Donate

There are many ways to support Temple Beth El and we appreciate whatever you can do. The following are a few ways you can take part in sustaining our enriched community.

Gifts in Honor of Life Cycle Events

Our wonderful Temple Beth El rabbis have supported me during happy times and sad. They have celebrated with me at my daughter's and granddaughter's baby naming and my daughter's bat mitzvah; they have mourned with me at my father's and mother's funerals. Like many of you, at each life cycle event, I wanted to make a financial contribution to the temple to recognize our rabbis' help, but, no doubt, like many of you, I wondered where to give it to and, yes, how much to give.

So I asked our rabbis what is customary and appropriate. For minor life cycle events, a gift of $540 to $1,080 is typical, assuming this is comfortably affordable for the congregant. For larger events, such as an expensive wedding, a larger gift would be welcome and in order. As to where to direct the gift, what the rabbis appreciate most of all is gifts to the temple's General Operating Fund, because that money is flexible and can be used where the need is greatest. Gifts to the rabbis' discretionary funds, while appreciated, are less flexible, as are gifts to other funds.

Of course, ALL gifts are much appreciated, and it goes without saying that gifts to the temple are voluntary and should be in line with a congregant's financial capacity. These are gifts, not fees for service, and should come freely and from the heart.

To make a donation online, click here

- Margaret Gordon, Fund Development Committee

RMD Rollover/Self-directed IRA

If you’re over 70 ½ and own a retirement account, you can use an IRA charitable rollover (AKA a self-directed IRA contribution) to fund your temple membership contribution or make any other donation to the Temple.

This approach will reduce your taxable income and thus potentially your income tax, even if you no longer qualify for a charitable tax deduction.

Benefits of an IRA charitable rollover
♦ Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to the temple.
♦ Satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.
♦ Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions.
♦ Make a gift that is not subject to the deduction limits on charitable gifts.
♦ Help further the work and mission of Temple Beth El.

How an IRA charitable rollover gift works
1. Contact your IRA plan administrator and notify him/her of your intent to make an IRA rollover gift.
2. Your IRA funds will be directly transferred to our organization to help continue our important work.
3. Please note that IRA rollover gifts must be transferred directly to the temple and may not be transferred to your personal account first.
4. Some IRA administrators will issue a special IRA rollover “checkbook” so you can write “checks” directly to your charities.
5. Please notify the temple that you’ve made an IRA rollover so we can be sure to designate your gift correctly.
6. Please note that IRA charitable rollover gifts do not qualify for a charitable deduction.