Tzedakah, Inc.
Supporting More Effective Jewish Giving
Web address:www.just-tzedakah.org

MEMO:

FROM:    Ira Kaminow, President
TO:          Friends of Tzedakah, Inc.
DATE:     February 28, 2007;
RE:          What's new in the world of nonprofits.

   If you'd like your name to be deleted from our mail list, please let me know. You can send me an email by clicking on my name above.

Click here if you'd like to make a contribution in support of our work

   Don't forget matanot l'evyonim (Purim gifts for the poor)  Purim is just around the corner (March 4). We urge you to distribute matanot l'evyonim on Purim day or contribute to one or more charities that will do so on your behalf. Need suggestions for charities that distribute matanot l'evyonim? Click here.

   Are Jewish Federations moving to more needs based giving?   Yes according to an article distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. In the new model, federation allocations don't focus so much on member agency requests as on community needs. "A federation starts by identifying community needs before allocating any money. The federation then reaches out to organizations — either inside or outside the federation system — to make grant proposals to solve those needs." >>more>>

   The need for finanacial controls.  A study undertaken at Villanova University is critical of the internal financial control mechanisms in Catholic dioceses. A among the study's conclusions: "Of those [CEOs} responding, 85 percent reported that embezzlements had occured in their dioceses within the past five years...Not surprisingly, external auditors do not typically uncover embezzlements." The paper offers a list of recommendations for better financial control and more transparency. What would a comparable study of synagogues show? >>more>>

   An unexpected effect of corporate mergers.  Frederic Scherer of Harvard University finds that corporate mergers affect local orchestra budgets. He finds that "the presence of corporate headquarters with their well-paid staffs and their command over substantial assets leads to higher local orchestra budgets." Thus orchestras gain or lose by corporate mergers depending on which cities host the surviving corporate headquarters. >>more>>  

   Do temporary charity matches increase giving?   Not necessarily. According to a study done at the Federal reserve Bank of Boston by economist Stephan Meier, temporary matches may change the timing of contributions without necessarily increasing donations over the long run. An experiment was conducted in which one group was told its contributions would be matched and another was not offered the match. The initial response was an increase in giving by those offered the match. However, when the match was withdrawn, the contribution rate in both groups declined. >>more>>

Best wishes for a joyous Purim.

Tizku L'mitzvos