NewsBits: Federations React to Economic Uncertainties

At The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, CEO Misha Galperin announced yesterday,

“At a staff meeting this morning, I announced that we are making a significant policy change: reducing staff salaries by about 8.5 % and modifying our work week from Monday through Friday, 9 am – 5 pm to Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am – 5:30 pm. This change affects all but essential personnel, a limited number of individuals responsible for reception, facility, security and information technology.

This change is being made in anticipation of significant allocations shortfalls emerging from a likely 25% drop in our annual campaign and a corresponding reduction in cash to be collected by year’s end. I selected this approach in order to avoid large-scale layoffs and keep the fundamentals of Federation intact.”

And in Cleveland, this from Cleveland Jewish News:

Federation changes 2010 campaign schedule

After three years of running its annual Campaign for Jewish Needs from early fall through December, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland will extend its 2010 campaign to last from this fall through May 13, 2010.

The change is being made due to “ongoing uncertainty in the economy and the challenges our community is facing, both in raising $4 million less in 2009 than the year before and in the difficulty collecting (those pledges),” explains campaign chair Michael Siegal. The Federation board of trustees approved the revised schedule at its meeting via teleconference Aug. 6.

h/t Joel