In May 2021, the Nashville community was recognized by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for successfully completing four years in the LIFE & LEGACY program.  During the past four years, more than 370 donors have made after-life commitments totaling approximately $22 million after having a conversation with one of the LIFE & LEGACY volunteers.  

The volunteers represent thirteen local organizations participating in the LIFE & LEGACY program. Led by the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville & Middle Tennessee, participating organizations include Akiva School, BBYO-Nashville, Chabad of Nashville, Gordon JCC, Hadassah-Nashville, Jewish Family Service, Congregation Micah, NCJW-Nashville, Congregation Sherith Israel, The Temple, Vanderbilt Hillel, and West End Synagogue. 

The LIFE & LEGACY program is a four-year partnership program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation with local small to mid-sized Jewish communities across North America.  The Foundation provides training, support, and monetary incentives to assist Jewish organizations to secure legacy gifts, steward donors, and integrate legacy giving into the philanthropic culture of the local community.  

After four years, the Nashville community has graduated from the financial support of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.  However, the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville & Middle Tennessee will continue providing community-wide support for the LIFE & LEGACY program. 

Volunteers will continue having conversations with members of the community about after-lifetime giving.  The Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) will continue to offer estate planning seminars to LIFE & LEGACY donors who have questions about after-lifetime giving. 

After-lifetime giving is commonly done through a bequest in a will or by adding an organization as a beneficiary to a life insurance policy or a retirement account.  Some donors choose to set up a fund at the Jewish Foundation through which their initial gift will be invested for the benefit of the organizations named by the donor. 

As the Nashville community enters the fifth year of the LIFE & LEGACY program, the benefits of the program are clear.  The participating organizations have enhanced, and in some cases created from scratch, an endowment program to assure their long-term success.  The participating organizations have already realized gifts totaling $400,500 toward the $22 million committed.