from Bloomberg.com: Olmert Corruption Probe Prompts Campaign Law as Donations Rise The spotlight on Talansky and Olmert may make fund-raising for Israeli organizations more challenging, said Seymour Reich, former president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. Jews outside Israel give about $2 billion a year to Israeli groups, said Michael Jankelowitz, spokesman for the Jerusalem-based Jewish Agency, citing Bank of Israel figures. Potential donors will likely be "more careful and cautious and ask for more clarification of what the rules are before they give,'' Reich said in a phone interview from New York". A lot of clarity is needed here when you have people soliciting and offering funds.'' … Continue Reading
Donors Should Be Informed of Exceptional Fundraising Costs
The subject of percentage based fundraising continues to plague our Jewish world. Many professional organizations ban the practice outright in their Codes of Ethics. Here in Israel, while such is also the practice among professional fundraisers, every week advertisements appear for commission based positions in parts of our fundraising community. Today, from The Jewish Ethicist, this q. and a. Q. We have a small, little-known organization. In order to reach donors for our very worthy cause, we would need to hire a well-connected fundraiser who demands 50% of the donations he solicits. May we hire this person? For a response, here is what Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, of the Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem, has to say. Also check out our post from last month, The Trouble With Percentage … Continue Reading
Around Our Jewish World
Three articles this week of particular interest to important themes on this blog. What’s Next For Birthright Alumni an editorial by Gary Rosenblatt Michael Steinhardt is never satisfied. That’s what drives some of those who work with him crazy at times. But it’s also what drives his success as a businessman and major philanthropist. While much of the Jewish community, here and in Israel, has been heralding birthright israel — the audacious project he helped found to give every young Jew in the world a free trip to Israel — as the most exciting and successful of efforts to increase Jewish identity, Steinhardt has been grumbling that it’s not enough. Leveraging Funds and Passions from the Spring 2008 issue of HaYidion: The RAVSAK Journal Philly Jewish paper accused of … Continue Reading
Shaare Zedek Director Paid $100,000 for Fundraising
According to today's edition of Haartez, Prof. Jonathan Halevy, the director general of Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, received close to $100,000 in 2004 from the American Committee for Shaare Zedek for his fund-raising activities. Such compensation would not be allowed at a state hospital, but Shaare Zedek is private. Morris Talansky, who is a key witness in the latest investigation concerning Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, is best known for his fund-raising efforts for the hospital. Talansky was paid for his efforts, and it turns out he was not the only one. The American Committee for Shaare Zedek is responsible for raising contributions for the hospital in the U.S., and Talansky was its executive director at the end of the 1990s, and later served as a consultant to the committee. … Continue Reading
The Trouble With Percentage Commissions
Paying a fundraiser a commission is a controversial issue. Many professional organizations ban the practice outright in their Codes of Ethics. Here in Israel, while such is also the practice among professional fundraisers, every week advertisements appear for commission based positions in parts of our fundraising community. From Prospecting, we bring you a recent post on the subject. We think this is a relevant and important issue in our international Jewish community. Therefore the complete post follows... When Susan Herr ran a struggling charity, she was sometimes tempted to reward her fund raisers financially for their success, not just for their effort. “My (desperate) thinking: I’ve got no money to hire someone and if this gal can bring in some funds, why not give her a big chunk … Continue Reading
Ten Rules for Fundraising Online
Rule #1: Don't become invisible If you build it, they won't just come. Building an online brand is just as important and just as difficult as building an off-line brand. Rule #2: It takes "know how" and vision Your organization's website is a marketing and fundraising tool. NOT A TECHNOLOGY TOOL. Fundraisers and marketers need to be driving the content, not the web developer. Rule #3: It's all about the donor Put the Donor First! Know your contributors, let them get to know you. Rule #4: Keep savvy donors; stay fresh & current Make online giving enjoyable and easy. Give the donor options. Use the latest technology. Show your donor how their funds are being used. Rule #5: Integrate into everything you do Your website alone will do nothing. Every activity you have should drive … Continue Reading
Mendy Vogel, Where Are You?
The business card he handed me a few weeks back was sleek, creative, different and expensive to produce. Just like the ultra-hip and glitzy premises I had been given a tour of earlier. He neither introduced himself as Rabbi; nor does his business card indicate such. The organization is identified as the Gaon Club; the tagline: where young Jews converge. And the web address lands you on the home page of Friends of Lubavitch UK. The name on the card, Mendy Vogel. You can imagine my surprise yesterday to come across a recent ruling by the London Beth Din: "Two Lubavitch rabbis in London have been banned from using the name of the organization in their activities and forbidden from running any outreach programs." The ruling comes amidst claims of ‘lavish and excessive expenditure’, … Continue Reading
Transparency, Or Not; Let The Donor Beware
We bring you a story on the importance of transparency in all we do as communal professionals. Yes, we do have a practical side to Tzedakah and among the many needs of both the donor and the organization is the need for mutual trust. This can be earned in many ways but begins with being open about mission and where the organization is deploying resources. Take a look at this Lakewood, New Jersey based charity and decide for yourself if they are open on who they really support. For the full story, http://www.kcchronicle.com … Continue Reading
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