Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland Announces Plans to Address Projected Budget Shortfall

Due to the current economic situation, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland is undergoing an intensive evaluation process of its structure, programs and activities to look at all potential cost savings. With roughly a one-third decrease in its endowment and a 15 percent reduction-to-date in pledges to the 2009 Campaign for Jewish Needs, the Federation will need to undergo a significant reorganization and retrenchment of its workforce.

Although the Federation has already reduced its current year budget by $500K through spending cuts and a hiring freeze, pressing economic challenges require an additional $2.4 million reduction in the operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009. These cuts will be addressed through additional reductions in expenses, programming and personnel.

“Our senior management is working on a restructuring plan now,” said Stephen H. Hoffman, president of the Jewish Community Federation. “We are targeting early March as the time when we will be able to let our board and staff know the outcome of our plans.”

Harley I. Gross, Federation board chair, said, “This is an incredibly difficult situation for us to face as a community and especially for the staff. But the Federation must do everything in its power to continue its mission to serve our community locally and overseas, and to ensure that our operations are maintained on a fiscally sound basis.”

tip to The Foundation Center