Tarbut V' Torah

Tzedakah can take many shapes and forms. Whether it is of your time or financial assets, it is a cornerstone of Judaism.

As with all private school institutions, tuition does not cover the cost of educating a child. Giving our students a quality education depends on additional financial resources to support our outstanding faculty and to provide the programs that motivate our children. At Tarbut, every student is a beneficiary of your generosity.

We encourage every Tarbut family and friend to make a tax-deductible contribution to offset this tuition gap and support our programs. Your gift is vital to the success of Tarbut and will allow us to achieve our goal of 100% participation from our Tarbut families, grandparents and friends.

Giving as a Family
There are many ways that your family's philanthropic giving can blend wit your financial needs and tax planning. Many families have established foundations or philanthropic funds for charitable giving. Giving as a family is a wonderful opportunity for our Tarbut parents to involve grandparents in the act of tzedakah and enhance giving to Tarbut on behalf of our children.

Annual Giving
Gifts to Tarbut's Annual Fund are unrestricted and allow Tarbut to enhance its programs.

Gifts of Cash: Gifts of cash are 100% tax-deductible and are the easiest form of giving. Gifts may be paid in one sum, spread out monthly and/or paid with a credit card.
Gifts of Stock: Gifts of highly appreciated stock and marketable securities are also 100% tax-deductible. The value of your contribution will be the average of the high and low on the date the gift is completed.

Here are some issues to consider when contributing stock:

Always transfer the stock directly to Tarbut. Selling first and contributing cash will trigger a capital gains tax.
Give your most highly appreciated assets first as you receive the added benefit of avoiding a capital gains tax.

Please contact us at (949) 509-9500 to make simple arrangements for the transfer of stock and securities.

Special Events
Special events are a vital part of any fundraising program. At Tarbut V'Torah, it is not only a way to raise money, but also a way to promote our programs, scholarship and athletics. Gifts to special events are generally tax-deductible for the amount above the goods and services rendered.

Some Special Events include:

Annual Benefit Dinner Dance Gala
Guest Speakers

Matching Gifts
Does your employer have a matching gifts program? With a matching gift from your employer, your gift goes twice as far!

Some companies will match or multiply gifts by employees and sometimes spouses and retirees. Consult your employer's Human Resources Department for guidelines. It is estimated that such programs nationwide could have matched 25% of contributions.

Many companies allocate marketing dollars to sponsor events and receive recognition. We suggest looking to your employer or businesses you know in the community for sponsorships. Marketing dollars are different than a company's philanthropic budget, so always look to both.

Recruitment
One frequently overlooked, but very valuable, gift to Tarbut is to refer your friends to our school. Each of us knows local families whose children would thrive at TVT. Every new student helps reduce our per-student overhead costs, offers our children greater variety and diversity in their school friends, allows for the school to offer more classes and gives us a critical mass for our athletic and arts programs. Tell your friends about Tarbut!

Gifts in Kind
Based on the school's needs, items such as computers, copiers, supplies and services may be donated to Tarbut V'Torah. IRS regulations state that the valuation of each gift is the responsibility of the donor.

Planned Gifts
The ultimate and most long-lasting gift is a legacy gift through your estate. Leaving a portion of your estate to TVT greatly reduces estate taxes while still providing for your heirs and enabling Tarbut to grow l'dor v'dor, from generation to generation.

Here are some ways to accomplish a legacy gift:

Bequests: Through a bequest, you can leave a gift from your estate to Tarbut V'Torah in your will or living trust.
Retirement Assets (401K/IRA): Retirement plans are designed exactly for that, retirement, and not as an estate-planning tool. However, given to charity those assets are not taxed and are removed from the estate, making the tax burden for the surviving children less.
Life Insurance: You can create a legacy gift by naming Tarbut as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. If you name Tarbut V'Torah as the owner and beneficiary of the policy, the premium payments are tax-deductible. You can also contribute existing policies outright and receive a tax-deduction for the current cash value of the policy.
Additional planned gifts, or "split interest" gifts: These are gifts whereby donors receive immediate financial benefits. These benefits include an income tax-deduction (amount varies depending on the type of giving vehicle used, age of donor and current interest rates), an immediate income stream, avoidance of capital gains tax and removal of the asset from your taxable estate. Examples of these are:
Charitable Gift Annuity: This is a contract between a donor and a charity whereas a fixed payment, based on the donor's age at the time of the gift, is paid to the donor for life. This gift may be more appropriate for Tarbut grandparents as the benefits are greater for donors over the age of 65.
Charitable Trusts: Charitable trusts enable donors to liquidate highly appreciated assets, such as stock and real estate, while retaining the right to income for life and receiving an immediate tax deduction. As each trust is its own entity, they are more flexible in payment rates, frequency of payments and income beneficiaries.

Examples of trusts are:

Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT): This popular trust is an option that provides a donor with lifetime income. It allows you to donate property of substantial and appreciated value to Tarbut, while ensuring that you and/or your heirs will receive an income stream from the transferred properties.
Charitable Lead Trust (CLT): This trust uses your assets to provide income to a charity during your lifetime, and then transfers your assets to your designated heirs after the term of the trust. The income to the charity is tax-deductible. When the asset returns to the donors or their heirs, estate taxes are waived. This trust can apply to someone who is anticipating the sale of a business or is transferring ownership of a business.

Gifts of Real Estate
Real estate is an ideal asset for use in a charitable trust or as a bequest. This allows for assets, such as cash and securities, to be left for your heirs, enabling them an easier estate settlement.

Outright contributions: Outright contributions of real estate or real property are tax-deductible to the extent of the current fair market value based on a qualified appraisal.
Life Estate: If you have planned to leave your home, vacation home or rental property in your will to charity, you can receive a significant immediate income tax deduction by completing a life estate agreement. You deed your home to Tarbut, but retain the right of usage for the rest of your life. Everything stays exactly the same. You mow the lawn, pay the taxes and upkeep of the property.

Please consult with your attorney, accountant, tax advisor or financial advisor about how these vehicles of giving can apply to your specific situation. In addition, the Jewish Community Foundation helps people use their assets to support the causes that are near and dear to their hearts and stands ready to assist you to benefit Tarbut V'Torah. The Foundation can be reached at (949) 435-3490.