When “Judy” sat down with her daughter over Rosh Hashanah dinner, their conversation drifted from brisket to legacy. She had just learned about the Life & Legacy program and felt inspired to share her own hopes for the future of Tidewater’s Jewish community. “It’s not just about money,” she told her daughter. “It’s about making sure what matters to me lives on — through you, through our values, and through the community that shaped us.”
That quiet conversation is exactly the kind of ripple Life & Legacy Plus aims to create. This initiative, in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, builds on the success of the original Life & Legacy program to ensure the sustainability of Jewish organizations and causes.
Life & Legacy focuses on more than just enrolling participants; it prioritizes donor education, cultivation, and maturation. Through tailored guidance, comprehensive resources, and a focus on relationship-building, Life & Legacy Plus empowers organizations to engage donors in meaningful conversations about their legacies. Eleven partners, including synagogues, schools, and human services agencies, are part of the program, reflecting a shared commitment to securing the future of Jewish life in Tidewater.
Since Tidewater Jewish Foundation relaunched the Life & Legacy program in May 2024, participating organizations have experienced growth in several areas, including donor engagement, interest in legacy giving, and strengthened connections within the Jewish community. Five new legacy gifts have been formalized, valued at nearly $1.4 million. Five presentations have been delivered to boards and stakeholders of TJF’s affiliate partners, planting seeds for future growth. Over the High Holidays, more than 2,000 marketing pieces were distributed, reminding that the future of Jewish Tidewater is something that is built together.
Beyond the numbers, a cultural shift is taking root—one that embraces storytelling, multigenerational planning, and thoughtful stewardship. From synagogue leaders to school administrators, lay leaders are engaging in dozens of meetings with TJF’s Legacy Teams, learning how to talk about impact, articulate values, and plan boldly for what’s next.
The initiative is also creating meaningful conversations with community members about what legacy means to them. For some, it’s a way to honor family traditions. For others, it’s a chance to involve the next generation in building a future they’ll one day inherit.
“This program is about more than commitments,” says Amy Weinstein, development strategist at TJF. “It’s about nurturing a culture of giving that reflects who we are and what we hope to pass on.”
Four stewardship events are being planned across several agencies this spring and fall. On May 20, TJF will welcome back Kathy Sarlson, national director of Life & Legacy at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, for an evening dedicated to the “why” and “how” of stewardship—because celebrating impact is just as important as creating it.
To learn more or get involved, visit https://foundation.jewishva.org/life-legacy or contact Amy Weinstein at aweinstein@tjfva.org or 757-965-6114.
Life & Legacy helps future look brighter
