Federation’s local allocations unchanged despite downturn | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Federation’s local allocations unchanged despite downturn 

 

Milwaukee Jewish Federation, which funds various nonprofits and community efforts, has not changed its local allocations for the 2020-21 fiscal year. 

Local annual allocations include more than $165,000 to Wisconsin’s on-campus Hillels and more than $500,000 each for Jewish Family Services and Milwaukee Jewish Day School. The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center is also a major recipient. The total local allocations for 2020-21 are $2.7 million, just as they were for the prior fiscal year. 

The economic downturn has forced some nonprofits nationwide, including some Jewish federations, to cut back at a time when help is arguably most needed. 

“Our agencies depend on funds from the Annual Campaign to pay their bills, and our incredibly generous donors understand this,” said Stephanie Wagner, the Federation’s chief impact officer. “We’re especially grateful to our Annual Campaign Chair Lauri Roth and all of the annual campaign volunteers who helped share our story with donors.” 

Total funding to Israel and overseas needs has also not been adjusted from the prior year’s $1.7 million. Some of this funding is for local impact efforts, like the Federation’s Milwaukee-based Israel Center.  

Beyond the annual allocations, some local nonprofits and community efforts are receiving additional funding thanks to The Fund for Jewish MKE, which was created in April by the Milwaukee Jewish Federation to help the local Jewish community address the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The more than $1.5 million raised since the fund was established in April is benefiting more than 30 local Jewish institutions from across the wide spectrum of Jewish life, according to the Federation. The total goal for The Fund for Jewish MKE is $3 million.