Making a Large Planned Gift to JWV

In 2021, JWV celebrated its 125th birthday! That is a long history of protecting veterans’ rights, spreading Americanism, promoting community, and preserving the Jewish American military legacy. Your ongoing commitment to JWV is what allows us to fulfill our mission to help veterans.

Jewish men and women have served in the US Armed Forces through every conflict, from the Revolution to today. JWV is an extension of that service. We not only aid the next generation of veterans, but also teach our children and our grandchildren about the contribution of Jewish service- l’dor v’dor.  Your gift can help continue the service of Jewish Americans to the security and well-being of our nation.

Some gift options include:

  • Contribution of all or part of an IRA, annuity, or life insurance policy;
  • Contribution of stock;
  • Bequest in your Will or Trust

In all cases, we suggest that you consult with your attorney and/or financial advisor when considering making a large gift to JWV or any charity.

Many donors choose to make large gifts through their wills. In preparing a will, donors cover all the details – they can control the distribution of assets by clearly identifying the beneficiaries including their favorite charities – while at the same time reducing their estate taxes. Wills are revocable, affording the donor the choice of changing his/her mind. Copy similar to the following is commonly used in wills when specifying a charitable bequest…

“I give, devise, and bequeath to the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV) (tax ID number 53-0226294) in Washington, DC, the sum of  $_____________ (or a description of a specific nonmonetary asset) for the benefit of JWV and its general purposes.”

Donors can choose to give an organization an individual insurance policy, with the organization collecting the insurance proceeds upon the death of the donor. Discuss the several options using this vehicle with your attorney and insurance provider.

This type of trust involves three parties – the donor, the charity, and the trustee who manages the account. A trust is established by the donor who makes annual payments into the trust, which pays out to the charity upon the donor’s death. This type of trust benefits the donor during his lifetime by reducing his estate tax and providing income and capital gains tax benefits. There are numerous versions of ‘trusts’ that can meet the varied needs and interests of donors. Discuss with your financial adviser when considering this vehicle.

Donations of publicly traded stock that you have owned for more than a year and have increased in value may yield greater tax savings than making a cash donation. Consult a financial adviser for details.

Qualified plans include IRA’s, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and a variety of other investment plans. By changing the named beneficiary on the plan, a donor can designate all or a portion of the proceeds of a qualified plan to a non-profit organization. When the donor passes, the amount contributed to the charity isn’t included in the individual’s estate.

For more information on Planned Giving, call JWV’s Development Department at (202) 265-6280 or email us at jwv@jwv.org

Jewish War Veterans of the USA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization following the rules of war veteran organizations as defined by IRC 170 (c)(3).

We suggest that you consult with your attorney and/or financial advisor when considering making a large gift to JWV or any charity.