Federation Metrics

Federation Metrics

For Supporting Financially Vulnerable Jews in Your Community

• Dollars Raised and Allocated
• Benchmark your current annual Campaign Allocation to Your Human Service Portfolio. How do you plan to have this grow next year? Set a goal for the following year that reflects the urgency your data shows.
• Grows at least at the rate of inflation
• How is your federation planning to raise dollars for financial vulnerability on top of the annual unrestricted giving?
• Areas to raise designated allocations include: Scholarships, food pantries, and case management
• What does your “Case for Giving” look like, and does it include messaging about the 20% of Jews in your community who are struggling? How can you dispel myths funders may have about what the community looks like?
• Increased Communications
• Keep an up-to-date “community resources” page on your website. One great model is the federation of Detroit www.jhelpdetroit.org
• Do your communications mention low-income Jews? Include messaging about economically vulnerable Jews. While acknowledging the stressors in Israel or locally, this is a part of our community that is feeling the effects of antisemitism and increased costs more acutely.
• Some sample messaging may include
• “We envision a world where every Jew has their basic needs met and can live a thriving Jewish life.”
• Data shows that low-income Jews aren't getting messages from the Jewish community. How are you (through partnerships, etc) reaching low-income Jews?
• Intersectional Programs
• What this looks like: Support your food pantry and scholarship program – and think more creatively. . Are you thinking about the integration of financially vulnerable Jews into new programs? Cost of entry? Who are the speakers? Accessing day school etc.
• Surveying and evaluation: As you design surveys, sk about a person’s income and financial security. You can also ask what services they currently benefit from and how often they are unable to meet their basic needs.
• Visible Leadership
• Did one of your leaders grow up low income? Or have a story within their family? Support leaders and members of your team in developing and having opportunities to tell their story as a tool for dispelling stigma.
• Find 1-3 donors who are willing to take on this mantle.
• Many donors have had different financial journeys, including stages where they or their parents struggled to make ends meet. These lay-champions can help catalyze other donors through sharing their stories on a panel or in relationship building.