The Need for Legacy Giving in San Diego’s Jewish Community
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Giving by individuals has reached an all-time high. The Non-Profit Times estimates that
more than 70% of households nationwide contribute to charity each year. In 2004, nearly $250 billion was
donated to charity, with approximately 76% of this amount from individuals. Religion grew to $88.3 billion
and is 35.5% of all donations.
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Nationally, only 42% of people have wills, and 8% of these leave a charitable gift in their will
or estate plans. In San Diego’s Jewish community, the recent demographics study conducted by
the United Jewish Federation of San Diego County revealed that 70% of people have a will or estate
document. However, of this amount, 14% have arranged for a planned gift to a charity and just
7% have designated the gift to a Jewish organization.
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If merely 6% of Americans left a charitable bequest, the current number of charitable
bequests would more than double. Imagine what the impact to charitable organizations
would be if 10% of Americans left a charitable gift through their estate plans!
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Harvard University is generally credited for starting modern philanthropy in the United States.
Its first fundraising drive in 1643 was called “begging”. The drive raised 500 pounds and was
thought to be a great success. Harvard now maintains one of the largest endowments in the
country at $22.6 billion.
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