Comments for eJewish Philanthropy: Your Jewish Philanthropy Resource

Comment on An Innovation Portfolio Approach for the Jewish Community by Tara Mohr

Tara Mohr — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:56:59 +0000

Great post, Maya. It is incredibly exciting to envision a future when the Jewish community as a whole, and funders and philanthropists, take this kind of portfolio approach. It’s this approach that will ensure we are creating a vibrant community now – and in the future. I’m particularly excited that Upstart is supporting transformational innovation, but also working with established organizations in the community, to help them innovate on their core programs, and create exciting and sustainable adjacent programs.

Comment on Jewish Organizations Should Focus on Building Great Organizational Cultures by Mark Seal

Mark Seal — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:02:28 +0000

DRG is the executive search firm mentioned in the article. I visited the David Project last week and could not help but note the energy, enthusiasm and mission-commitment that every staff member I met with displayed. Staff pointed to the values clarification and implementation plan as well as lunch and learn sessions as examples of an agency investing in staff development. The David Project staff has become a community with a shared set of values and a profound commitment to Israel and to the Jewish community.

Comment on Organizations’ Plans For Succession Seen Lacking by David

David — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:38:02 +0000

“That’s as much as it’s anyone’s business,” Foxman said.”

His dictatorial ignorance again shows. Wonder if ADL’s donors agree.

Comment on Organizations’ Plans For Succession Seen Lacking by David Edell

David Edell — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:21:49 +0000

As a leader in recruiting executives for Jewish community organizations, we have been speaking and writing about the lack of succession plans and executive development for more than 10 years. These turnovers, together with the current JCC and Federation executive changes, are just the beginning of a change that has been much anticipated but for which the community is woefully unprepared. DRG is pleased to be a funder of the JCSA study with the hope that the findings will shake the community’s lead organizations and funders to understand to scope of the problem and it potential impact.

Comment on Helping “Lost Jews” Find the Way Home by Funny Mentally Freud

Funny Mentally Freud — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:48:14 +0000

Perhaps, the author, Gaby Wine, had too many drinks.

Comment on New Study Finds Non-reporting of Fundraising Expense Widespread by New Study Finds Non-reporting of Fundraising Expense … « Fund Raising Gate

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:53:50 +0000

[...] reading here: New Study Finds Non-reporting of Fundraising Expense … Comments [...]

Comment on Helping “Lost Jews” Find the Way Home by Religion and State in Israel - May 7 and May 14, 2012 (Section 1) | The Jewish Wave

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:18:30 +0000

[...] Helping “Lost Jews” Find the Way Home [...]

Comment on Moishe House Faces Challenges in New York City by billbuncher

billbuncher — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:02:07 +0000

Good for you for writing this.
The entire Moishe House phenomenon is a cross between a day dream, a ponzi scheme and a blowfish. Many of their “success” stories are hyped up–and they simply brand get-togethers in Europe as Moishe House events even though the friends were meeting anyway. There’s a whole lot of hype and not much there there. In less than five years, Moishe House will have vanished in its entirety. Watch this space.

Comment on AJWS Announces Winners of Philanthropy Design Competition by pushka lover

pushka lover — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:07:02 +0000

@an interested bystander:

AJWS works in Central/South America, Southeast Asia and Africa. It does not work in the Middle East, Gaza or West Bank.

Their mission is to ensure human rights for the most marginalized of populations around the world, and that mission is motivated by Judaism’s imperative for social justice. AJWS does not have a stance either way on helping Jews or helping Israel. These issues are simply outside the scope of their mission.

AJWS’s grant-giving and philosophy are readily available on their website, including where their money goes. Charitable giving is an important decision, and anyone kind enough to donate their dollars should also do his/her due diligence and know the background of the organization to whom those dollars are given.

As mentioned earlier, AJWS works on ensuring human rights for all people, as AJWS believes that these lack of rights lead to many of the ills of the world. AJWS does not do the equivalent of “feeding children,” but instead works on righting the reason why those children need food, i.e. the root cause.

Certainly, AJWS is not against feeding Israeli or Jewish children, and if that is what your passion calls for there are many organizations that do good work in that field, AJWS would even be happy to point you to them.

Comment on AJWS Announces Winners of Philanthropy Design Competition by Sasha @AJWS

Sasha @AJWS — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:02:46 +0000

@ Interesting Bystander:
Inspired by Judaism’s commitment to justice, American Jewish World Service works to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world. We work with grassroots partners in Africa, Asia and the Americas. We do not work in the Middle East.

Where Do You Give? aims to spark a national conversation about where people give, to whom and why. Even though AJWS focuses on the developing world, we recognize that everyone has a multitude of communities, people and causes that they care about. We appreciate the dialogue that is occurring as a result of this article and project.

Thank you,
Sasha Feldstein
project manager, Where Do You Give?
program associate at AJWS