Earlier this week in Springfield, MA, Life & Legacy hosted its largest annual conference yet, convening over 250 Jewish organizational professionals, lay-leaders, and board chairs focused on using the tools of legacy giving and endowment building to sustain a permanent Jewish future.
The theme of the 11th annual gathering, “A Pivotal Moment,” alluded to the convergence of the wide-ranging themes affecting philanthropy and therefore legacy building, with a particular focus on taking advantage of the great wealth transfer, artificial intelligence, and younger generations of donors. New partners from Dallas, Kansas City, Rockland County, Manitoba, Northern New Jersey, and Northeast Florida represented some of the 137 participants in attendance for the first time. The conference was held in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America.
In her opening remarks on Monday, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation president, Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, warmly welcomed the new communities, as well as Life & Legacy’s new director, Julie Earne. In her own remarks, Earne alluded to the span of the Jewish communities represented at the conference and within the program.
“What strikes me is that Jewish life isn’t sustained by any one institution,” noted Earne in her opening remarks. “In this room today, we have representation from across the fabric of Jewish society: Federations and foundations, day schools, synagogues, camps, social services and cultural organizations. Together, you create something larger: Jewish peoplehood and belonging. At a moment when we are asking what will sustain Jewish life for generations to come, the institutions represented in this room are the most essential part of the answer.”
Earne went on to name the expanding range of philanthropic tools and vehicles converging in real time, and the opportunity to align your “why” with your “how:”
“You’ll see that question running through this conference: in conversations about technology, donor-advised funds, non-cash assets, professional advisors, women and wealth, impact investing, and new ways of engaging donors and families,” said Earne. “The tools will continue to change. Our ‘why’ remains our north star.”
Patrick Schmitt, Co-CEO of FreeWill and scholar-in-residence for the conference, took the topic further, exploring with fellow panelists why donors choose to invest in endowments and what inspires them to make a lasting commitment to the organizations they care about. He also taught a workshop about securing legacy gifts amidst the great wealth transfer. Michael Lustig, adjunct professor of finance at NYU Stern School of Business, taught a masterclass on mission-aligned and impact investing. Additional blocks centered on donor advised funds and the reshaping of Jewish philanthropy by women.
Other learning opportunities took advantage of the span of communities and organizations represented at the conference. Tuesday’s opening plenary featured speakers from a federation, camp, community foundation, and a synagogue. Afterwards, attendees took deep dives into each example, using them as case studies in productive development and endowment building.
Further workshops explored making legacy asks with a small, stretched team; finding CEO-board alignment; development through digital engagement; and ensuring a lifelong culture of philanthropy with the younger generations.
Over dinner, the Life & Legacy team recognized both the communities that recently completed their four-year Life & Legacy journey—Windsor and London, Ontario, and Greater Hartford, Connecticut—and awarded the prestigious Gail Littman Leadership Award.
The distinguished award recognizes exceptional leadership in advancing legacy philanthropy and inspiring lasting charitable commitments. This year’s winner was Cindy Dauber Anapolsky, Senior Director of Charitable Giving at the Houston Jewish Community Foundation. For 12 years, Cindy has played a pivotal role in strengthening Houston’s culture of legacy giving and helping secure the long-term financial sustainability of their Jewish community.
“This work only happens if we keep showing up,” Anapolsky shared in her acceptance speech. “My grandmother used to say, ‘If we don’t take care of other Jews, no one will.’ That might be the best definition of legacy giving I know. Legacy giving is almost never urgent. There is always an event, a campaign, a crisis. Our job is to keep legacy from falling to the bottom of the list.”
Anapolsky’s commitment to keeping legacy giving at the forefront resonated back to President Winnie Sandler Grinspoon’s opening remarks.
“Life & Legacy has demonstrated what is possible when communities make long-term financial sustainability a shared priority, generating more than $2.3 billion in legacy commitments for Jewish organizations,” said Grinspoon. This is a moment to build on what has worked while continuing to evolve, innovate, and respond to a changing Jewish community and philanthropic landscape. We are thinking deeply about the future of Jewish life and the role the Foundation can play in helping Jewish communities remain strong, vibrant, and sustainable for generations to come.”
