Keeping Our Community Strong

The times may be uncertain but I am very certain and confident that the talent in this room will keep our community strong. The Foundation is pleased to be able to convene such a terrific group of community leaders to address these challenging times.

Our Endowment Leadership Institute and the Governance Leadership Institute have given us and our organizations both strength and focus. Thank you for your outstanding efforts. In just the last five years, nearly 700 families have arranged bequests for our Jewish community. To encourage more bequests, we are also working together to implement best practices in governance.

Both the endowment and governance programs reflect a key strategy of the Foundation – to build the capacity of our Jewish organizations.

And, boy, are we ever committed! In the last five years, for the endowment and governance programs, the Foundation has invested $2 million dollars. These funds pay for the incentive grants, consultants, seminars, marketing, information systems and staff. The Foundation used our own operating revenues, our unrestricted endowment payout, and obtained gifts from our Foundation board members and other community leaders.

The return on this investment has exceeded our wildest dreams. In fact, the success of the San Diego ELI program is the talk of the nation. At the recent Jewish Funders Network international conference in Florida, San Diego was featured again and again as a place where innovation and community cooperation are thriving.

The Foundation will continue to invest in endowment and governance programs. To ensure our partnership with you, I have two serious requests:

First, keep doing what you’re doing and stay focused on bequests and governance. You’re great partners. You do great work for our community.
Second, make sure you and everyone on your board has a donor advised fund at the Foundation. The minimum to open a fund is only $1,800 and it’s an easy and convenient way to do your giving. The more families involved in the Foundation, the more impact we can all have in the community.

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Objectives and Framework

Marjory Kaplan, CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation

I feel very blessed to be working with all of you to strengthen our community.

In a time of crisis, innovation is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Isn’t that a great quote? I know how hard all of you have been working to wrestle with the economic crisis. I know how creative and innovative you’ve been in devising strategies and solutions for your organization.

And what is innovation? I think the following description fits our efforts like a glove. It’s exactly what we’ve done with the ELI and now the GLI program:

Innovators bet on teams and people first.
Innovators invest more when something is working well.
Innovators align incentives.
Innovators bring resources to bear.

So this morning, as we begin our program, let's bring the best of our time and talent to the challenges at hand.

Today’s program will focus on two key areas: First, how are we doing with our bequests and endowments and how can we keep our efforts strong? We’re so glad to welcome back our favorite endowment consultant, Ed Schumacher, who has given us so much wisdom and continues to make it all look so easy. I’m also looking forward to hearing from the organizations who will be sharing some of their success stories.

The second focus will be on governance. We’ll break out for three sessions that are described in the agenda. These are very compelling and current topics.

Still, it’s not what happens in this room today, but what we do when we go back to our work. Can each of us walk away with two or three ideas that will inspire new ways to address our challenges? To turn them into innovative opportunities?

In serving you and the community, the Foundation is focused not only on ELI and GLI, capacity building programs. We are also focused on raising additional funds for our community. We are encouraging the donor advised funds to give. We are making many matches between donors and organizations. The Foundation is also collaborating with the Federation in a task force to plan special fund development efforts. Thank you to those of you who just completed the survey. We will certainly keep you informed of next steps.

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D'var Torah

Rabbi Philip Graubart, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth El

This is a time of radical freedom. A time for the most innovation.

Look at your budgets and say now is not the time to do less - do more tikkun olam, more outreach.

Endowment Conversations in this Economy

David Wax, Chair of the Endowment Leadership Institute

The ELI program has been in existence for five years. Let’s recognize Jewish Family Service of San Diego, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS and the San Diego Jewish Academy for exceptional performance in reaching their six year goals.

We congratulate Ner Tamid Synagogue, Chabad of University City and Temple Emanu-El for achieving their three year goals.

In this economy, it’s critical to be conducting endowment conversations with the supporters who are most loyal to your institutions.

Ed Schumacher, Endowment Consultant

Celebration is a keystone to success.

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.

bequest program in San Diego, even in this economy.”

One has to remember that an institution isn’t just a budget – it’s the lives you touch everyday. Some helpful tips:

Stay positive. Who wants to be on a board where all you talk about is a deficit?
Remain consistent with your mission.
Tell stories.

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GLI Welcome and Introductions

Jane Scher, GLI Chair

GLI is the perfect partner with ELI. Donors need to trust organizations’ leadership in order to leave a legacy.

We are most grateful to the Wexner Heritage alumni for their full support of the GLI program and for offering mentoring services to help build a stronger community.

It is so important to remain transparent. Effective governance is critical to our success. It’s not just about showing up at meetings and making a donation. It’s about making that deep commitment. Be strategic when choosing board members for your organizations.

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Breakout Sessions:

Keys to Fundraising

Ed Schumacher, Endowment Consultant

Keys to success in fundraising in current economic climate

Focusing on the Essentials

Paul Van Dolah, Endowment Consultant

Thinking through program and cost structure change. Looking at new models for collaboration.

Legal & Human Resources

Marjory Kaplan, CEO

Jeremy Pearl, CFO

Jewish Community Foundation

An overview of legal requirements; effective, innovative human resource practices:

Compliance “check-up”: the Foundation will share sample checklists and resources for legal and regulatory “self-audits”

Suggest conducting “lunch and learn” sessions for community organizations to share ideas
Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations: Nonprofit Legal Self-Assessment Checklist
Educational Resources for Tax Exempt Organizations
How Positive is Your Workplace Quiz
More Companies Are Cutting Labor Costs Without Layoffs
Good Governance Practices for 501(c)(3) Organizations

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Team Sharing

Taking action steps back home

Small groups devised strategies and shared results:

Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Jill Spitzer:

With privilege comes responsibility
Many donors feel compelled to leave a legacy especially if they are not able to give right away

Endowment Consultant, Ed Schumacher:

Tell stories
Recognize those who have given; list names

Congregation Beth Israel, Lesley Mills:

Take a pause
Take this time as an opportunity to acknowledge your donors and those who have supported the ELI program

Temple Solel, Robin Rubin:

Have your staff step up and become a legacy giver. When donors see that you’re leaving a legacy, they may want to leave one also.
You never know whose interest you may spark

Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal:

Approaching people about money and death are the two most difficult things to do but it’s very important for the community
Don’t be afraid to ask
A lot of the time, donors are ahead of the game. They have already included your organization in their will and if you don’t ask, you won’t know.

Soille San Diego Hebrew Day, Rabbi Simcha Weiser:

What we’re doing through the ELI program is an eternal process
The future of the Jewish community is forever is debt to this program

Ner Tamid Synagogue, Chris Epstein:

Every little bit helps
Because of ELI, we’re able to expand a program that we wouldn’t have been able to continue

Chabad of University City, Orin Green:

Some donors have signed up to leave a legacy and we don’t even know who they are
It’s remarkable to know that we haven’t even contacted most of our donors leaving legacies; they’re initiating these gift on their own

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Jewish Community Foundation - San Diego