As we prepare to usher in 2008, just a few "tidbits from Dan" to keep in mind while we set the stage to execute our organizations', and our own, plans for the year. Mark your calendar for the end of December '08 and come back and check these four little sentences out and see how you performed. If you follow them, you should have a year of success. eJewish Philanthropy will have a great deal to say about all four over the next several months.

• Focus on what you're good at.
• Big will no longer beat small; rather it will be fast beating slow.
• Some secrets are more valuable when shared.
• You need to tell stories.

Make your project ideas real this summer in Jerualem

Are you an entrepreneur who cares deeply about the future of the Jewish People? A hacker, programmer, educator, social activist--a rapper, a painter or a biotech visionary who wants to make an impact on the world? Then come learn more about how you can launch your project or scale up your current venture in a special session of the PresenTense Institute for Creative Zionism, a six-week intensive summer program in Jerusalem for socially-minded entrepreneurs. This past summer we hosted 18 young entrepreneurs in Jerusalem for six weeks from the fields of hi-tech, business, social action, education and the arts -- providing them time, support and training as they took their ideas ...

The business card he handed me a few weeks back was sleek, creative, different and expensive to produce. Just like the ultra-hip and glitzy premises I had been given a tour of earlier. He neither introduced himself as Rabbi; nor does his business card indicate such. The organization is identified as the Gaon Club; the tagline: where young Jews converge. And the web address lands you on the home page of Friends of Lubavitch UK. The name on the card, Mendy Vogel. You can imagine my surprise yesterday to come across a recent ruling by the London Beth Din: "Two Lubavitch rabbis in London have been banned from using the name of the organization in their activities and ...

We have often showcased individuals or groups from this New Generation of Jewish innovators. Perhaps a tad off topic, but from the group of 32 Rhodes Scholars named for 2008, have a peak at those who self-identify as Jewish. And who knows, perhaps they will all "rock" our Jewish world! The Rhodes Scholarships, those coveted international fellowships, bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. Applicants are chosen on the basis of the criteria set down in the Will of Cecil Rhodes including high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership, and physical vigor. The first American Scholars were elected in 1904. ...

They're back! Ben Yehuda was filled with young crowds unseen since the summer. The buses parked on Yaffo told the story: large banners across the front grills sported the Taglit logo. Signs in the window... Hillels of Philadelphia, the University of Florida and more. It's winter break and Birthright has again descended upon Jerusalem. Towards the top of the midrachov, a group of Korean students were entertaining the Motzie Shabbat crowd with Christmas carols in their native tongue. Never mind that more than one young American college student wondered out loud why Christmas carols were being sung in Hebrew! Meanwhile, the shop keepers were happy (the Birthright crowd is known to be big spenders, especially of Michal Negin ...

LONDON (AP) -- Britain's 81-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, considered an icon of traditionalism, launched her own special Royal Channel on YouTube Sunday. (source: NYTimes) You might ask what this has to do with Jewish philanthropy? The answer is everything; when such a conservative establishment as Britain's Royal family turns to YouTube to deliver the Queen's Christmas message, it begs the question:

how will you organization best reach its' target audience in 2008?

Perhaps the answer is the old stand-by of direct mail with a bit of e-mail tossed in (to allow your audience to think you are with it). But more and more we are seeing the need to expand into new horizons to maintain current donors and attract ...

That's all you've got when a potential supporter, or even random visitor, checks out your website.

IS YOUR WEBSITE UP TO THE TASK? if not, it should be at the very top of your 2008 'to do list'

• More than 65% of donors visit at least one of the websites of the charities they support
• 40% ALWAYS go online before making a giving decision
• At least 75% of donors say going online affects their decision to give or not
• Donors who contribute online tend to give significantly more overall!

source: AFP, "Donors Increasingly Going Online Before Giving” (note: this is based on 2005 research; there is every reason to believe the numbers are higher today)

In an historic new agreement, for the first time ever, Christian supporters will join the JAFI Board of Governors. According to a breaking story on The Jerusalem Post web site, an agreement was signed earlier today between the (Chicago based) International Fellowship for Christians and Jews and the Jewish Agency broadening the cooperation level between the two organizations and acknowledging a $45 million pledge for the next three years from the IFCJ. Under this new agreement, Christian supporters of Israel will sit on the Jewish Agency Board. In a statement released Thursday, the Jewish Agency called the agreement "historic," and said it would legitimize a "strategic partnership with the ...

This line was made famous, or perhaps infamous, in the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire; Yesterday, Jehuda Reinharz took it one step further. This very accomplished President of Brandeis University announced a $22.5 million transformative gift from the Cleveland based Mandel Foundation for a new center to study and protect the humanities. “In partnership with The Mandel Foundation,” said Reinharz, “Brandeis intends to create a truly visionary place to restore prestige to the humanities and provide a model for other colleges and universities.” He added that the Mandel gift is believed to be the single largest commitment to the humanities by any foundation – at least in recent memory." With a long history of supporting Brandeis, the Mandel Foundation has ...

We need your input. By popular request, ejewishphilanthropy.com is adding a new feature to our site, the J-innovation calendar (tm). We'll tell you about events, programs, conferences and seminars worldwide of interest to activists, innovators, communal professionals and also those just plain interested in what's happening in our J-world. Please send listings to ejewishphilanthropy [at] gmail.com or through our contact us page. With everyone's help, this can be an absolutely incredible resource!