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In June 2010, ELI’s partnering organizations gathered to celebrate ELI’s 7th birthday and to learn about ELI’s sabbatical year plans and goals: ELI Turns Seven/Sabbatical Year |
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In October 2009, the Foundation held a combined ELI-GLI session on the important subject of Valuing Donors, Staff and Lay Leaders |
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In January 2010, the Foundation held a Lunch and Learn on Human Resources for anyone interested in the art of Human Resources practices that emphasize attracting, engaging, and maintaining a dedicated work force. |
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In June 2009, the Foundation held a Philanthropy Connections program on The Changing Face of Poverty in San Diego
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In April 2009, the Foundation convened its second community forum, in which 100 leaders from 32 organizations, schools and synagogues shared strategies and tactics for ensuring strong governance during turbulent times. The first community forum was held in November 2008. |
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The Foundation's Top Five Tips for Giving during an economic downturn |
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Keeping Our Community Strong in Uncertain Times, a recent Foundation opinion article |
ELI Turns Seven/Sabbatical Year
Leaders from local synag
ogues and Jewish organizations gathered together in June to celebrate a very special seventh birthday -- that of the Endowment Leadership Institute (ELI). There is certainly a lot to celebrate: over 1,000 legacy gifts from almost 800 San Diego families have have been promised since the ELI program began in 2004.
These legacy gifts will go a long way toward strengthening the future of the San Diego Jewish community but, in the words of ELI Chair David Wax, we are “sitting on an iceberg of what’s really there.”
David introduced the plan for ELI’s seventh year: a sabbatical year where partnering organizations will work on strengthening and deepening the relationships with each of their legacy donors. The Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) is providing tools to help with the donor stewardship efforts, including modest incentive grant opportunities for those partnering organizations which meet their mutually agreed-upon goals. Goals for the sabbatical year will consist of having a meaningful conversation with each legacy donor and encouraging more donors to sign the Book of Life, a treasured archive.
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal, in his d’var Torah, told the story of a couple from his congregation, Tifereth Israel Synagogue: When Rabbi had originally spoken with them about the possibility of leaving a legacy gift, they had laughed and said, “We are not people of means.” Rabbi did not approach them again. About ten years later, when they passed away, Rabbi received a letter from their attorney stating that they had left a very generous bequest to the congregation. This story illustrates how ELI members will be “planting holy seeds and holy sparks” in ELI’s sabbatical year.
JCF Director of Endowments Gail Littman emphasized how our endowment efforts done together as a community are so much stronger than if the organizations took on these efforts themselves. Gail demonstrated ways to initiate conversations with legacy donors by asking each participant to introduce himself or herself starting with the words “I Come From A People Who…” As community leaders each spoke of what was valued by their ancestors and families, such as education and giving back to the community, they got to know each other better in a meaningful and personal way.
Participants had been asked to bring one family treasure which helps tell the story of who they are. At each table, those who had brought a treasure shared it as they spoke of the histories of their families and told stories about the objects. Grandparents were remembered with fond smiles, and the discussions generated a lot of interest as well as questions for each other. Gail suggested that the approach of discussing a Judaic object while visiting a legacy donor’s home is a lovely way to understand more about the donor and his or her reasons for leaving a Jewish legacy.
ELI Committee member and Governance Leadership Institute (GLI) Chair Jane Scher and Steve Weitzen of Congregation Adat Yeshurun role-played a “conversation” with a legacy donor, which should always start with a heartfelt “thank you.” Jane asked Steve about his hopes and dreams for the synagogue, reminding us that donors’ visions and ideas for the future of their beloved organizations can be very helpful to the leaders of those organizations, while allowing the donors to express their reasons for leaving a legacy gift.
David added that, in the context of a warm conversation, you might want to ask, “Are you comfortable sharing details of your legacy gift?” The documenting of meaningful conversations and details of gifts will be an important component of ELI’s sabbatical year, as relationships are cemented and made deeper by the contacts.
JCF CEO Marjory Kaplan related a saying which reminds her of ELI: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Marjory reminded the participants that JCF is “your technical planned giving department,” here to help with information and expertise to continue building respect and trust with donors.
The Book of Life video from the 2001 signing was shown. Community-wide Book of Life signings will be scheduled by the JCF during the sabbatical year, and partnering organizations are also welcome to plan their own signings.
Jane announced the Areivim Legacy Community Project, which will bring San Diego’s results-oriented legacy planning model to five Jewish communities throughout the U.S. The project will be funded by a group of philanthropists who look for “big Jewish ideas” and have recognized the ELI model as one of them by awarding the JCF a two-year grant. More about the Areivim project can be found in the Contact magazine article enclosed in the participant packet and posted on our website.
ELI’s seventh birthday is certainly an occasion to celebrate, as the hard work of the professional and lay leaders of its participating organizations has resulted in such success that it is being used as a model for other Jewish communities!
Materials from the June 2010 ELI Turns Seven Program
The Foundation is pleased to share the materials from the June 2010 session
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Valuing Donors, Staff and Lay Leaders
- Understanding how to deepen donor relations: that’s our keynote presentation with Steve Klappholz from the USC Shoah Foundation
- Three breakout sessions on:
- Valuing Staff from a HR Perspective: Rewarding employees other than monetary compensation. Looking at best practices in supervising staff
- Valuing Lay Leaders: Getting and keeping the best Board members
- Keys to Effective Fundraising: Donor centered fundraising.
The Foundation is pleased to share the materials from the October 2009 session
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About the January 2010 Human Resources Lunch & Learn Program
For the second year in a row, Seacrest Village Retirement Communities was named one of the top five best places to work in California for mid-size companies, and they will share their best practices.
This was an informal learning session for anyone interested in the art of Human Resources practices that emphasize attracting, engaging, and maintaining a dedicated work force.
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About the April 2009 Community Forum
Close to 100 lay leaders and professionals, including executive directors and rabbis photographed above, from 25 Jewish organizations in San Diego came together in April for the Jewish Community Foundation’s second forum, Keeping Our Community Strong During Uncertain Times. The Endowment Leadership Institute (ELI) gathering – with the largest turnout to date – examined endowment building, fundraising and ways to stay focused.
Top row, left to right: Nivi Rahm of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Rabbi Philip Graubart of Congregation Beth El, James Siegel of Ken Jewish Community, Jill Spitzer of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Robin Rubin of Temple Solel, Alan Friedman of Camp Mountain Chai, Alan Rusonik of Agency for Jewish Education.
Bottom row, left to right: Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Pam Ferris of Seacrest Village Retirement Communities, Murray Galinson, Chair, Jewish Community Foundation, Marjory Kaplan, CEO, Jewish Community Foundation, Ed Schumacher, Endowment Leadership Institute Consultant.
The Jewish Community Foundation convened close to 100 lay leaders and professionals from 25 Jewish organizations in San Diego in April for a second forum, Keeping Our Community Strong During Uncertain Times. The Endowment Leadership Institute (ELI) gathering – with the largest turnout ever – examined endowment building, fundraising and strategies during the economic downturn.
Keynote speaker Ed Schumacher is a nationally recognized endowment consultant and recent recipient of the lifetime achievement award from Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy. “I am overwhelmed with the success of the bequest program in San Diego, even in this economy,” said Schumacher.
To date, nearly 700 families have promised to ensure the vitality of San Diego’s future Jewish community through the ELI program.
Director of Endowments Gail Littman confers with Board member Elaine Chortek and Board Chair Murray Galinson.
A highlight of the program was the sharing of legacy stories. Rabbi Simcha Weiser of Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School spoke about an outright cash endowment initiated by Edith Wiseman, of blessed memory, during her lifetime.
“Hebrew Day is forever indebted to the Jewish Community Foundation for establishing the ELI program,” said Rabbi Weiser. “The program brings strength and durability to the future of Judaism in San Diego.”
Lesley Mills of Congregation Beth Israel shared her story of celebrating the last day of Sukkot by hosting a Book of Life signing ceremony. The Book of Life is a community archive housed at the Foundation of those who have established legacy gifts to ensure vibrant Jewish life for generations to come. Mills emphasized that during these economic times, taking a celebratory pause is a perfect opportunity to honor and acknowledge those who support the community.
The session also included workshops as part of the Governance Leadership Institute (GLI), a partnership of the Foundation and the Wexner Heritage Program alumni in San Diego.
Foundation CEO Marjory Kaplan summed up the session, “In challenging times, innovation is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
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