Gifts To Beth El - Tributes

There are few ways of giving that are as widely used as making tribute card donations in honor or in memory of a loved one or for a special occasion. A donation in any amount is always welcome and appropriate, and the amount of your tribute donation will always be confidential information. There are several things to consider when making a tribute contribution.

What's the minimum amount of a donation I can give in order for my gift to be acknowledged in the Shofar? The minimum donation for your name to appear in the Shofar is $10.00. This amount is required because of the administrative costs involved in the publication process.

Do I have to give $10 if I don't care if it's published?

If you wish for the card to be sent by Beth El to the family to be notified, then yes, it is still a $10.00 minimum per card (there may be multiple donors per card, of course).
If you wish to buy cards that you can send yourself to the family, then the minimum donation is $5.00/card.

Where can I buy cards? Cards are available at the Beth El Administrative Office. You can stop in during regular work hours or send a check ($5.00/card). Beth El also has handy donation envelopes available for tribute cards. Whether or not you are using a Beth El tribute card donation envelope, if you want Beth El to send the card, please be sure to include

The name of the person(s) being honored/remembered
The reason for the tribute (anniversary, death, birthday, get-well, etc.)
The name(s), address of the person(s) to receive the card
The names of the person(s) whom you wish to have listed as the donor(s) both for the card and for the Shofar, if appropriate.

What happens to the money if it's given to an existing endowment fund? Your donation is added to the principal of the endowment fund. The interest from the investment is later used for its intended purpose at Beth El, eg. scholarships, program support, etc.

What happens to the money if there's no endowment fund? Two things can happen:

The money can go into Beth El's general operating account, or
The money can go into an "exchange fund." If the accumulated gifts reach $5,000, then the donations can be transformed into an endowment fund, if that is the family's wish. If there is not $5,000 after a period of time, the family can choose for it to go to the general operating fund, into another existing endowment, or into use for an immediate specific purpose.