An especially popular — and surprisingly easy — way to partner with the foundation is to leave an unrestricted gift to the California Community Foundation through a will or trust.

However, since this type of gift is entrusted to the foundation at the end of a donor’s life, the Legacy Society was established in 1995 to honor these forward-thinking individuals, providing them with the much-deserved recognition and appreciation that such a meaningful act warrants.

Benefits of Legacy Society Membership

The Legacy Society provides a way for the California Community Foundation to thank those individuals who are leaving a gift to the foundation through a will or trust, and assures that their gifts will not go unrecognized during their lifetimes. Some of the benefits of membership include:

• Peer Recognition
  As a member of the Legacy Society, you are a member of an elite society of philanthropic Angelenos.
• Recognition in Publications and at Events
  In addition to receiving all foundation publications and event notifications, Legacy Society members are recognized in the community foundation’s annual report and on our Web site, as well as at occasional special events held in their honor.
• Invitations to Special Events
  Legacy Society events are open to donors and friends of the foundation and typically feature a keynote speaker who discusses a broad topic affecting our community. Legacy Society members are also invited to attend Donor Dialogues, which are interactive, small group workshops designed to provide donors with practical ways to enhance their philanthropy.
• Staff Resources
  The California Community Foundation’s staff is available to Legacy Society members and their financial advisors to discuss questions and concerns regarding estate and gift planning issues.
• A Permanent Legacy
  A permanent legacy is established when a donor leaves an unrestricted gift to benefit the Los Angeles community. Unrestricted gifts are generally converted to endowment funds and take the name of the donor, so future generations will know of the generosity of current Legacy Society members.

Importance of Legacy Society Gifts

Gifts from Legacy Society donors are the community foundation’s greatest source of unrestricted and field of interest dollars, which are critical to the continued health of the community foundation’s discretionary grantmaking.

Unrestricted assets may be used for any purpose approved by the foundation’s board, and best allow the foundation to address both the current needs of Los Angeles and the unknown needs of the future. They also allow us to take advantage of rare opportunities by responding quickly and effectively to an urgent need — for example, when disaster strikes.

Become a Member

Becoming a member of the Legacy Society is simple and quick, but the knowledge that you’re helping improve the Los Angeles community will last a lifetime.

Contact Director of Gift Planning Carol Bradford at (213) 413-4130 to join the Legacy Society today.