Every organization - regardless of size, regardless of mission - needs a PR/media strategy. It is needed not only to convey the work of the organization to the broader audience, but, as last week's Komen/Planned Parenthood disaster showed, it is needed to effectively counter the unexpected crisis. And here, unfortunately, some of the most important brands in the Jewish world fail miserably. For example, one such organization is Jewish Federations of North America, (JFNA) - a point I have privately made more than once to their senior executives and communications professionals. In addition to broadly promoting the work of the federation system, JFNA frequently has "issues of importance" to convey. But the only conveying they do is to their own internal stakeholders, those who receive … Continue Reading
The Komen Fiasco: A Branding and PR Disaster
The dust has barely settled in the Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle, but the one thing that is clear is Komen - founded in 1982 - has in one brief moment, jeopardized thirty years of positive brand-building; Komen's brand today is just not the same brand it was only one week ago. And if you care about the causes Komen supports, this is not a good thing. The lessons for other organizations to absorb are numerous. The story begins just days before Christmas where, as The New York Times reports, Komen informed Planned Parenthood (PP) of their decision - one which they had actually been discussing for months. At the same time they notified PP, Komen decided not to speak of the decision - not to other grantees, not to their donors and not to the media. Komen's strategy was if they didn't speak … Continue Reading
Tablet and E-book Reader Ownership Soars
Sales of tablet computers and e-book readers surged during the holiday season, causing the share of adults who own either device to nearly double, from 10% to 19%. The findings are striking because they come after a period from mid-2011 into the autumn in which there was not much change in the ownership of tablets and e-book readers. However, as the holiday gift-giving season approached the marketplace for both devices dramatically shifted. In the tablet world, Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Barnes and Noble’s Nook Tablet were introduced at considerably cheaper prices than other tablets. In the e-book reader world, some versions of the Kindle and Nook and other readers fell well below $100. This report should serve as a wake-up call for all nonprofit organizations. If you do not have an … Continue Reading
U.S. Charitable Giving Officially On the Rise
2011 is now history and the good news appears to be that U.S. charitable giving is on the upswing. While many organizations are remaining silent as to their individual successes, or failures, industry service providers are announcing solid gains and general optimism about the state of giving. Both Blackbaud and Convio - two of the largest providers to the industry - are among the many announcing a strong finish to 2011. Blackbaud went even further, saying "... fundraising has returned to pre-recession levels. Through the first 11 months of 2011, overall giving is up 3.4% over 2010, and is now officially above the level of giving last seen in 2007." Online giving continues to grow, though perhaps not as strongly as was predicted a few years back. According to Blackbaud, for the three … Continue Reading
Pass it Forward: Taglit’s January Mega Event
The main auditorium at Binyanei Hauma was overflowing last night, as Taglit Birthright-Israel kicked off its Bar Mitvah year. The volume was high and punctuated by the continuing, always-enjoyable rivalry between the Argentinian and Brazilian participants. And, while the South Americans were clearly the life of the party, the American attendees succeeded in drowning out all. The greatest applause though, which erupted several times during the evening, was in support of the Israel Defense Forces - both the participating individual soldiers, and the IDF in general. The Prime Minister came to show his support. And so did several of Birthright's original philanthropist funders, including Lynn Schusterman, Michael and Judy Steinhardt and Marlene Post. The theme of the evening, It starts with you … Continue Reading
Has the Time Come for a Quid Pro Quo?
What if the Diaspora demanded something in return for the financial aid they deliver each and every year to Israeli society? Perhaps, just perhaps, it’s time for the Diaspora to insist on a quid pro quo. There are many issues here in Israel that have a direct influence on Jewish life around the world. We’re not talking about defense or security related issues, nor foreign policy. I am referring to distinctly Jewish issues. As an example: gender equality in the public sphere; the right to marry as a Jew etc. While Israel sometimes does bow to outside pressure on diplomatic issues, on issues such as these, the Government of Israel continues to act - or more often not-act at all - in a unilateral and unacceptable manner. During the summer of 2010, legislation was initiated in the Knesset … Continue Reading
Adelsons’ Goal: “No More Wait Lists” for Birthright
What does Taglit-Birthright Israel do when Chanukah falls at the beginning of the winter trip season? They plan a mini-mega candle lighting event. This past Sunday evening, hundreds of North American Birthright participants, along with accompanying mifgash members of the IDF, celebrated the sixth night of Chanukah at Bar Ilan University. Joining them, philanthropists Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, Israel's Minister of Information and the Diaspora Yuli Edelstein, and Taglit-Birthright CEO Gidi Mark. Appropriate to the calendar, the theme of the evening was miracles - picked up on by both Adelsons and Edelstein. Speaking first, Dr. Miriam Adelson said, “Feeling Jewish in Israel is not a problem, but around the world, it is very difficult. You should feel every day that it is a miracle that you … Continue Reading
Fishka Celebrates New Home with Chanukah Candle-lighting
For those working in, or with Israel's Russian-speaking young adult community, the new place to be seen is the Fishka House in South Tel Aviv. Here, on the 3rd night of Chanukah, an overflowing group of participants, funder representatives and other supporters, were on hand for a candle-lighting and dedication of their new home, complete with good conversation, good food, and musical and theatrical entertainment. Fishka, a community-based organization, programs to a Russian-speaking young adult population through cultural programs, including cinema, music and theater projects, poetry workshops, volunteer initiatives working with south Tel Aviv senior citizens and more. They have recently launched a number of new projects including Laboratoria - a place to pilot projects which impact … Continue Reading
Limmud FSU Leadership Summit Opens Today
Fifty Limmud FSU leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Israel, USA, Belarus and Moldova will gather in Jerusalem today for a four day Leadership Summit that includes professional training, team building and learning. They will be joined by staff, the Limmud FSU co-chairs and guests including Israeli author Etgar Keret, MK Yuli Edelstein (Minister of Public Affairs and the Diaspora, Julius Berman (Claims Conference), Natan Sharansky and Carolyn Bogush and Clive Lawton from Limmud International. In describing the Summit program, Chaim Chesler - the high energy founder and co-chair of Limmud FSU, told eJP, " The four day program provides an intensive series of lectures, presentations, excursions, workshops and discussions, all incorporated in the framework of the Summit. The participants will have a unique … Continue Reading
Claims Conference Chair Honored
With an annual budget of approximately $750 million, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) is certainly one of the major players in the Jewish world. However, with a significant portion of their budget coming from the government of the Federal Republic of Germany, the organization is mainly off the radar screen of all but their service partners and program recipients. Since 1952, and as a result of negotiations with the Claims Conference, the German government has paid more than $60 billion in indemnification for suffering and losses resulting from Nazi persecution. The organization is the largest provider of services to Holocaust survivors worldwide. Today, approximately $100 million is allocated through the JDC's Hessed program to provide services for victims … Continue Reading
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