Talk to Chuck: Tips to Make Your Impact Through a Planned Gift
Planned giving is more than a financial strategy—it’s a way to turn your values into a legacy. It’s about aligning your charitable goals with your financial and estate planning to create lasting impact. Whether you’re thinking about the best assets to give, the right timing, or the causes closest to your heart, planned giving helps donors become philanthropists.
By including Hillel International in your long-term philanthropic plans, you help us continue building vibrant Jewish spaces where students celebrate holidays, explore their heritage, connect with Israel, and discover their purpose. Legacy donors—people like you—make it possible for thousands of Jewish college students to thrive for generations to come.
We sat down with Hillel International’s Senior Director of Planned Giving, Charles (Chuck) M. Miller, JD, AEP®, to discuss how supporters can maximize their philanthropic giving ahead of the end of the year (or at any time!).
Hillel International: Why should donors consider making a planned gift?
Chuck Miller: Planned giving reflects your values and your vision for the future. You can document your goals now—even if your gift is realized later. Your legacy lives on from generation to generation, l’dor v’dor. You can support specific programs (Jewish education, Israel, countering antisemitism, and more), designate a particular campus, or create an endowed gift that lasts in perpetuity.
And here’s the best part: planned gifts often come from accumulated assets, not current income—so you can make a bigger impact without affecting your daily finances. You stay in control, and you can update your plans anytime.
Hillel: What types of gifts can a donor make?
Chuck: There are many flexible ways to make a planned gift:
- Bequests, Beneficiary designations, and Life Insurance
- Charitable IRA Rollover also known as Qualified Charitable Distribution (“QCD”)
- Cash and Securities (Stocks)
- Donor Advised Funds
Hillel: Does a Planned Gift have to be a large amount to make a difference?
Chuck: Absolutely not. Every legacy gift matters. Many donors discover they can give more than they imagined—because planned gifts are made from assets. You can also create a bended gift: make a smaller donation today and designate a larger gift in your will. It’s a smart way to maximize your impact.
Hillel: How will a donor’s gift be used?
Chuck: Your legacy gift supports Hillel’s mission to enrich the lives of Jewish students so they can enrich the Jewish people and the world. You can direct your gift to a specific campus, program, or area of interest—or leave it unrestricted to meet Hillel’s greatest needs.
Hillel: How Can Hillel International’s Office of Planned Giving Support donors’ Philanthropic Goals?
Chuck: The future may be unpredictable—but a donor’s legacy doesn’t have to be. Our Office of Planned Giving is here to help you, your family, and your advisors explore options, coordinate your gift, and provide sample language — all at no cost. We’re honored to be part of your philanthropic journey.
Learn more about us and find key information.
Hillel: How can supporters get started?
Chuck: Visit hillellegacy.org to explore giving options, download sample language, and learn more. Or contact me at [email protected] for a confidential conversation about your philanthropic vision.
“Each of us inherited Jewish values from those who came before us. Now, it’s your turn to ensure there will always be a welcoming, safe, and inspiring home away from home for Jewish college students.”
Let’s start a conversation. Together, we can create a strategic charitable gift plan. Contact Chuck at [email protected].