JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

$35 million Diller Cancer Center to open at UCSF Monday

By Jacob Berkman · June 2, 2009

The Dillers have given away more than $200 million since opening their family foundation in 1999.

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E. Ike Eshaghian Foundation gives $1.8 million to Technion

By Jacob Berkman · May 18, 2009

The E. Ike Eshaghian Foundation has given $1.8 million to the American Technion Society to help kidney research at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa.

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UJA raises $43 million at Greenberg dinner

By Jacob Berkman · September 29, 2008

The UJA-Federation of New York was able to raise $43 million at its annual Greenberg dinner on Thursday Sept. 25 – an increase of $2 million over last year.

That the UJA was able to actually increase its total should probably not be taken as a sign that the philanthropy world is surviving the financial crisis just fine. But other groups should probably use the UJA-NY as a model.

The Greenberg dinner – which annually is held at the private home of former Bear Stearns chairman Ace Greenberg (ironically, the first bank that failed, touching off the current crisis) – gathers the UJA’s largest donors. Press aren’t invited, but rumor has it that the event used to involved Ace calling out individual donors, publicly reading out their pledges from the year before and asking them to match or beat their earlier numbers.

I’m guessing it is done with more tact now.

Federation leaders have reportedly been meeting with top donors individually for the past several weeks and stressing that they need to help make up for what will surely be a shortfall in New York as bankers lose their jobs and bonuses are cut drastically with falling profits or loses.

Big donors seem to have stepped up, at least so far.

Here is the press release from the UJA:

UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK’S ANNUAL KICKOFF RECEPTION

RAISES $43 MILLION, EXCEEDS LAST YEAR CAMPAIGN OPENING BY $2 MILLION

Governor David A. Paterson Delivers Keynote, Praises Philanthropists, Volunteers

NEW YORK, NY [September 26, 2008] — The philanthropic leadership of the New York Jewish community raised $43 million, an increase of $2 million over last year, at the 21st consecutive launch of UJA-Federation of New York’s Annual Campaign held last night at the home of Alan “Ace” C. and Kathryn Greenberg in Manhattan.

The Honorable Governor David A. Paterson delivered the keynote address to the 110 people who attended the annual kick-off fund-raising reception.  In his address, Governor Paterson recognized UJA-Federation of New York’s volunteers and philanthropists for stepping up to the plate to help those in need, especially during these turbulent economic times here in New York, the rest of the nation and abroad.

“Every year, nearly three million New York volunteers put in more than 366 million hours of service,” Governor Paterson said.  “These volunteers – regular New Yorkers – stand watch everyday and guard their fellow human beings against hunger and homelessness, poverty and despair. The work of these everyday heroes is a bright reflection of the best we have to offer and many of them are affiliated with the UJA-Federation.  UJA-Federation’s agency system plays a critical role in caring for the people of New York. Now, as more citizens find themselves vulnerable, we must work together to redouble our efforts.”

John M. Shapiro, UJA-Federation of New York president, echoed the Governor’s remarks, noting that more individuals and families are expected to turn to UJA-Federation for help during the economic crisis.

“Now, more than ever, our community needs to come together and offer support not only to the people who already rely on us but to populations who have been affected by the recent financial crisis,” Shapiro said.  “Due to the recent turn of events, we will see greater unemployment, failed businesses and families who have lost their homes due to foreclosure.  This will just add more challenges to an already overburdened infrastructure.  We cannot predict when things will turn around but we can make things easier for the lives of those affected.”

UJA-Federation campaign leadership also announced the formation of its Challenge Fund, which was developed in direct response to this year’s economic instability.  The Challenge Fund pledges to match the charitable donation of any new donor and, for existing donors who donate 10% or more over their last year’s pledge, it will match the increase at 50%.

John S. Ruskay, UJA-Federation of New York’s executive vice president and CEO, said that in times of crisis, donors have traditionally turned to UJA-Federation because they know that every dollar will be applied effectively to meet people’s needs and will be allocated where it will have the greatest impact.  “I wish to thank those who gathered here tonight to show their support during these very trying times,” Ruskay said.  “To exceed last year’s number and to raise additional funds through the Challenge Fund in these troubled economic times is a tribute to the philanthropic leaders of the Jewish community and their trust in our organization to determine how best to allocate those funds for the greatest impact.  All of you serve as role models not only to our organization but to other charitable organizations throughout New York and across the country.”

About UJA-Federation of New York

The world’s largest local philanthropy, UJA-Federation of New York cares for those in need, rescues those in harm’s way, and renews and strengthens the Jewish people in New York, in Israel, and around the world. Funds raised by UJA-Federation sustain the activities of 100 health, human-service, educational, and community agencies. Every day, these community-based organizations provide a multitude of services that improve and enhance people’s lives. For more information, visit the UJA-Federation website at http://www.ujafedny.org.

2 Comments | Share This | economy, federations, fundraising, gifts, UJA New York

FUNDERMENTALIST TV: How is the economic crisis impacting Jewish startups?

By · September 24, 2008

Guest post by Editor Man

The Fundermentalist dives into the world of video (if he seems a little stiff, that’s because someone at the Slingshot party slipped him some Kryptonite) ...

4 Comments | Share This | economy, Fundermentalist TV, fundraising, gifts

What will happen to the Lehman Brothers Foundation?

By Jacob Berkman · September 18, 2008

I just saw this in the elevator news ticker: It is not clear what will happen to the charitable donations that the Lehman Brothers Foundation makes each year.

The foundation tied to the bank that went under Monday annually gives out more than $40 million in charitable donations, including roughly $20 million throughout the United States, another $4 million in New York where the bank is headquartered, and $13 million internationally.

Among the Jewish related charities that the Lehman Brothers Foundation supports are Aleh Negev, for which they are building a special needs classroom in the High Dependency Ward of the organization’s medical facility in Israel, The Jewish Museum in New York and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

Crain’s first reported on the uncertainty at the foundation but could not get a comment from the investment bank.

A Lehman spokesman declined to explain what will happen to its philanthropic commitments.

In May, a national survey of 300 foundations by the Council on Foundations showed that 55% did not expect fluctuations in the stock market to affect their level of grant making.

A Council spokeswoman said that historically, foundations are not usually crunched for cash until a year or two after an economic downturn begins.

But that was before this week, which wrought what many consider to be one of the greatest upheavals in the financial industry.

2 Comments | Share This | economy, foundations & funders, gifts

Report: American giving between 2001 and 2006 to Israeli organizations outpaced giving to general or

By Jacob Berkman · September 15, 2008

American giving to Israeli organizations outpaced American giving to general philanthropies between the years 2001 and 2006, according to a Philadelphia-based Philanthropy consulting group, EHL Consulting.

EHL studied the 990 forms of 80 “American friends of” organizations that collected money for Israeli groups and institutions over that period. The findings (contained in a set to be released Monday): Their intake outpaced giving to general charities in the areas of arts and culture, education, health care and human services.

Over that period, giving to Israeli groups rose 64 percent, with an 82 percent gain in gifts to the arts in Israel, 42 percent growth in education, 66 percent in health care and 66 percent in human services, according to the report, co-authored by Robert Evans and Avrum D. Lapin, the principals at EHL.

Giving to 19 Israeli arts organizations grew from $52.2 million in 2001 to $94.9 million in 2006. The percentage increase far exceeded that of giving to similar American organizations, which grew from $114 billion in 2001 to $126.8 billion in 2006, according to stats EHL culled from the annual Giving USA report put out by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy. Israeli groups took in 82 percent more money for the arts in 2006 than they did in 2001, while U.S. groups took in 11 percent more in 2006 than they did in 2001.

Similarly, Israeli education groups took in $206 million in 2001 and $294 million in 2006, an increase of 42 percent, while American groups grew by 24 percent to $40.7 billion.

Israeli health care groups raised $170.5 million in 2006 and human services took in $156.3 million.

EHL is suggesting that giving to Israeli groups was spurred by the second intifada, Israel’s 2006 war in Lebanon and by a significant increase in travel to Israel from the United States.

“These factors, among others, seemed to have created increased opportunities for many Israel-based organizations to develop emotional appeals for a compelling need and to try to attract increases in U.S. and worldwide philanthropic support,” the report says.

But EHL is also looking at the rise in giving directly to Israeli organizations as a signal that American Jews are more and more looking away from Jewish federations as a means of supporting Israel. Growth in giving to the Jewish federation system during 2001-2006 was on par with the growth that general charitable umbrella groups such as the United Way saw, but it did not see a significant increase.

“We have found that many American donors have made broader philanthropic decisions toward Israel and some have turned their money away from Jewish federations and other similar organizations that have traditionally attracted major Jewish donors for Israeli funding, and instead donated directly to specific Israel-based organizations,” the report says.

The report does not address current levels of giving to Israeli causes in light of the economic downturn and widespread concern over a general slowing in philanthropy.

0 Comments | Share This | economy, fundraising, gifts, Israel, overseas

Broad Foundation to give $400 million to Harvard-MIT venture

By Jacob Berkman · September 11, 2008

If you needed further proof that Jewish mega-donors trend toward giving to higher education, check out this scoop from the Chronicle of Philanthropy:

“Eli and Edythe L. Broad will announce this morning that they are pledging $400-million to endow the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, in Cambridge, Mass., a biomedical-research center that is jointly run by Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.”

The Broads have given away $1.7 billion in total, including $600 million to this venture, according to the Chronicle.

The Broad Foundation gives out about $40 million per year, making it the fifth largest foundation started by Jews, after the Annenberg Foundation, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation $49,616,000 and the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Philanthropies, according to a 2007 study by the San Francisco-based Institute for Jewish and Communal Research.

The study found that the Broad Foundation gives exactly 0% of its grants to overtly Jewish causes and 0% of its dollars to Israel –- though Zionists should not feel slighted by the latter stat, since the Broad Foundation’s Web site states that the foundation does not give any money overseas.

2 Comments | Share This | Education, gifts, Steinhardt

Rose foundation announced Q2 grants

By Jacob Berkman · September 9, 2008

The Rose Community Foundation, which has given some $26 million to Jewish causes in the Devner area since 2002, announced $2.3 million in second quarter grants Aug 15.

The foundation gave out 49 grants totaling $2,156,354 to nonprofit organizations, government agencies and projects that support the health and well-being of the Greater Denver community.

A number of Jewish organizations were among the grantees, including the Jewish Family Service of Colorado, Hillel of Colorado, the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado and STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal).

Here’s a link to the entire list of grantees, and the Jewish grantees, quoted frombtheir Web site:

Jewish Life

Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado (Denver): $10,000 for a Community Summit to consider the results and recommendations of the 2007 Metro Denver/Boulder Jewish Community Study.
jewishcolorado.org

Denver Community Kollel (Denver): $108,780 to support the implementation of a three-year organizational development plan, including a new development associate and technology.
denverkollel.org

Hillel of Colorado (Denver): $111,000 to pilot a new Jewish Campus Life Student Internship program, including a website.
hillelcolorado.org

Jewish Family Service of Colorado (Denver): $24,300 for the Rafael Spiritual Healing Center’s integration of Jewish rituals and traditions into counseling and support groups.
jewishfamilyservice.org

Rose Community Foundation (Denver): $11,000 to provide grants to Limmud Colorado participants for projects that promote new approaches to Jewish learning.

The following organizations and individuals received Jewish learning grants:

* Wendy Aronson and Karli Sherwinter
For a workshop in Boulder that will allow participants to examine their relationship to Judaism and reinvigorate their faith.

* Boulder Jewish Community Center
For a series of workshops and speakers on raising children with Jewish values.
boulderjcc.org

* Yehudis Fishman and Scott Slack
For a series of classes for children to learn about the Hassidic storytelling tradition.

* Rabbi Sara Gilbert
For a series of Shabbat celebrations for members of the community who have no family with whom to celebrate the holiday.

* Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado
For a series of seminars on exploring and recording participants’ Jewish lineage and heritage.
jewishgen.org/jgs-colorado

* Judaism Your Way
For gatherings to discuss Jewish life in communities with less access to Jewish programming.
judaismyourway.org

* Minyan Na’aleh
For an intimate Shabbat gathering with educators and scholars in the Highlands neighborhood.
naalehdenver.org

* Lauren Ross (with Amy Berkowitz-Caplan and Karli Sherwinter)
For a program for families with young children.

* Danny and Karli Sherwinter
For a monthly gathering of young Jewish couples in the Boulder area for informal learning sessions.

limmudcolorado.org
rcfdenver.org

STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) (St. Louis Park, MN): $41,500 to support a training program to improve marketing, volunteer engagement, fund development and assessment at seven Denver/Boulder synagogues.
starsynagogue.org

0 Comments | Share This | foundations & funders, gifts, Rose Community Foundation

Feinstein gives to scholarship program, but not to UJA

By Jacob Berkman · August 20, 2008

Alan Shawn Feinstein, a philanthropist in Rhode Island, is bailing out a scholarship program that went belly up.

Feinstein had been giving out $2,000 college scholarships to students through a nonprofit advocacy organization, The Education Partnership. But the partnership went into receivership in June, the Providence Journal reports.

Feinstein has offered to pay out the scholarships nonetheless.

Feinstein is Jewish, according to his foundation’s Web site. I found some interesting tidbits on the site’s FAQ section.

Can you tell me about his family?

Mr. Feinstein has been married for over 40 years to Dr. Pratarnporn Feinstein, a psychiatrist and native of Bangkok, Thailand. They have three children Ari, Ricky, and Leila Feinstein and three grandchildren. Though Mr. Feinstein comes from a strictly Jewish background, his family now consists of Christians, Moslems and Buddhists and a mixture of all races. That’s the way he wants it.

Why doesn’t Mr. Feinstein just give his money to a Jewish organization like the United Jewish Appeal?

Because he believes we were all put here to help all those in need regardless of their race, creed or color.

0 Comments | Share This | Education, gifts

Benny Landa goes bearish on Israel’s future

By Jacob Berkman · July 22, 2008

You think Israel’s economy is on the rise? That the Israeli third sector is growing fast enough to make American philanthropic dollars less necessary? That Israel is on the cusp of being an international financial power?

Think again, Benny Landa told the Fundermentalist.

Landa sold his Israeli-based company Indigo – which revolutionized digital color printing – to Hewlett Packard in 2002 when it was worth about $1 billion. He has since committed $50 million to social welfare projects in Israel and recently published a manifesto about the Israeli economy.

And while much has been said recently about the rise of Israel’s ultra-wealthy class, its fast-growing economy and its burgeoning philanthropic sector, Landa did not paint a rosy picture in the wide-ranging telephone interview Tuesday from Israel.

“The Israeli economy, despite all of the hoopla and excitement over foreign investment and the rising shekel, is a bubble that is going to pop,” he said.

The gap between the wealthy and the poor is rapidly growing, and the majority of the poor are Israeli Arabs and Charedi Jews – two sectors that can cause considerable unrest. For all of the talk about Israel’s economic growth, a look at the Gini Index, which measures the wealth gap, shows that Israel is far behind most of the developed world. The perfect distribution of wealth, according to the index, is zero. Israel’s is 39, more than twice that of progressive European countries, Landa said.

“We have two societies. One country is like Denmark where people are prosperous and high tech; the other one is like El Salvador, where you have a $2,500 GDP per capita, huge families, terrible poverty and hopelessness,” he said. “Fixing that is priority number one. It is not a society that can survive.”

The biggest problem, according to Landa, is that, even though Israeli companies are selling for big money to foreign investors such as Warren Buffet, and even though foreign investors are pumping money into Israel financial indexes, Israel’s wealth is all liquid, and that investment is bringing in little manufacturing to Israel, which means very few jobs are being created.

Only 37 percent of Israelis actually work, he said, compared to the United States, where 50 percent of the population works. (He warned against looking at the unemployment rate, which only measures the percentage of those who have actually worked before who have jobs.)

It is the role of the wealthy class to help ease that gap between rich and poor, said Landa, who loathes the term philanthropist.

“I am a high tech industrialist. I am an industrialist. I don’t donate. I invest,” he said. “I look at something in terms of social investing, as something that I want pay back on. I want the most bang for the buck.”

On the business side, Landa made sure that when he sold out to HP that the computer giant kept jobs in Israel. Some 2,000 Israeli manufacturing jobs were created directly by the sale, and another 9,000 indirectly, he said.

On the social investment side, Landa is in the midst of a $50 million investment in helping Israel’s poor rise up.

During its first phase, he put some $25 million towards the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Atidim project, which takes precocious Israeli youths from the country’s poorest areas and gives them intensive math and science training and scholarships to Israel’s top schools so that they can take high-level jobs in the army before moving into the high-tech professional world.

In its second phase, he is now invested in other projects that do the same for Israelis that cannot serve in the army, primarily Israeli-Arabs and Charedi Jews – which he likens to an Israeli affirmative action program.

“We are on the verge of a major crisis in this country, a major economic crisis,” Landa said. “This is going to be a desperate situation. There is a total disenfranchisement of Israeli Arabs and a disassociation from Israeli society. We have a society that is going to fragment. I am a Zionist, and I don’t want historians to write one day, ‘There was a 100-year experiment called the Jewish state, and it just didn’t make it.’ We are not home free.”

And despite an increased interest in philanthropy on the part of Israel’s newly wealthy, it is not time for Americans to bail on giving their charity dollars to Israel – even in the face of an economic downturn here that promises to put a crunch on American non-profits, he said.

Landa estimates that about 75-80 percent of American Jewish philanthropic dollars given through the Jewish federation system stays in the U.S. “That is the wrong proportion,” he says, advocating that the split should be closer to 50-50.

“They say that when Europe sneezes, the U.S. gets a cold, but when the U.S. sneezes, Israel gets pneumonia,” Landa said. “I think that if the American Jews who give to federations or Jewish causes need to really understand the significance and importance of Israel to the freedom of Jews around the world.”

Because it spends so much money on defense, the Israeli government is strapped for cash, and social welfare projects are suffering. Israel, he said, spends only a half of what the leading 20 countries spend per student on education (** This statement corrects an earlier statement.). “Fifty percent of our kids in primary school are not being prepared for life,” he said. (Landa also chastised the government for “squandering huge resources on building settlements.")

“No one is going around saying, ‘Let’s hurt the poor.’ There is no one out there that is bad. There is just not enough money,” he said. “In business you learn that you simply have to drown the puppies when there is not enough money. In Israel, that is unfortunately what they are doing, and the puppies are unfortunately bright youths who end up with no hope of fulfilling their potential.”

Even though Israel reportedly has between 6,000 and 7,000 millionaires, there simply is not enough money in the economy to make up for the social welfare gap that Israel’s government cannot close. Oversimplifying the math, he admits, even if each of those millionaires gave one percent of their wealth to charity every year, that would only amount to between $60 million and $70 million in donations.

Landa is calling for Diaspora Jews to encourage more outsourcing and job creation in Israel and to become vocal on Israel’s economy – which most have shied away from because they liken the economy to politics and pressuring Israel on politics is taboo for many outsiders.

For Landa, the quest to create economic parity is all very personal.

“I grew up in a very poor home. And that never leaves you. When you are poor, you feel different and you feel the frustration and the humiliation, and it never leaves you. I was just very lucky, and it is my objective to share that luck,” he said. “I’m trying to help the poor be less desperate and to give people a level playing field.”

5 Comments | Share This | Benny Landa, federations, gifts, Israel, jewish agency, poverty