Jewish Community Endowment Foundation of New Mexico, Jewish Federation

The Jewish Community Endowment Foundation of New Mexico (JCEFNM) is a community resource that helps you create and fulfill your philanthropic vision and sustain your values. The well-being of our community depends upon planning for and investing in the future.

Together we can shape the future of our Jewish community and beyond. What will your Jewish legacy be?

Tips on Charitable Giving

The Charitable Uses of Life Insurance

by Howard Friedman, CLU, CHFC, AEP

Are you looking to make a gift to charity and get the biggest bang for your buck? Life insurance can be an excellent tool for making charitable gifts for a number of reasons.

First, the death benefit is guaranteed. This means that the charity will receive an amount that is fixed in value and is not subject to the potential downside of security or real estate markets.

Second, Through a relatively small annual cost (the premium), life insurance can give you tremendous leverage and help you maximize your gifting goals while tremendously benefiting your favorite charities. And by creating a new asset with life insurance, assets earmarked for your family can be kept intact.

Donor Spotlight

Terry Lee Heller

Terry Lee made a Promise three years ago in the JCEF Endowment Book of Life. She signed a page in the Book of Life signifying that she would leave a gift to the Jewish community — for Albuquerque, Israel or elsewhere. At that time she wasn't sure how she would fund her legacy, the size of the gift or which causes or organizations would be the beneficiaries.

Today she has a legacy plan and is more certain of the causes and agencies she wants to support into the future.

She met with Erika Rimson, Board Chair of JCEF, to discuss her philanthropic goals and develop her legacy plan. Terry Lee signed an endowment fund agreement to ensure that her intentions will be carried out.

News & Events

What it Means to Be Jewish, Female and Philanthropic

Andrea Pactor, an expert on understanding women's philanthropy through research, education, and knowledge dissemination, discussed how women are key to philanthropy in the 21st century.

JFS Endowment Fund Created

The Jewish Family Service of NM Board of Directors created an Endowment Fund with the Jewish Community Endowment Foundation of NM to help insure JFS's future.

Grants from Israel Experience Fund

Alexander and Jacob Ellis were recipients of a generous grant from the Jewish Federation's Israel Experience Fund held in the JCEF.