Hebrew University Marks 6th Anniversary of Terrorist Attack

Six years ago, during the height of the Intifada, I was a participant in a solidarity mission sponsored by the (now defunct) Alliance for Educational Programs in Israel. One of the core Alliance funded organizations was PARDES, where two students, Benjamin Blutstein and Marla Bennett, along with seven others lost their lives in a terrorist attack at the Sinatra Cafeteria shortly before we departed for Israel. To this day, I will not forget that memorial ceremony in the cafeteria courtyard. Jerusalem, July 31, 2008 – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem today marked the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the university with a memorial ceremony at the scene of the attack on the university’s Mount Scopus campus. Nine students and university staff members were killed in the attack: Benjamin... Continue Reading

Alumni Support

Despite the economic climate, two major Universities (Brandeis and YU)  have announced record levels of contributions for the past year. It is interesting that both recognize the value of gifts from their alumni and cultivating their graduates. The value is immense with an estimated 60% plus of gifts at many major universities coming from their alumni community. But, alumni giving is much more than the dollar gifts. From Tactical Philanthropy: “Schools that have a large percentage of donating alumni, especially among younger alums, are encouraging a mindset that spans beyond money. A donation from a younger alumnus is a powerful statement that his or her experience really meant something to them. In addition to foreshadowing future giving (likely at a more substantial amount), the same alumni... Continue Reading

The Future of the Global Jewish Community and Philanthropy

Recently, Sandy Cardin and Lisa Eisen of the Schusterman Foundation sat with the fellows and members of the PresenTense Institute here in Jerusalem. The discussion focused on the future of our global Jewish community and philanthropy. Sandy began by speaking about what he sees as the two great divides and one challenge we face: The divides: the one, between the Orthodox and secular Jewish communities and how the twain just do not meet the other, between Israel and the Diaspora; what is the existing relationship between the two and how can understandings be created so conversations are possible. The challenge: how to keep Judaism and Jewish life relevant, meaningful and vibrant 10, 20, even 100 years down the road. Relative to this, the Shusterman Foundation often addresses the question of what can... Continue Reading

Network for Good to Acquire ePhilanthropy Foundation

Network for Good, a leading provider of online fundraising services and how-to resources for nonprofits, announced today that it has acquired the ePhilanthropy Foundation, an educational organization helping other nonprofits to use best Internet practices. The move comes as Network for Good seeks to expand its help tools for nonprofits at a time when many small- to medium-sized organizations are struggling to raise funds and need assistance in starting online giving programs. Because of their low costs and high yield, online outreach programs are especially important during an economic downturn. Continue Reading [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

A Birthright Style Innovation for Educators

from the Jerusalem Post: Gov’t may foot bill for Diaspora schoolteachers’ Israel trips The government may soon help fund trips to Israel for Diaspora educators, under a proposal being examined in the Prime Minister’s Office. On Monday, an internal advisory meeting chaired by cabinet secretary Oved Yehezkel discussed a new track for Masa, a government agency that brings Diaspora youth to Israel for five- and 10-month programs. “The plan is to create a new path” for teachers in Jewish schools in the Diaspora to come on two-week trips, Yehezkel told The Jerusalem Post Tuesday. Though still in the planning stages, the project could be underway by 2009, since “the money is there” in unused funds slated for Masa participants, he said. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

Coming Soon: Worldwide Competition for Donors

American charities will soon be competing with a world of nonprofit organizations for online donations, an international fund-raising expert told participants at a conference in Washington last week, according to Prospecting, The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s fund-raising column. Jon Duschinsky, founder of Bethechange Consulting, predicts that within five years, and probably sooner, those sites will allow donors to make global, not just domestic, choices about which charities to support. “International giving could blow the socks off of the charity world, and blow a lot of organizations out of the water,” he says. Read more here. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

Birthright Woes

It was only a matter of time: JAFI, the UJC, the Joint, Hadassah. All mega institutions adjusting life in 2008 to the falling value of the dollar against the shekel. Now, both Birthright Israel and Aish chime in. from the Jerusalem Post: Weak dollar forces cuts in Taglit-Birthright Taglit-Birthright Israel is poised to turn away more than 2,000 students this coming winter due to budgetary pressures resulting from the continued plunge in the dollar-shekel exchange rate and a rise in energy and programming prices… Other programs which send students to Israel have been burned even worse. Aish Jerusalem Fellowships, which provides heavily subsidized, religious-themed trips to Israel, had to cut its program from 3,600 participants last year to around 2,500 this year, said Chanan Kaufman, the organization’s... Continue Reading

The Death of WUJS Arad; An Educator’s Perspective

by Aubrey Isaacs The news of the closing of WUJS Arad has caused sorrow to all who have heard of it and maybe to no one more than myself. I served in WUJS for 11 years (1993-2004) as Director of Education, Rabbi, Deputy Director and Director. I guided WUJS through the incredibly difficult years of the second Intifada when buses were blowing up weekly or even daily and spending time in Israel was a hard concept to sell. In those days the going was tough but we struggled on, brought around 65-80 students each year and delivered the best program there was. Recently I have heard many explanations as to why WUJS is closing, ranging from the influence of MASA, to the financial crisis in the Sochnut, to the devaluation of the dollar and to a claim that Arad is no longer attractive and that the Arad municipality... Continue Reading

Philanthropy on the Front End

Several months back, I was privileged to be part of a small host group of Israeli bloggers invited to meet with the American Internet gurus visiting here for the Innovation Israel blogging expedition. One of those visiting was Sarah Lacy. Here’s an interview she just did for Yahoo tech ticker: Not everyone is a fan of the sometimes-mischievous Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff but it’s hard to fault his emphasis on philanthropy. Benioff has authored two books on philanthropy and become a proponent of the idea that you don’t wait until you’ve made your fortune to start giving it away — you do it as you go. Here’s Benioff speaking of his other mission: Turning “Stingy Valley” into a land of plenty. (it may take a minute or so for the video to load) Ok,... Continue Reading

Who Needs So Many “Friends”?

Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook aren’t just for college keg stand contest pictures anymore. Nonprofits are joining social network sites to connect with people, strengthen cause awareness and hopefully cultivate donors. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) grew from an intern managing the organization’s social networks to its current two full-time employees working on Internet marketing, according to Carie Lewis, Internet marketing manager for HSUS. Lewis gives some tips for expanding your nonprofit’s social networking presence: Bring in a veteran. Pokes and mini-feeds might be foreign to you, but find someone in your organization who uses social networking sites during their own time. Young volunteers or interns might have their own accounts on these sites and already... Continue Reading

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