NewsBits: Around Our Jewish World

Touching the world of Jewish philanthropy, here are a few items appearing on other Web sites you may find of interest. A story in the Los Angles Jewish Journal suggests responsible board members should resign in the wake of the Madoff scandal. Here’s the link and an excerpt: Anger replaces shock as Madoff scam puts spotlight on charity boards “Anger has begun to supplant shock as those who contribute to prominent Jewish charities or work on their behalf gasp for comprehension of the unprecedented percussion that the Bernard L. Madoff investment fraud is having on their favorite causes. At least one governance expert, James Kristie, editor of Directors & Boards magazine, says that more board-level resignations are in order. “You don’t see board members resigning when a bad... Continue Reading

18 “Chai” Priority New Year’s Marketer’s Resolutions

As we close out 2008 and look toward 2009 with both hopefulness and a touch of apprehension given all the challenges before us, here are a few resolutions that might just give your Jewish organization’s marketing better focus in the year ahead. Spend 20 minutes every week in total quiet thinking about one thing you alone can do to improve your message. Speak with 3 different people weekly who are connected to your organization and ask for their perspective on one marketing idea you have. Be sure to include junior staff and younger volunteers. Spend time each week trawling the web for out of the box ideas—give one of them a try within 3 months. Draw (or have someone with some artistic talent do this for you) a picture of your ideal supporter. No, really, do this. Below the drawing, list 6 attributes... Continue Reading

Achieving Sustainability: One of the Challenges Facing Non-Profit Organizations

All non-profit organizations aspire to achieve financial security, and they are certainly highly motivated when the economic situation both in Israel and in Jewish communities around the world is very strong. When foundations, donors and lay leaders have more money to contribute then non-profit organizations benefit from their passion, their enthusiasm for issues, their desire to make a difference and from their generosity. In times like the present there are more pressures both on the funding sources and on the recipients to find ways to insure the functioning of valued social, educational, and human services. Organizations are presently dealing with actual and anticipated decreases in income and the subsequent budget cuts that accompany these changes. The struggle is now focused on developing approaches... Continue Reading

Defining the Real Loss at YU and Others

It’s all in the spin… According to Bloomberg, Yeshiva University said its previously reported profits in a fund tied to Bernard Madoff were ‘fictitious,’ underscoring how customers of the money manager may have been misled about the investment gains they had amassed. The school said it had a net investment of $14.5 million tied to Madoff as of Dec. 11, the day he was arrested, according to an e-mail today from J. Michael Gower, the New York school’s vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer. Yeshiva said a financial statement from Ascot Partners, which fed to Madoff, valued the investment at $110 million as of Dec. 16. “Although the university has an estimated loss of approximately $110 million, it now appears that any ‘profits’ above the $14.5 million were... Continue Reading

Change Is In the Air at JAFI

With Jewish Agency Chairman Ze’ev Bielski’s expected election to the Knesset in February, JAFI will be looking for a new head – and apparently the search has begun. Haviv Retting reports in today’s Jerusalem Post that former UN ambassador Danny Gillerman has turned down a request to run for the position and that the list of those being considered are not the politico names you may have expected. Here’s the link: Gillerman turns down offer of Jewish Agency chairmanship. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

More Trouble at Hadassah

There must be a lot more trouble at Hadassah than meets the eye – it seems Hadassah is planning to sell off some of its assets here in Israel. One of the properties likely to be put on the block is the brand new Young Judaea youth hostel in Jerusalem’s Givat Massuah (near the Malcha Mall) – valued at NIS 70 million the building stands on a 3.1-acre plot and opened in 2006. Among other uses, the complex is used for Young Judaea’s year course program and WUJS Israel Jerusalem. A senior Hadassah source said the decision to sell the guest house was made before the Madoff fraud was revealed. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

UJA Federation Toronto Reports Madoff Related Loss

The Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto took a $486,000 (Cdn) hit as a result of an investment that was indirectly linked to Bernard Madoff. The loss represents .26 per cent of the foundation’s total assets. “Although any loss is regrettable, and we are by no means minimizing its significance, our exposure is very small compared to other individuals and organizations,” said Howard English, vice-president of corporate communications for UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. “On any given day, considering the size of Jewish Foundation assets and the amount that we invest, market fluctuations of $486,000 either up or down, would not be unusual. In other words, when market conditions are good, we can just as easily make $486,000.” The nearly half a million dollars is the income that would be generated... Continue Reading

The Bear-Market Blessing

a guest post by Rabbi Stewart Weiss: As the story goes, several years ago a down-and-out man approached Albert Reichman – he of the billionaire philanthropist brothers – and asked him for a loan of $1,000. “All right,” said Reichman, “I am prepared to loan you the money. But when will you pay it back?” The man looked at Reichman and thought for a moment, then replied, with a straight face, “I’ll tell you what, Mr. Reichman. When you’ll need the thousand, call me!” Considering the latest news, it just may be time to make that call. The Madoff (“with my money”) scandal is the latest tremor to shake the financial world, part of a triple whammy that has lambasted the American economy. First, the dollar plunged to record lows against... Continue Reading

Fundraising in Tough Times

by Mal Warwick Practically everybody in the nonprofit sector is talking about the impact of the fast-spreading worldwide recession on fundraising. There has been a flood of articles, workshops, lectures, blogs, and other commentaries on the topic in recent months. Most of it, in my humble opinion, is little more than opinion-mongering. To weigh in with a logical analysis and some practical suggestions, my colleague Dan Doyle, CEO of Mal Warwick Associates, and I have written a new paper called “Fundraising in Tough Times”. This analysis takes an unorthodox approach to the topic and includes some advice that many people in the direct marketing field will probably think is heretical. If you want a fresh perspective, read on. We’re not just going to drown you in statistics or regurgitate the familiar... Continue Reading

The Upside of the Bernie Madoff Affair

James Besser writing for the New York Jewish Week: For months, I’ve been struck by a kind of whistling-past-the-graveyard attitude from Jewish leaders. Sure, times are tough right now, they keep saying, but that’s the nature of the economy: there are ups and downs, but this is America, after all, and it won’t take long to get our economy back on track. More and more, that attitude looks like wishful thinking… Denial may keep our community’s leaders from doing the things they need to do to keep their organizations afloat – and to keep them providing critical services at a time when demand is already soaring. Read the complete post in the JW Political Insider. [Translate] Bookmark:  Read More →

Next Page »