Special Report

ON ENE COVER

Giving in America from page 14

When the United Israel Appeal was
added to the mix in 1999, the North
American conglomerate of organizations
became known by its current name, United
Jewish Communities. UJC provides support
for 155 local federations and 360 inde-
pendent Jewish communities as they raise
money for their annual campaigns and
for crisis funds. The organization provides
resources, consultations, leadership devel-
opment and an avenue for making connec-
tions and distributing funds worldwide.

Personal And Pragmatic
Even while UJC increased the reach of fed-
erations nationwide, the annual campaigns
did not see any large increase.
Gary Tobin, president of the San
Francisco-based Institute for Jewish &
Community Research, has re-examined the
success of federations' annual campaigns,
adjusting the annual intake for inflation.
The unpublished data show that 1948
and 1967 were the two most successful
years in terms of the annual campaign.
Those two important years for Israel and
the Jewish people — when modern Israel
was born and when it won complete con-
trol of Jerusalem amid other dramatic

conquests — brought in the
Americans find better, more cost-
dollars.
efficient ways to give to charity,
While the numbers look
including creating active family
larger in recent times, Tobin
foundations.
said, his findings show that
"People more and more want
since those campaigns,
to find that the intermediate
the annual campaign has
charities, if they use them at all,
decreased by an inflation-
are clearly a tool for their giving
adjusted 70 percent.
and their significance and effec-
Paul Schervish
UJC President and CEO
tiveness in life,' Schervish said.
Howard Rieger outlined such
The common goal, he said, is
challenges in the board meet-
to see how their money translates
ing at November's General
to a positive presence instead of
Assembly, according to a
being channeled through some-
release from the organization.
one else's priorities or good works.
He said that between 2001
That trend holds true for the
and 2006, annual campaigns
major philanthropist and the
across the country increased
small donor.
by $37 million, but the number
Combining business sensi-
of donors decreased 13 per-
bilities with a mandate to give,
cent, from 650,000 to 565,000.
Jewish donors are looking for a
The trend of decreasing
return on their investment, how-
campaigns is common in umbrella fund-
ever it's actualized.
raising organizations such as Jewish federa-
"Jewish philanthropists — like American
tions and the United Way.
philanthropists, in general — are entre-
It's because Americans want a more per-
preneurs. They are business people;' Tobin
sonal relationship with their giving, Boston
said. "They are looking for return on their
College's Schervish said.
dollar, and they're looking to be passionate
Financial planners are helping wealthy
about what they do"

A Family Affair
With personal missions guiding their
giving, many wealthy Jews have launched
family foundations to make an impact on
the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds. More
than 9,000 family foundations exist in
the United States.
In the past seven years, Jewish founda-
tions have doubled their assets to $30
billion, according to the Jewish Funders
Network (JFN), an international orga-
nization of family foundations, public
philanthropies and individual donors
created to help philanthropists rooted in
Jewish values to be more effective in their
giving.
JFN President Mark Charendoff said
the trend toward family foundations is
only growing. In the past, those in their
60s and 70s typically started charitable
foundations; now successful 20-, 30- and
40-year-olds are joining the mix.
"Philanthropy is a business, and it's a
big business:' Charendoff said. "People
are spending an enormous amount of
money — and not just money, but ener-
gy — in trying to do good and trying
to engage their kids and to create some
kind of legacy for their families."

NEFESH B'NEFESH

Pre-Aliyah
Event

in the Detroit Area
January 2007

NEFESH B'NEFESH

Pre-Aliyah
Seminar

Nefah B'Nefesh

Aliyah: Live the dream

Wednesday, January 3V
Young Israel of Southfield
27705 Lahser Rd
Southfield, MI

I-866-4-ALIYAH

Applications for Aliyah Services
for Summer 2007
are available online at:
WWVV.nbn.org .iI

Applicatiom Deadline: March 1st

In cooperation with

tier

`miev yvis) 'run nnalon
Jevvish Agency for Israel

This seminar is
in conjunction with:

Short & Long Term Aliyah Planning
Wed, January 31st / 7:30-9:30pm

Meet with our professional staff and
get practical information and advice on:

•
•
•
•
•
•

Employment in Israel
Children, Family and Aliyah
NBN Services and Benefits
Rights ("Zechuyot") as a New Oleh
Pre & Post-Aliyah Guidance & Strategies
Communities, Taxes, Schooling and more

For a full list of NBN events and to register for a seminar visit:

F:13

www.nbn.org.il

Torah AM Izton

R ELIGIOUS ZIONIST KOLLELS 1tVIDT11

Pre-Aliyah Seminar

0 11T'TID

1205710

16

January 11. 2007

4

