David Werdiger dips into the debate about commission-based fundraising. Many current policies prohibit the practice, but what is really needed is a high-level look at remuneration practices within not-for-profits, which should be established to ensure full alignment of interests between employer and employee. [eJewishPhilanthropy]
This is written in the style of a Harvard case study. It is an allegory; imagine a real company in this situation and facing similar challenges. The questions at the end are a guide to what the issues are and the process to deal with them. Suggested answers are most welcome. “They did what?!” exclaimed William, Chairman of Oligarch Enterprises, at one of the regular informal gatherings of the “mini-board”. The recovery of the supermarket division was progressing…
I’ve returned from an inspiring AJF lunch lecture in the succah with Helen Lieberman, founder of Ikamva Labantu, a South African not-for-profit that helps develop self-reliant and sustainable community-based organizations in townships. Frankly, extreme poverty in the third world is not high on the pecking order in my personal list of causes, and it isn’t that much higher as a result of meeting and hearing Helen. Nevertheless, I find her story so compelling and there…
I was quite shocked to receive the letter from the CoM advising of the formation of a new Shul Committee for the Yeshivah Shul. I was aware of some of the things that were happening in the background in recent months, and was even one of the people who took part in what might be very loosely called a “focus group”, referred to in the letter. Considering how long the CoM have had to consider…
The topic of a Melbourne Jewish community appeal has been debated for several years now, and discussed at many levels and amongst different stakeholders. Fundraising poses huge challenges to not-for-profit organizations of all sizes, and while we often think of ways to make the system more efficient, more equitable, and with greater foresight, the proposed solutions aren’t always the panacea they are made out to be. The situation reminds me of a classic Chassidic story…
(note: I wrote this back in 2003, as indicated by the post date, and am placing it now (2007) on the blog for posterity. Many of the numbers have changed since that time) Some people have dubbed me a “gastronomic Zionist” – having traveled 8,000 miles for a decent meal. I am currently in the middle of a 10-week sojourn in Israel, principally for my family to have a living experience here, to support the…