Legacy and Planned Giving
Imagine Your Future Impact
What will Jewish life look like for your grandchildren – and their grandchildren? You can’t predict the future. But you can help shape it. That’s why a legacy gift to the Forward is so important.
In its early days, the Forward helped Jewish immigrants as they struggled to become American. Today, the Forward helps American Jews with a different challenge: how to find Jewish meaning in a complex, fragmented world. Then, as now, the Forward is an invaluable community asset. When you make a legacy gift to the Forward, you can help pass your values on to the next generation.
Join our Legacy Society
By making a legacy gift you will automatically become a member of the Abraham Cahan Legacy Society, a special circle of champions who treasure the Forward as much as you do.
Our circle of champions honors our founding editor, Abraham (“Ab”) Cahan, whose legacy looms large in journalism, and whose vision continues to inspire the Forward’s work today.
Have you already created a legacy gift to benefit the Forward? Please let us know and we’ll warmly welcome you as a member of the Abraham Cahan Legacy Society. Please complete this form so that we may honor your legacy gift.
What is Legacy Giving?
When you make a legacy gift to the Forward, you pass your financial support and values to the next generation.
“I grew up listening to my mother and grandparents speak Yiddish… I was never taught to fully appreciate its richness, texture, value to our historical legacy…I am on a mission to reclaim it, and a vibrant publication like the Forward serves such an important role” – Gila
Legacy gifts are as diverse as our supporters, and can take many different forms. Some legacy giving options to consider that continue the donors control over the assets during their lifetime are:
Wills
A simple way to make a legacy gift is by naming The Forward Association as a beneficiary of your will. This gift in your will, or “bequest,” to the Forward may also reduce the taxes that would otherwise be paid by your estate.
For sample bequest language you can provide to your advisor, please click here.
Retirement Assets
Because the assets of your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other retirement plans are heavily taxed when left to loved ones, consider instead designating all or a percentage of these accounts to the Forward after your lifetime. Funds left to the Forward won’t be taxed.
This is a simple legacy gift to create and can be done without the expense of an attorney. All you have to do is list the Forward Association, Inc. on the beneficiary designation form for a percentage of your account. You can ask your plan administrator for the form, or access it online.
Savings Account (POD)
The Forward can be designated as a beneficiary of your savings accounts, CDs and other bank accounts by designating your account as Payable on Death (“POD”) to the Forward Association, Inc. This legacy gift can also be done without the expense of an attorney.
Retirement Assets (QCDs)
If you are 70 ½ or older, and have a traditional or a Roth IRA, you are allowed to transfer up to $100,000 for an individual, or $200,000 for a couple, per calendar year. To get the tax benefit in a particular year, you must make the gift to the Forward before December 31st of that year. There must be a direct transfer from the IRA to the Forward. If you are interested in making this gift please click here for a transfer form to use.
The advantage of this type of gift is that the income from the IRA is not subject to Federal income tax and is excluded from your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). It may even satisfy your required minimum distribution requirement.
Insurance Policies
If years ago you took out an insurance policy whose original purpose no longer applies, such as providing for minor children, consider changing the beneficiary to the Forward Association, Inc. By doing this, receive an immediate income tax deduction and you may also reduce your future estate tax liability.
If the policy is in premium-paying mode, you may receive additional tax benefits when you make annual gifts to the Forward Association to cover the premium payments. When the policy matures, the proceeds are paid to the Forward.
Stock Gifts
You can make a gift of appreciated securities held over one year such as publicly traded stocks, bonds and mutual fund shares to the Forward Association, Inc., while avoiding capital gains tax and receiving a charitable deduction on the fair market value when it was received by the Forward.
Making a gift of stock to the Forward is easy. Just click here for the form.
Other Ways to Create a Legacy
There are a variety of other legacy giving opportunities that may be available to you, such as charitable remainder trusts, annuities, and gifts of art or real estate. We are happy to discuss these options with you, your attorney, or your financial advisor.
Contact Us
Let’s talk about the legacy you’d like to leave. Please contact Lisa Lepson, VP, Development, at 646-248-6406 or at [email protected] for a confidential conversation.
Inquiries about legacy gifts are confidential and not binding.
State laws vary. The information provided is for general purposes only, and we recommend supporters consult with their advisors when considering charitable planning.
Legal Name: The Forward Association Inc.
Address: 125 Maiden Lane, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10038
Tax ID No: 13-0623590