Andrea Schneider is a professor at Marquette University Law School specializing in dispute resolution and negotiation. She has published numerous books and articles and provides training to law firms, court systems and corporations around the country.
She received her A.B. from Princeton University and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. She is married to Rodd Schneider and is Joshua, Noah and Zachary’s mom.
This is her second year as chair of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s annual campaign. She has been a volunteer in many positions at MJF. She also serves on the national board of Women’s Philanthropy of Jewish Federations of North America.
She spoke with Stephanie Wagner, MJF vice president of communications and strategy. Selected and edited excerpts of that conversation follow.
What makes you so committed to MJF?
When I came to this community 18 years ago, my life was touched in important ways by MJF and our local agencies. Rodd and I sent our children to Jewish Beginnings; we are members of the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center; our boys have been very active participants in BBYO; and we made many of our friends through involvement in Federation.
I am honored to be the campaign chair and am inspired by the dedication of so many of the community’s active volunteers and by the work of the MJF and the agencies. Also, our community would look very different without MJF — both because of the funds we raise and the services we provide.
There is literally no other organization that helps meet the needs, both extraordinary and everyday needs, of Jews in 70 countries around the world as well as Jews next door. I’ve been lucky enough to see our Federation dollars at work first-hand both here in Milwaukee, in Israel, and abroad.
Has the 2015 Annual Campaign begun?
Yes, it has. We have recruited over 100 volunteers who began meeting with donors in October.
Last year we tried something different — shortening the campaign and moving the kick-off to January. Many donors told us that they prefer to give their campaign gifts in the fall when they make their other charitable donations. It’s very important that we listen to our donors, so we began approaching donors earlier this year so they can give before the calendar year ends, if they wish.
How is the campaign going so far?
We already have 44 new donors, and we’ve seen a 65 percent increase in gifts from donors who give up to $999 to the campaign. I’m very pleased to see this early progress; it’s important for us to connect with new donors and to help current donors understand why they should consider increasing their gifts.
This year we are bringing back some of the groups our donors really miss, like the Young Leadership Division and Lawyers Division. These are a great way of networking and connecting with each other and the community.
Why should donors consider increasing their gifts?
Our partner agencies depend on the millions of dollars that we raise each year. These funds are very important because they are unrestricted, meaning the agencies can use them to meet their greatest needs.
Jewish Family Services has seen an increase in the number of sessions at its mental health clinic—from 1,900 in 2010 to 8,300 in 2014. (Check The Chronicle next month for a story behind this increase.) Chai Point, the senior independent and assisted living facility, is dealing with a huge increase in the senior population who participate in the Lakeside Senior Enrichment Program there.
We have a growing number of families who want their students to have a Jewish day school education but cannot afford it. The schools are doing their best to help accommodate the increase in families, but without any increase in funds to make school more affordable.
We are seeing less of a connection among American Jews and Israel. We have increased funding for local Israel engagement to address this trend, but that funding was taken from other important overseas needs.
We see that the needs are increasing dramatically, and if donors increase their support, we can do more to help.
How is MJF dealing with this increase in needs?
As I said, we are attracting new donors and making the case to existing donors about why they should consider increasing their gifts. We are also encouraging donors to endow their campaign gifts especially through the new Create a Jewish Legacy initiative.
I endowed my gift because I want to ensure that I continue supporting the annual campaign even after I’m gone. By setting up an endowment fund with MJF’s Jewish Community Foundation, my annual gift to the campaign — which is one of my most important gifts — will continue in perpetuity.
Any final thoughts?
I want to encourage everyone in the community to support the Annual Campaign with a gift that is meaningful to them. Every size gift makes a difference and is so critical to enhancing the Jewish community in Milwaukee that we all know and love.
Finally, and most importantly, I want to thank all of our donors and volunteers for their dedication and generosity. It is an honor to be part of this great community.
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