During the two-day Jewish Community Summit in June 2011, discussions were held about the priorities of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation as it moves forward in its Reimagining process.
A clear consensus emerged that the MJF can best serve the community by focusing on its leadership role in financial resource development.
Summit attendees and those who participated in the follow-up Strategic Action Session recommended greater collaboration and “breaking down silos” between the two main fund development functions within the MJF: annual campaign and foundation/legacy giving.
In that light, the MJF has hired Amy Blumenthal to fill the newly created position of Director of Women’s Philanthropy. Amy will be the first staff member to work specifically within this newly integrated model, with her responsibilities bridging the campaign and the Jewish Community Foundation.
She brings to the role fundraising experience gained at Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Virginia and the Jewish National Fund.
She has a B.A. from Smith College in French literature and an M.A. from Yale University. Her areas of strength include strategic development and fostering collaboration and communication, which will be an asset in the forging of new, integrated models for fund development.
Other recent staffing changes in financial resource development include the hiring of Debra Gorra Barash as Interim Campaign Manager, to oversee the day-to-day internal logistics, administration and operations of annual giving. Bert L. Bilsky will transition from Senior Legacy Advisor (Foundation) to Major Gifts Officer (Campaign).
Mitch Moser, 2013 Campaign Chair, and Sharyl Paley, 2013 Women’s Campaign Chair, have been working since late winter to develop plans that will dramatically increase partnership and collaboration between the general and women’s campaigns. Pathways for investment in the community will be developed for individuals, couples and families.
Within the MJF, the line between what has traditionally been considered “outreach” and “fund development” is also disappearing. The ways in which outreach programming and events can contribute to building sustainable fund development are being explored.
Examples include creating opportunities for personal connections; drawing in new, young donors; and spreading the word about the importance of Jewish community. Ways are also being sought to work more closely with the MJF’s partner agencies and increase the visibility of these relationships.
After Hannah Rosenthal begins her tenure as MJF’s new CEO in October, a Fund Development Work Group will be launched with the immediate goals of assessing progress and discerning next steps.
Further revisions are likely to come from the work of this group, as it will follow in the footsteps of previous Reimagining Work Groups, Vision, Structure, and Communication (ongoing), in guiding the Federation to seek better ways to invest in the Jewish community in Milwaukee, in Israel and around the world.
Jen Vettrus is transition coordinator for the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
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