It’s Reality — Moishy Hammer

I’ve been following your back-and-forth regarding fundraising standards and methods, and to be quite frank, I have three words for you: Welcome to America.

The American Torah world of 2018 is a beautiful hodgepodge of spiritual and material plenty. Yes, we want to support real mosdos haTorah, and yes, a letter signed by Rav Chaim is enough, and yes, we know it’s a zechus, and yes, we like sushi and Macallan 25 and Avraham Fried live. We want our sons in Brisk and our daughters in BJJ and summer homes in Fallsburg and a Lexus parked in our driveway.

Blessing? Curse? It’s reality. And the counterpoint — both sides — are just a reflection of that reality.

Like a Business — Rabbi Yosef C. Golding, President, Golding Development Group

I never considered myself a fundraiser but have helped raise many millions of dollars for various nonprofits. I have received funds from major donors who told me that their name and benevolence can never be made known to the public, and I’ve dealt with others who only gave major gifts if their name was splashed all over town.

Sure, it would be wonderful if every donor gave maaser money without incentives and purely lishmah... but, in most cases, it ain’t happening. Thus, to attract the major donor bases needed today to fund the so many good and important mosdos and causes, one must diversify outreach and approach.

Having said this, no fundraising approach should be developed without consultation with the daas Torah who directs a mosad. And if a mosad doesn’t have daas Torah, find another mosad to whom to give.

As our generations grow, bli ayin hara, and the younger folks must be brought into the “tzedakah market,” I see nothing wrong with cloaking this fundraising in a sporting event (i.e., “Sponsor My Team”), or in a Chinese auction setting, in which one may be enticed into giving a little more than he or she might have originally planned, as long as the event is done properly. The older generation may enjoy a formal dinner, sitting for hours listening to “exciting speeches,” but in this generation of instant gratification, I see nothing wrong in attracting the younger generation through barbecues and the like, as long as someone is minding the beer station (seriously).

I certainly don’t advocate for any event that breaches the boundaries of tzniyus, or over-the-top gluttony. Someone once pointed out a rule of thumb to me: If the rabbinical leadership of the organization would be uncomfortable attending the event, change the event.

And surprisingly, or maybe not, I have found that this “shelo lishmah” giving usually morphs into lishmah, garnering a new generation of dedicated askanim and baalei tzedakah.

Some may question the right for a mosad to spend “exorbitant” sums of tzedakah money to reach their goals, certainly a valid query. I would venture to say that the onus of responsibility lies on the board of directors to treat their mosad as if it were their own private business. I, for one, would spend $1 million in a business investment if I was assured I would gross $2 million. That is a heavy responsibility to bear, but one of utmost necessity.

And finally, there are events that are lavish and expensive and do not always bring in large profits, but are made as demonstrations to the general public to highlight the need of the organization and the importance to support it in the halls of government and elsewhere. Certainly a valid exception.

In sum, tzedakah-raising has become — by necessity — a big business. And unless, and until, all of Klal Yisrael gets on the 100 percent lishmah bandwagon, it is the responsibility of our holy and important mosdos to balance their needs through daas Torah–sanctioned events and programs, in a fiscally responsible way. The Rambam’s shvil hazahav, middle-of-the-road approach, would be a great starting (and finishing) point.

Missing the Point — A Veteran Fundraiser

As a 30-year-veteran of the fundraising world, I understood where both of your writers are coming from and detected their repressed frustration that seemed to say “none of us is happy about what is going on but none of us has a choice.”

In the European shtetlach of old, the needs of each community were addressed by special committees, each with a designated purpose. The chevra kaddisha took care of funerals and burials, the bikur cholim was involved with the sick, the chevra hachnassas kallah helped raise funds for needy brides, and so the list went on.

Today as well, while there are many worthy causes for us to support, Klal Yisrael is much better off when people follow their passion when it comes to tzedakah. For when the leaders and supporters of a fund are single-minded in their devotion to their cause, they will work with mesirus nefesh, and their intensity will inspire others to contribute and join in support.

Thus, today we find ourselves surrounded with a plethora of tzedakos that didn’t even exist just a generation ago. Bonei Olam, Chai Lifeline, Misaskim, Misameach; they all represent the good that can only happen when inspired people follow their hearts and don’t look back.

And make no mistake. None of these “new” tzedakos are taking away a nickel from the old established causes. Our community is blessed with wealth unknown to Klal Yisrael since we left Mitzrayim. If only everyone would be stringent in giving maaser to charity, the world would be a very different place indeed.

Unfortunately, not enough of us are. Yes, we contribute by rote to our schools and shuls and even throw in a few bucks for a raffle here and a Chinese auction there. But without really putting “our kishkes” into the matter, we help to create an atmosphere of ambivalence and apathy. This lack of passion surrounding tzedakah is the root problem and the following are just two of its symptoms:

Disinterested “askanim.” Our charities are desperate for backers. They need people to host parlor meetings and accept awards at their dinners. They need sponsors and committees to show the community that they are a viable cause. Once upon a time, when someone lent his name to a cause, it meant he would be soliciting his friends and associates. It meant late nights meeting with committees and planning strategy to ensure that as many people as possible would join in support. It meant many hours of work, lots of “bizyonos,” and a significant personal outlay of cash.

Today, due to the dearth of such truly involved activists, we have seen emerge a generation of “askanim in name only.” These are the ones who will open their homes and be featured as dinner chairmen or committee members but in the end do almost nothing. Indeed, a new popular oxymoron has been coined — “young leadership” — which more often than not refers to the sons and sons-in-law of wealthy people whom the organizations have pegged as potential keys to their respective communities.

By showering these inexperienced people with undeserved honor, we have destroyed the hallowed sense of responsibility that was once part of “stepping up to the plate.” Today, even with an event being hosted in the home of these new “askanim” or their accepting an award at a dinner, it is the organization that is footing the bill for the party, running after people for donations and praying that there will be some money left in the till after the expenses are all tallied. There is an attitude of “I let you use my name, now leave me alone!”

But when someone is inspired and his passion propels him to get involved, you see a tremendous return on every dollar spent. He doesn’t rest until every contact has contributed and every lead has been followed up. This is real leadership. And when real leaders sit down to plan out an event, every penny in expense is weighed. No one is spending “mammon hekdesh” just to “make a statement” or “keep up with the Joneses.”

What’s in it for me? With the lack of enthusiasm for tzedakah came the creation of incentives to get people to contribute. The reasoning is that it’s worth whatever it costs to get a donation that will cover the cost, since you are broadening your donor base and will see profit in the future, even if you don’t see it in the short term.

We have trained a new generation to make their best deal. Why give $18 to this yeshivah — which is only holding a raffle for a single trip to Israel — when I can be in a raffle for three tickets and a free hotel stay by giving the same $18 to a different charity? So has the game taken off, with prizes exceeding belief and the catering and entertainment at events surpassing anything seen to date.

Remember, if 100 people come to a parlor meeting and give $100 each, you did nicely. It’s hard to get that many people to come out for a tzedakah gathering, and $100 is a nice chunk of money. But with the new standards that have become de rigueur, a party for 100 people can easily cost $80 a head for the décor and food. Wait staff, advertising, gifts, and miscellaneous expenses (don’t forget the wine-tasting and cigar-rolling costs) turn an elegant event into a losing proposition.

If there is to be any benefit to this discussion, it will be when prominent young gvirim, those whose homes and offices are the “hot venues” for parlor meetings and the like, will begin taking control of the events they host and let the mosdos know that they will keep the spending down and the refreshments minimal — but will play an active role in helping to call people to come and contribute. The refrain “I gave my name” or “I let them use my home, please leave me out of the fundraising” is a fundamental abdication of the time-honored role of tzedakah host. It’s about you and what you can bring in. So stop hiding behind the scenes and step up to the plate.

There is so much going on out there that it can be overwhelming. The tzedakah events are happening every night and it seems that those who don’t find a way to shine just a bit brighter than the others will soon be lost in the crowd. My answer is: Get involved in what moves you and be passionate about it. Make a cause your own and dive in. When an askan is charged with fervor, there is an overflow of spirit that is infectious. A caring committee member and an excited host will attract the crowd and bring in the money. It’s not about the extras. It never has been and never will be. (Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 720)