Denver and Boulder Jewish communities, consider leaving a gift in your will, trust, retirement fund or life insurance policy. Learn more.

Photo above: Amelia Fink, director of nonprofit funds and endowments, and Leslie Sidell, legacy donor for Denver Jewish Day School and member of Rose Community Foundation’s Jewish Life committee.