Securing Our Future Through the ‘Innovation Sector’
an opinion piece from The New York Jewish Week; by Felicia Herman, executive director of Natan and Nigel Savage, executive director of Hazon:
Time To Increase Funds For Innovative Groups
In the next three years, Jewish foundations and significant individual Jewish funders should act as modern governments do in times of significant contraction — increase their expenditures, with the intention of returning to normal levels of giving when the economy grows again. Modern governments go into deficit to provide fiscal stimulus to the economy in times of severe recession, and this is precisely the scenario we need in the Jewish world. Any foundation that cares seriously and strategically about the Jewish future should play a countercyclical role by increasing its giving to see this vulnerable sector through the crisis.
Messaging In a Time of Crisis
In a new twist to utilizing various Web 2.0 tools to publicize your mission, FORGE, an Oakland, Calif., charity facing a $90,000 budget shortfall, has taken the unusual step of blogging about the foundation’s troubles on the Skoll Foundation’s Social Edge Web site.
from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Entrepreneur blogs about charity’s money woes
Like many social entrepreneurs caught in the economic crisis, Kjerstin Erickson is lying awake at night wondering if her tiny nonprofit is going to survive.
But in an unorthodox move, the 25-year-old decided to blog about her charity’s financial problems - despite warnings from board members that she’ll send her remaining donors fleeing.
Think Big to Make Change Happen
The opening of the UJC’s General Assembly last night also witnessed the launch of JGooders, a groundbreaking online arena for Jewish Good Doing. Drawing on some of the best concepts from the U.S. and U.K., and focusing solely on Jewish and Israeli charities, JGooders philosophy is simple: to increase the world of good deeds and good doers by connecting social initiators with social enablers.
I had the opportunity a few days ago to sit with two of the founders, long-time communal professionals Ronit Dolev and Smadar Fogel. With the backdrop of a beautiful November afternoon at the Tel Aviv Port (highly recommended to all) watching the sun set over the horizon, I was treated to their vision, a well thought out business plan and a site demo.
Here in Ronit’s own words, A Dream Comes True; and we’ll have more on JGooders shortly.
MediaWatch: Our Jewish World
Following are items on other Web sites that are of interest to our philanthropic world.
from The Australian Jewish News:
Financial instability may hit Yom Kippur fund-raising
WITH a fluctuating stock market and uncertainty about the future of investments and superannuation balances, shulgoers may be tempted to linger an extra minute over their pledge cards this Yom Kippur.
However, the presumption that people tighten their belts and their charity donations as soon as the economy begins to waver may differ from the reality.
Helen Imber, executive director of the Australian Jewish Funders, said the Jewish community would continue to open its wallets for worthy causes.
“My gut feeling is that people will still give, but they will give smaller,” said Imber, whose organisation assists Jewish philanthropists to give effectively.
from Haaretz:
Bronfman: U.S. support for Israel hinges on recognition of mixed marriages
Edgar Bronfman, 79, still best known in the financial world as the owner for many years of Seagram’s Whiskey and until a few years ago as president of the World Jewish Congress, recently published a book, “Hope, Not Fear.” Over its 222 pages, Bronfman preaches for comprehensive reform of the content of Jewish life, and calls for changes in the conduct of its religious streams - particularly in the relationships between them.
In an interview with Haaretz yesterday, Bronfman said: “Judaism must open up and fully accept families where one of the parents is not Jewish. If a revolutionary change is not made in the present rejectionist attitude toward mixed couples, the Jewish community in America will shrink and lose its influence, and American support for Israel will be in danger.”
from The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle:
Could the economic downturn kill Jewish innovation?
The past decade has seen a groundswell of innovative Jewish nonprofits — from the birth of a Jewish pop culture magazine, Heeb, to the creation of a slew of trailblazing Jewish social service organizations, to an array of projects that allow Jews to express their Judaism through ways other than the prayer book.
But as these initiatives reach adolescence and eye expansion, the spiraling economy and financial crisis threatens to stunt their growth and thwart the next generation of startups from even getting off the ground.
update: a correction.
Since we originally published this link, we have been informed of an error in the story. Particularly since it deals with innovation and new funding in our community, we thought it important to update the story.
From the article: “There may even be hope for those looking to start nonprofits, as the Joshua Venture — the incubator that helped launch this movement, but then went on hiatus in 2006 — has announced on its Web site that it is now seeking new applicants.”
We received an email from Yoni Gordis, of the Center for Leadership Initiatives (one of the foundations taking part in the re-launch effort), indicating that the Joshua Venture has not yet started to accept fellowship applications and there is no announcement on the website indicating they are.
eJewish Philanthropy will keep you up-to-date when the search process begins.
MediaWatch: The World Around Us
With Monday’s upcoming Consultation on Jewish Social Entrepreneurship and New Leadership Development, a timely article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review:
Rediscovering Social Innovation
Social entrepreneurship and social enterprise have become popular rallying points for those trying to improve the world. These two notions are positive ones, but neither is adequate when it comes to understanding and creating social change in all of its manifestations. The authors make the case that social innovation is a better vehicle for doing this. They also explain why most of today’s innovative social solutions cut across the traditional boundaries separating nonprofits, government, and for-profit businesses.
from Business Wire:
Current U.S. Economy Causes Seniors to Give Less, the Young to Give More
Survey results indicate that only 13 percent of respondents expect to increase their giving for the remainder of 2008, while nearly a third (29%) admit to decrease their giving. Surprisingly, donors aged 25-34 were more likely to increase their giving in the fall, while those over the age of 65 were more likely to say they are giving less.
from the Washington Post:
New eBay site has social, environmental aim
Most consumers probably associate eBay Inc. more with vintage lunch boxes and low-priced electronics than with laptop bags made from recycled plastic by women in New Delhi.
The online auction operator is trying to change that perception with WorldofGood.com, a Web site launched Wednesday to sell goods produced with social and environmental goals in mind.
