Donate

Thank you for your generosity!

Ways to Give

You may:

  • give online,
  • mail us a check (Temple Rodef Shalom, PO Box 223433, Chantilly, VA 20153-3433) or
  • make a gift of stock.

FAQs on Gifts to the Temple

Tax ID# 54-0733866

Yes! DAFs can be used for all charitable gifts to TRS, including Membership, Security and FMF (Facility Maintenance Fund).

That would be most welcome! You can make a general gift, a gift to the Endowment or pay your membership – or all of the above!

Absolutely. Depending upon your enthusiasms and the size of your gift, you may choose to direct your gift to either annual operating funds or to our Endowment, which provides for the future of our sacred community.   

Our operating funds are to be spent each year, and there is one to match your interests. (We also have a fund called “Where It’s Needed Most” and that’s our Executive Director’s favorite fund.) See  the “More About Your Donation” section below for a full list of our annual funds to which you can make a donation.  

Certainly. Our Endowment is divided into targeted areas of support for congregational activities, as well as the General Endowment. We affectionately call these areas baskets

  • Congregational Life
  • Spiritual, Worship & Clergy
  • Youth Engagement
  • Tzedekah
  • Capital
  • General Endowment

A detailed list of restricted and unrestricted funds within these baskets is available below in the “More About Your Donation” sectionAs always, unrestricted gifts provide Rodef Shalom with the maximum flexibility to allocate funds where the need is greatest. 

That’s certainly possible. Depending upon how restrictive you wish to make this new fund, you can start a named fund for $100,000 (or as much as $250,000 if you wish to create a new basket within the endowment). That’s a conversation to have with Hannah Moore. Note: One can make payments over several years to reach this minimum amount. 

Absolutely! Making a gift of appreciated assets has tax advantages to the donor. Your broker can easily transfer directly to our account – just let us know.  Contact Jessica Ingram, our Executive Director, or Hannah Moore, Director of Philanthropy. 

That’s wonderful. It’s never too soon to think about leaving a legacy to support our lively sacred community, and how your values will live on after your lifetime. Please be in touch with the Hannah Moore so that we can be sure to honor your wishes and provide you with language for your gift. (Sample language here link.) Whether leaving a gift through your will, or naming the Temple as a beneficiary on your IRA or life insurance policy, you will become a member of our Morashah Legacy Society. This honorary society recognizes anyone who has informed us that they have included us in their estate plans. No minimum is required. 

So glad you asked us in advance! While the objects may be meaningful and valuable, it may put a burden on the scarce resources of the congregation to receive and take care of such tangible property. Even selling such gifts requires storage, appraisals and resources we don’t have. Please discuss with Hannah Moore in advance any non-monetary gifts (with the exception of publicly traded securities) you are considering giving or leaving to the Temple in your will.   

Another great question! We all love Judaica, and occasionally a piece can fill a need we have. Many times, however, we find ourselves very limited in what Judaica we can accept. Paintings, sculptures and other large objects require space and storage that are in very short supply. We are happy to help you think of another Jewish organization or museum that might be able to take your Judaica if we can’t accept it. Again, let’s talk. 

There are actually tax implications to you, the donor, and to the Temple for gifts we accept and then sell (with the exception of publicly traded securities). Nothing is ever as simple as it seems! As a tax-exempt organization, we are subject to rules on reporting the tangible property we receive; these rules are more stringent on those gifts we resell. So again, please discuss with us first. 

Build Our Sacred Community for Generations to Come

As my ancestors planted for me before I was born, so do I plant for those who will come after me – Talmud (Ta-anit 23a)

Morashah is Hebrew for the legacy you pass on to the next generation. The Morashah Legacy Society is an honorary society recognizing individuals who have included the Temple in their estate plans through a will, trust, or other planned gift.  No minimum amount is required. 

All planned gift donors are recognized as members of our Morashah Legacy Society, and are invited to annual Legacy Society gatherings.

To let us know that you wish to be listed as a member of the Morashah Legacy Society, please contact our Director of Philanthropy, Hannah Moore via email or call 703-676-3867.

Creating a will or trust is one of the most important steps in planning for the legacy we leave the next generation.  While concerns about your own or your family’s financial security may make it difficult to make an outright gift now, planning a gift that will be made in the future is a powerful way to demonstrate your commitment to our sacred community. It’s an investment in the future of Temple Rodef Shalom.

Through this special type of philanthropy, you will help Temple Rodef Shalom secure its financial future and further its mission. A planned gift also may have benefits for you and your heirs by reducing future taxes.

Simple Ways to Create a Lasting Legacy

It doesn’t need to be complicated to make a meaningful gift, satisfy your financial concerns, and help secure the Temple’s future. It can also offer you tax advantages.

Giving to Temple Rodef Shalom Through Your Will

A Testamentary gift—or bequest—is a gift you make by designating Temple Rodef Shalom as a beneficiary in your will.  A bequest is often the largest gift an individual makes to a charitable organization such as Temple Rodef Shalom, but bequests of all sizes are appreciated.

Your estate may receive a tax deduction for the value of your charitable gift, and, because the gift is revocable during your lifetime, you retain the flexibility to change the amount or beneficiary to provide for family needs.

You may make an outright gift of a specific amount of cash, or specifically designated assets, or a percentage of your estate to the Temple in your will or trust. Your attorney or financial advisor may have additional suggestions to help structure your gift.

Other Simple Planned Giving Options

  • IRA or Pension Plan: You can name Temple Rodef Shalom as the beneficiary of all or part of your IRA or pension plan by completing a change of beneficiary form.  You may save your heirs from having to claim the funds as taxable income by choosing this vehicle to make your future gift.
  • Life Insurance: A gift can be made by naming Temple Rodef Shalom as beneficiary when life insurance is no longer needed to protect family members. If the insurance is paid to Temple Rodef Shalom as beneficiary, your heirs will not be taxed, nor your estate.

For more information, contact Hannah Moore, Director of Philanthropy.

Open Doors

The goal of our year-end appeal is to keep our sacred community a place for all our families to call home, regardless of financial hardship or constraints. Your charitable year-end gifts are much needed, as Membership contributions do not cover the costs of running our congregation.

Ohel Ya'acov/Tent of Jacob Community Housing Fund

Ohel Ya’acov supports not-for-profit low-income housing, emergency and family shelters, and other frontline homeless and housing organizations in Northern Virginia.  Every dollar raised is distributed to the local community. This fund is a major way we at TRS demonstrate our commitment as a sacred community to those in the wider community who are in great need.

 

More About Your Donation

Temple Rodef Shalom strives to be a place where prayer, learning and tikkun olam are vital and fulfilling components of our Jewish community. Your donations to Temple Rodef Shalom help sustain and strengthen our community. Contributions to our Operating Funds support the Temple’s daily needs, including worship services, educational programs, clergy, staff, and building maintenance. Gifts to our Endowed Funds help fund special programs and ensure long-term financial stability, allowing us to plan for the future and continue serving our community for generations to come. Every donation plays a vital role in keeping our congregation thriving.

  • Open Doors Appeal: keeps our sacred community a place for all our families to call home, regardless of financial constraints.
  • Where It’s Needed Most Fund: supports immediate and ongoing needs of our Temple while allowing for the greatest flexibility in fulfilling our mission
  • Art Fund: for the purchase and maintenance of major art pieces
  • Camp Rodef Shalom Scholarship Fund: provides scholarships to children of members for our day camp
  • Garden Fund: provides for the maintenance of the Meditation garden
  • Men of TRS: supports Men of TRS (Brotherhood) programs
  • Women of TRS: supports Women of TRS (Sisterhood) programs and tzedekah
  • Youth Activities Fund: supports youth programs
  • Adult Education Fund: supports Temple education programs for adults
  • Archives Fund: helps preserve Temple records and documents
  • David Iver Schwartz Scholarship Fund: for Religious School scholarships
  • Early Childhood Center Fund: provides support for teacher training and retention, classroom equipment
  • ECC Parent Committee Fund: provides support to the ECC teachers, classrooms and student events.
  • Library Fund: purchases books and materials for the Temple library
  • Religious School Fund: provides equipment, teacher training, and scholarships
  • High Holy Day Fund: underwrites our High Holy Day services
  • Life Cycle Fund: supports congregational life cycle events, including Confirmation and Adult B’nai Mitzvah (Rodef Chochma)
  • Prayer Book Fund: purchases Shabbat and Holiday prayer books
  • Silver Fund for Torah Restoration: used for maintaining, refurbishing and dressing our collection of Torahs
  • Accessibility and Inclusion Fund: supports inclusion initiatives to make synagogue life more accessible for all members of our community
  • Caring Community Fund: helps member in crisis, including burial assistance for indigent members
  • Kestenbaum Comfort Fund: provides for the comfort and caring of our members
  • Senior Rabbi Amy Schwartzman’s Discretionary Fund
  • Senior Cantor Michael Shochet’s Discretionary Fund
  • Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe’s Discretionary Fund
  • Rabbi Alexandra Stein’s Discretionary Fund
  • Cantor Sydney Michaeli’s Discretionary Fund
  • Cultural Fund: supports cultural programming
  • Music and Volunteer Choir Fund: supports our volunteer adult and children’s choirs
  • Ohel Ya’acov Community Housing Fund: supports affordable housing programs and ending homelessness in our community
  • Refugee Fund: supports our work with local refugee families
  • Social Action Fund: supports our work in the community including aid to local safety net providers, community meal preparation, Feed ‘Em Fridays, Winter Mitzvah Day, Good Deeds Day, and social justice projects
  • Temple Tzedakah Fund: assists individuals in need within the Temple and wider community

Israel Connection Fund: supports programs on Israel that create understanding and connection

The Temple Rodef Shalom Endowment is composed of six thematic “baskets” and aims to preserve the community we have built together and strengthen the congregation for the future. The Endowment provides annual gifts to the Temple to underwrite expenses and programs that fit within these themes.

We are grateful to the members who have established the endowment funds at Temple Rodef Shalom which are listed below. For information about establishing an endowment fund or contributing to an existing fund, please contact the Director of Philanthropy, Hannah Moore.

The General Endowment is an unrestricted, long-term resource for supporting the Temple’s mission and programs. 

The Capital Endowment is used to maintain, enhance and expand our facilities.

Named and designated fund:

Bunny’s Place Maintenance Endowment Fund maintains and enhances our outdoor gathering and play space.

Congregational Life Endowment is used for support and advancement of congregational engagement, knowledge and our magnificent spiritual home.

Named and designated funds, in alphabetical order:

  • Carol Davidson Endowment Fund for the Advancement of Women: supports programs, workshops, activities that support, teach or advance women’s causes
  • Donna Schwartz Endowment Fund to Grow Jewish Families: to encourage and support non-Jewish members of TRS in their desire to raise Jewish children and  create Jewish families
  • Jewish Literacy Endowment Fund: aims to increase Jewish literacy at TRS through an exploration of Talmud, Mishnah and other sources from Rabbinic Judaism
  • Leveen–Sher Endowment Fund for Social Action: supports initiatives that increase our volunteer work in the wider community and our commitment to tikkun olam
  • Jack W. Loeb Memorial Endowment Fund: supports cultural programming; the first fund established within the Endowment.
  • Rabbi Laszlo Berkowits Remembrance and Understanding Project Endowment Fund: formed from the merger of two previous Endowment Funds: the Rabbi Berkowits Educational Endowment Fund and the Simon Family Fund for Jewish Living.This Fund honors Rabbi Berkowits’ life story by underwriting programming that may include rebuking antisemitism, sharing lessons of the Shoah, and ongoing dialogue with our non-Jewish neighbors.
  • Ruth & Louis Elinsky Memorial Endowment Fund for Membership Continuity: helps replace a portion of the shortfall in revenue when members are temporarily unable to pay their stated annual commitment.
  • Securing Our Sacred Home Endowment Fund: for the maintenance and upkeep of Temple Rodef Shalom’s extraordinary building, with the goal of retaining the beauty and feel of our campus while also making needed enhancements to keep us secure
  • Ziva & Michael Zysman Israel Education Endowment Fund: to encourage a closer relationship between Jews of the diaspora and the Jews of Israel through programs, exhibits or performances.

The Spiritual, Worship and Clergy Endowment is used to serve the spiritual, pastoral and worship needs of our congregation: supporting ritual practices, worship services, clergy discretionary funds, and clergy positions and professional development.

Named and designated fund:

Harvey and Barbara Levin Memorial Fund is for the purchase of religious objects and refurbishment of our Sanctuary.

  • Stillman Family Maimonides Fund: provides economic assistance to members for career training and business development so they can lead lives of independence and self-reliance
  • Tzedakah Endowment Fund: supports our Temple Tzedakah Fund and Social Action Fund.

The Youth Engagement Endowment is used to increase opportunities for youth to engage with Judaism: supporting youth programs, education, scholarships, travel, and faculty professional development.

Named and designated funds, in alphabetical order:

  • Alexis Agin Memorial Endowment Fund: perpetuates a love of reading in children by supporting our children’s library
  • Caren Golden Pomeroy ECC Endowment Fund: provides scholarships for ECC students
  • ECC Speech and Language Endowment Fund: pays for professional screening of speech and articulation issues
  • Endowment Fund for Youth & Jewish Identity: to strengthen Jewish identity among our youth, established in honor of Rabbi Amy Schwartzman’s 20th anniversary
  • Jennifer Kress Blalock Memorial Endowment Fund: gives scholarships for Jewish overnight camps and multi-day youth programming
  • Karen Simpson ECC Teacher Development Endowment Fund: supports Early Childhood Center teacher training and education
  • Rabbi Marcus Burstein Israel Endowment Fund: assists teenagers in traveling to Israel

Thank you for your generosity!