Comments on: Spotlight: Dr. Ernest Kahn: An Icon in America’s Jewish Community Speaks Out http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/spotlight-dr-ernest-kahn-an-icon-in-america%e2%80%99s-jewish-community-speaks-out/ Connect. Educate. Innovate. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:13:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: gerald bubis http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/spotlight-dr-ernest-kahn-an-icon-in-america%e2%80%99s-jewish-community-speaks-out/comment-page-1/#comment-37575 gerald bubis Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:45:59 +0000 http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/?p=2626#comment-37575 As a 60 year long year professional, I must react.One size does not fit all yet I agree with my friend Ernie Kahn. Strongly and carefully delineated expectations,accountbility measures applied with transparency,grounded in realistic guidelineswork best. West Coasters long ago realized the most successful national orgsnizations were those who gave wide latitude to local boards and staff. They prove most productive, creative and responsive to changing needs. The same approach works best in large organizations. As a 60 year long year professional, I must react.One size does not fit all yet I agree with my friend Ernie Kahn. Strongly and carefully delineated expectations,accountbility measures applied with transparency,grounded in realistic guidelineswork best. West Coasters long ago realized the most successful national orgsnizations were those who gave wide latitude to local boards and staff. They prove most productive, creative and responsive to changing needs.
The same approach works best in large organizations.

]]> By: Steve Silberfarb http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/spotlight-dr-ernest-kahn-an-icon-in-america%e2%80%99s-jewish-community-speaks-out/comment-page-1/#comment-37343 Steve Silberfarb Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:34:46 +0000 http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/?p=2626#comment-37343 If it is true that "one size fits all" doesn't work, then it stands to reason that a general statement about de-centralization (or centralization) is similarly unworkable. In some communities, program integration and organizational consolidation might better meet the needs of clients and service recipient and improve outcomes for them as well. The challenge facing the federated/communal world is not only how to better meet client and service recipient needs it's how to identify and prioritize those needs and enforce these decisions through allocation of resources and evaluation of performance. And if this is not challenge enough, funds have to be raised around these needs/priorities as well and outcomes communicated back to donors to demonstrate the value of their philanthropy. Organizations of all sizes and models (centralized or not) can stray from effective client and donor practices. If it is true that “one size fits all” doesn’t work, then it stands to reason that a general statement about de-centralization (or centralization) is similarly unworkable. In some communities, program integration and organizational consolidation might better meet the needs of clients and service recipient and improve outcomes for them as well.

The challenge facing the federated/communal world is not only how to better meet client and service recipient needs it’s how to identify and prioritize those needs and enforce these decisions through allocation of resources and evaluation of performance. And if this is not challenge enough, funds have to be raised around these needs/priorities as well and outcomes communicated back to donors to demonstrate the value of their philanthropy.

Organizations of all sizes and models (centralized or not) can stray from effective client and donor practices.

]]> By: Carol http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/spotlight-dr-ernest-kahn-an-icon-in-america%e2%80%99s-jewish-community-speaks-out/comment-page-1/#comment-37328 Carol Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:36:19 +0000 http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/?p=2626#comment-37328 Thank you for sharing Dr. Kahn's insightful remarks! Thank you for sharing Dr. Kahn’s insightful remarks!

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