Wise Legacy Giving provides the necessary confidence that significant resources will be available for use in the future.

Whether for capital improvements or new and expanded programs, planned gifts and endowments allow individuals and families to leave a meaningful legacy to our Temple and Schools.

And, to appropriately recognize such donors, we have created a special Wise Legacy Giving Society.

To learn more about Wise Legacy Giving and our Wise Legacy Giving Society, contact our development team at [email protected] or 310.889.2276.

Why Wise

Meaningful worship experiences for every age help make Judaism accessible to our children both during their formative years, and as they grow to adulthood.

EDUCATION is a lifelong pursuit at Wise.

At our AARON MILKEN CENTER for early childhood education, our youngest learners are exposed to the beauty of Shabbat for the first time and are immersed in the Hebrew language. At WISE SCHOOL, students find enrichment and opportunity, learning deeply and making great happen.

Our CENTER FOR JEWISH LIFE hosts thought-provoking discussions with luminaries of the local, national, and international scenes.

Children and teens in our CENTER FOR YOUTH ENGAGEMENT forge strong relationships with each other and learn to embrace Jewish values in everyday life.

Lifelong Learners at our MELTON SCHOOL FOR ADULT JEWISH LEARNING AT WISE gather for guest lectures, film screenings, online and in-person classes, and discussions with our clergy on an eclectic variety of topics. We bring our cultural history and teachings to life, both on our campus and in our members’ homes throughout the year.

At WISE, we make meaning and change the world, not only for today, but for tomorrow. Your gift will ensure the preservation, advancement, and growth of our community and our people for generations to come.

Through our CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, we help change the world through acts of tikkun olam, partnering with non-profit organizations to help improve lives in Los Angeles and around the world and uplifting and empowering underserved youth through our WISE READERS TO LEADERS program.

At countless lifecycle events throughout our community, we support those in need of healing, celebrating life-changing milestones, and care for others during life’s most challenging times.

Ways to Make a Legacy Gift

Many people who value Stephen Wise Temple and Schools have chosen to include a gift in their will or trust, or through an IRA or other beneficiary designation to sustain Wise for years to come. There are a variety of ways to make a difference. Here’s how you can decide what would be right for you. We are grateful for a gift in any amount.

You can choose to include a gift in your estate plan to Stephen Wise Temple and Schools, while also providing meaningfully for your family. A gift through your trust or will is a time-honored way of ensuring that your contributions to this institution’s ongoing strength, creativity, and resilience in uncertain times continue far into the future.

To make any of these gifts, you will need our legal designation and Tax ID number:

Stephen S. Wise Temple
Tax ID 95-6087552,
15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive,
Los Angeles, CA 90077

*NOTE: With a gift through your will or revocable living trust, you maintain your ability to change your mind at any time.

Many of us have built our retirement savings in expectation of a long and comfortable retirement. However, most retirement plans are subject to ordinary income and possibly estate taxes when transferred to loved ones other than your spouse. That’s why retirement plan funds are such a popular option for including gifts to a charity such as Stephen Wise Temple and Schools.

If you designate Stephen Wise Temple and Schools as beneficiary of your retirement plan, you can:

  • Designate other, less heavily taxed assets to your family.
  • Take action without the expense of an attorney. Simply request a change of beneficiary form from your plan provider and include Wise as a full or partial beneficiary.
  • Change your beneficiaries at any time, retaining maximum flexibility.

Most people use their life insurance policies to provide financial security for a spouse, child, or other loved one. But over time, the needs of your family may change. A life insurance policy that has outlived its original purpose, or needs updating, may be the perfect avenue for making a legacy gift to Stephen Wise Temple and Schools. Ask your insurance company for the appropriate forms to make Wise the owner or beneficiary of the policy. You may also name us as a contingent beneficiary so the policy passes to us only if your family members predecease you.

One of the simplest ways you can help ensure Wise’s future is by making Stephen Wise Temple and Schools the Payable on Death beneficiary of any bank or brokerage account. Your financial institution can assist you and will provide an easy-to-complete form.

The final distribution of contributions remaining in your donor advised fund can be designated when you create your fund or update your fund succession plans. Please consider recommending naming Stephen Wise Temple and Schools as a beneficiary of your account.

Gifts That Provide Lifetime Income

Life income gifts, including charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, offer extra income for you and even for a loved one while still supporting our vital work.

Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)

With a CRT, you can transfer appreciated assets to a charitable trust and receive tax savings and lifetime income.

  • You transfer property – real estate or appreciated securities – to a CRT, and the trust sells the property.
  • You receive an income tax deduction and pay no capital gains tax on the transfer to the trust.
  • During this term, the trust pays a percentage of its value each year to you or to anyone you name.
  • After your lifetime, the remaining principle is used to support the mission of Stephen Wise Temple and Schools.

Your Legacy, a Shared Dream

When you demonstrate your values by linking your legacy to Wise, the difference you make is beyond limits. You will sustain the Jewish future and enable us to reach across the globe, creating a world-Wise community.

As a Wise Legacy Giving Partner, regardless of giving level, you will become a member of the Wise Legacy Giving Society.

Wise recognizes those who have included a legacy gift for Stephen Wise Temple and Schools with membership in the Wise Legacy Giving Society. The Society is our way of honoring your profound contribution to Wise’s future.

If you have already made a legacy gift to Stephen Wise Temple and Schools, please let us know. We would like to welcome you into our Wise Legacy Giving Society to acknowledge your generosity.

As you begin to explore a legacy gift, you should consult legal and financial experts.

To discuss your gift, please contact our development team at [email protected] or 310.889.2276.