As they presented allocations proposals for the 2010-2011 fiscal year at the June 22 board of directors meeting, MJF officials stated that they have seen a “tentative recovery from the financial challenges of the previous 18 months.”
“We’re beginning to see two things,” said Richard H. Meyer, MJF executive vice president, in a telephone interview June 25, 2010. “Some of our donors are feeling a bit more confident in their own circumstances and are more willing to step forward” to support the community.
“At the same time,” Meyer continued, “approximately one-third of our allocation dollars come from returns on investments. We have begun to see a slow but steady improvement” in this area. “That will hopefully generate more revenue for community purposes.”
And as MJF president Jerry Benjamin added in a separate telephone interview, “I think that overall, as the stock market has recovered, as the unemployment rate has stabilized.… I think that’s really helped in stabilizing the [MJF] campaign.”
As a result, the MJF had a bit more to work with this year. Income from the annual campaign increased from $6,480,000 for 2009-10 to $6,927,541 (including $400,000 in a special supplementary campaign effort); and income from the Jewish Community Foundation also increased from 850,000 to $1,005,000.
The total amount to be allocated for 2010-11 was $8,029,555 compared to $7,953,550 for 2009-10.
‘Community-oriented’ work
However, the increased total funds available did not translate into more funds to be allocated to the various beneficiaries. Instead, “we were pleased to be able to find enough resources to maintain the same level of allocations” as in the previous year, said Meyer.
The reason has to do with “three key issues” the MJF faces, Meyer explained:
• The MJF needs to “rebuild the unrestricted reserves to take care of emergencies and special needs.”
• The MJF needs to “address the community capital campaign shortfalls…. We do not have enough assets in the bond fund to pay off the $55 million principal on the bonds.”
• The MJF needs to “find ways to stabilize the yearly community allocations.”
The results of all these were embodied in the allocations, which were approved unanimously by the board of directors on June 22.
• Local Agencies and Programs, which received $2,634,060 ($2,770,400 last year).
• Other Allocations, including the Coalition for Jewish Learning, Jewish Museum Milwaukee, the Israel Center, and The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle and other activities, all of which received $1,092,295 ($1,078,350 last year).
• Israel and Overseas, which together received a total of $1,933,200 (the same as last year).
• MJF Operations, which received $2,370,000 ($2,171,600 last year). This year’s allocation is the first to include an amount for the Jewish Community Relations Council, a new MJF operation created through the merger of the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations into the MJF.
Meyer said that more than 100 people in the community – communal professionals and lay volunteers involved in the various organizations and agencies – “were involved in various aspects of allocations.”
“They not only handled their specific responsibilities” for each agency, “but also looked as much as possible” at the process “from a broad and community-oriented point of view,” said Meyer. “I’ve never been more proud of the work, the effort and contributions of so many talented volunteers and dedicated professionals.”
Benjamin added that the agencies worked hard at “controlling budgets and continuing to provide fabulous programming.… I see our community functioning in a wonderful way.”
Marci Taxman, MJF treasurer, in a telephone interview added, “I think the thing that is most important to me as treasurer is the large participation” in the allocations process, including volunteers for and staff members of local and national organizations.
“All have done a tremendous job working together to make sure services are received in the community in an appropriate manner,” Taxman said.
Formerly op-ed editor, Leon Cohen has written for The Chronicle for more than 25 years.
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