Home Archives for Jewish Philanthropy

A Vision for Jewish Philanthropy

Posted on March 31, 2013 Written by
sfo-jfn2013-recruitment-460x250

The role of the philanthropist is to be a relentless question asker - to question the state of the world, especially what is not working and needs to be fixed. by Steve Ellis Over 300 Jewish philanthropists and foundation professionals met in Los Angeles [before Passover] for the 2013 Jewish Funders Network Conference. One of the keynote addresses was a seven part “Dream for the Future of Jewish Philanthropy”, presented by JFN president Andrés Spokoiny. Here is a recap of his recommendations to funders: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jewish Philanthropy Tagged:

A Message in A Bottle: The Four Donors

Posted on March 22, 2013 Written by
messsage in a bottle highlights

by Steven L. Meyers, Ph.D. I like to think about The Four Donors as if it were a forgotten fragment of a lost hagaddah, written by a philanthropist long ago, translated for our day. Whether you are a philanthropist or a fundraiser, it's a message in a bottle, which resonates for people seeking to understand their charitable impulse. The Four Children offers a lesson on meeting people where they are and appreciating them for what they are. The Four Donors helps translate the charitable inclination into action through personalized philanthropy: finding just the right gift for the right person at just the right time. This message in a bottle seems relevant all year long, not just at Passover. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jewish Philanthropy Tagged:

Young Adult Engagement and Philanthropy: An Event Model that Works

Posted on January 16, 2013 Written by

by Ariel Zipkin Those of us working with young adults know all too well the many challenges of attracting this demographic to fundraising events. We constantly look for new ideas, venues, speakers and incentives. Then we use facebook, twitter, email, websites and more to market the event, with the hope that people don’t ignore us. We check our registration lists incessantly and pray that people show up. We try to explain the cause in an effective way and hope people understand. We review each aspect of the event so it delivers in hopes that participants will enjoy and bring their friends in the future. Sound familiar? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jewish Philanthropy, The American Jewish Scene

The Macro Impact of Micro Grants

Posted on January 15, 2013 Written by
micro-grants

by No’a Gorlin In the world of philanthropy, multi-million-dollar grants often grab the headlines. But smaller investments can also make a big difference. In recent years, micro-giving in particular has grown across a variety of sectors. By taking advantage of platforms like Donors Choose, Kickstarter, Kiva and Indiegogo that have enabled the rise of crowd-funding and the $5 donor, small investments are empowering people who might not otherwise have access to funds, thus enabling grassroots ideas and innovation to spread. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jewish Philanthropy Tagged: ,

The History of Jewish Philanthropy

Posted on October 24, 2012 Written by

by Michael S. Glickman Center for Jewish History In mid-October, the Center for Jewish History hosted an international symposium, “History of Jewish Giving: Jews and Charity.” This event brought together scholars, philanthropists and professionals to delve into the history of Jewish philanthropy, and to discuss the evolution of charitable giving. As scholars work to understand the religious, financial, social and personal aspects of what it has meant to give and to receive, Jewish philanthropists and fundraising professionals can use this understanding to form the landscapes of Jewish institutions. The symposium highlighted the possibilities of working collaboratively to map a system that will answer the defined social needs of contemporary Jewish communities. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: In the Media, Jewish Philanthropy Tagged:

Capitalizing on Emerging Jewish Charitable Markets: New Donors, New Causes and the New Normal

Posted on October 16, 2012 Written by
coins in fountain

by Robert I. Evans and Avrum D. Lapin As expressed in several of our previous articles, recent trends indicate that generational, geographic, and gender shifts, as well as the expanded use of social media, have significantly influenced philanthropy and have created new and some worrisome trends in giving. Notably, Jewish causes are receiving decreased financial support, especially from Jewish donors who are now especially giving to causes outside of the Jewish community. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Jewish Philanthropy