"Are some charities more worthy than others? This seems to be the implication of a bill before the state Legislature that would require philanthropic foundations to document the so-called diversity of the charities they support. The inference is that the more diverse a charity's board of directors and staff, the more worthy it is of philanthropic funding. As a private foundation, Koret seeks to maximize our impact in achieving the philanthropic goals developed by our board of directors. We look for nonprofit partners who will produce the most positive impact in carrying out our initiatives, whether in the area of K-12 education reform, arts and culture, or strengthening organizations that serve the Jewish and general communities." ...

(eJP note: this letter was received yesterday, after Shabbat began here in Israel; it is posted in full. Shavuah tov to all) Dear Friends, Articles appeared in today's press concerning a proposed plan to close the Aliyah Department. We would like to emphasize that the Aliyah Department will not be closed. The Department's mission, which is no less relevant and important today as it was in the past, and perhaps even more so today, will continue to be the spearhead of our actions. Promoting aliyah is our top priority, as it has been for the 80 years of the Jewish Agency's existence and especially since the establishment of the State of Israel. In light of the changes that ...

A media firestorm has erupted in Israel during the past twenty-four hours over the "outing" of an internal working paper by JAFI Director-General, Moshe Vigdor. As we posted yesterday, and reported in both the Hebrew and English versions of Haaretz, The Jewish Agency is planning to close one of its most historically important branches, the Immigration and Absorption Department, as part of a radical restructuring plan. Then this morning, from the Jerusalem Post, two related articles: Jewish Agency officials angrily denied on Thursday media reports suggesting that the agency had committed to dismantling its Aliya Department and scaling back its commitment to aliya. "This was an evil leak that caused damage," said agency head Ze'ev Bielski. "Aliya is our lifeblood. I have ...

According to an article in today's Haaretz, "The Jewish Agency is planning to close one of its most historically important branches, the Immigration and Absorption Department, as part of a radical restructuring plan, Agency sources said Wednesday. The plan, which Agency officials consider to be a major change in the identity of the organization that predates the creation of Israel and has existed in its current form since 1948, will introduce reforms aimed at addressing a series of financial and political blows that have plagued the organization in recent years." "The Agency has been taking punches from every direction in recent years; politically, organizationally and [in terms of] its image," a senior Agency official said. Donations made by individuals in the ...

Last week was the Inaugural Conference hosted by The Center for the Study of Philanthropy in Israel at Hebrew University. Dr. Leslie Lenkowsky, Director of Graduate Programs at The Center on Philanthropy (Indiana University) spoke eloquently to the (mostly) academic attendees, focusing largely on who gives, why they give and how they give. You can read about it here and here. In today's Jerusalem Post is a follow-up interview, "The Gain of Give and Take", between Professor Lenkowsky and Ruthie Blum. In response to her question, what constitutes good fundraising, Professor Lenkowsky replies: "A good fundraiser understands that his or her job is not only raising money for his own organization, but enhancing the culture of philanthropy in a community ...

The shekel-dollar exchange rate continues its downward trend, falling to NIS 3.36/$. (as of 4:30 pm IST, Wednesday) At the recent JAFI Board of Governor's Meeting we heard about the significant effect the falling dollar was having on this year's budget. On CNN yesterday, an in-depth report on American citizens working in Europe paid with dollar salaries and how the falling value effects their everyday purchases at the market. Now, today in Haaretz, an article on how this historic low is challenging the local NGO community. "Hundreds of local social charities and nonprofit groups that depend on funding from abroad fear that the continuing decline of the dollar exchange rate, combined with the growing U.S. economic crisis, will force them to ...

LOG ON TO THE BIGGEST EVER SOLIDARITY RALLY FOR ISRAEL Participate without leaving home This Thursday, March 20th, the eve of Purim, help us make history in solidarity with Israel. Show up no matter where you are. Together4Israel.org, along with many worldwide partners, is putting together the largest ever online rally in support of those living under fire in Israel. To attend all you need to do is go to www.together4israel.org to watch a live broadcast of solidarity rallies from around the world.

Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:00 pm Israel Time

9 p.m. GMT / 5 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. CDT / 3 p.m. MDT / 2 p.m. PDT

Stretching across 7 continents and featuring as speakers Alan Dershowitz, Natan ...

The recently awarded Bronfman Prize in Jewish Communal Innovation produced over 200 entries. Certainly, many good ideas were presented and many are (or will be) in various stages of implemenation. Here, as we learn from the El Paso Times, finalist Anita Diamant is the featured speaker at a communal fundraiser for a new Mikveh; but one with a possible twist... "El Paso's Jewish community has embarked on a fundraising effort to build a spa-like community mikvah where Jews of all backgrounds can explore water as a source for spiritual renewal and healing." Meanwhile, for those of you following every detail about the recently announced Bronfman Chair-Prize, we bring you the audio version of the public presentations. Note: ...

Also speaking at yesterday's inaugural conference at The Center for the Study of Philanthropy in Israel was Professor Baruch Shimoni of Hebrew U. on his recently released paper, Business and New Philanthropy in Israel: Ethnography of Mega Donors. Dr. Shimoni's paper assumes "that philanthropy in Israel is undergoing a process of change, engineered mainly by a new generation of donors with vast experience in the business sector..." Like a number of social innovators we hear about, Dr. Shimoni continues... "It would seem that the members of this group represent a shift from spontaneous, personal, romantic philanthropy based on charity to the poor, to “rational philanthropy” which is characterized by the personal involvement of donors ...

"Ideas are scarcer than money; talent is scarcer than ideas"

With these words, Professor Leslie Lenkowsky ended his presentation earlier today at the inaugural conference hosted by The Center for the Study of Philanthropy in Israel at Hebrew University. Dr. Lenkowsky, Director of Graduate Programs at The Center on Philanthropy (Indiana University) spoke eloquently to the (mostly) academic attendees, focusing largely on who gives, why they give and how they give. And the most important reason for giving: "people are asked". Sounds simple; but we tend to forget this all to often. Dr. Lenkowsky continued, "Done properly, philanthropy creates a bond between the giver and receiver". Many were also surprised to ...