Working in the Jewish community provides me with so much good fortune. One of the most nurturing benefits is sharing with colleagues how we all celebrate the holidays – Jews and non-Jews. As Passover approaches, it has allowed me to think about what Passover brings to my life. Passover is such an incredible holiday to start anew. Like the New Year, it allows me to cleanse a piece of my life, find a new beginning and take time to regroup. Here are some thoughts as we begin to celebrate Passover tomorrow:
Looking Back – There are great lessons to be learned from stories of our past. Whether we are looking back at our ancestors who crossed the Red Sea, at what the Jewish people have endured in the past century, the arts that we have created, the medical and science advances we've made or even how different we all express our Judaism, it is important to learn about our history and to cherish it. Not always beautiful and not always horrific, we must remember both and pass them onto the next generation. Often I watch the show, “Who Do You Think You Are?” which researches the ancestry of celebrities. I love that the name of the show is in present tense and it allows you to look into your past. I always wonder what my family history would show if I delved into my family history. I think something extraordinary happens to you when you can walk the streets that your ancestors walked or find out how they lived, survived or fought for something they believed.
Looking Forward – It takes great faith to carry on every day. Though our ancestors lived enslaved, they hoped for a better future. After the Holocaust, our community said, “Never again.” So many of us work towards personal freedom from some modern day enslavements – financial crisis, body image, family loss, sickness or broken relationship. At the same time, we also work to educate, protect or even liberate people. Almost two years ago, I visited the Jewish communities of Vilnius, Lithuania and Riga, Latvia. While devastated by the murderous acts of WWII, the next generation are taking hold of their Jewish identity and rebuilding their community. Sitting next to a 20-something newlywed who was about to embark on a 4-month immersion leadership program in Israel, I asked her, “Do you want to move to Israel?” She looked at me with a wonderful glimmer of pride and commitment and said, “No, I want to come back here, this is my home.” I will not forget how inspired I was in that moment knowing that the future of the Jewish community in Vilnius, Lithuania was in her hands. This past November, while on a mission to Israel, I visited a pre-school with Ethiopian students. Their families suffered and survived to get to Israel. They look towards the future with a drastically different perspective than I and I am grateful that the Jewish community helped them fulfill their dream of coming to Israel.
Why Me? A friend and I were talking today and wondered out loud, “What is our purpose here?” We were remembering a donor who passed away last year at the young age of 57. He had big dreams of living a long life with his wife and kids and of giving away $50 million dollars. Why would he be taken when he had some much more to do with his family and for his community? One of my colleagues said today that as we approach the holiday we often think of those who are not here to celebrate with us and I think he is right. My dad was someone who loved having his family all around the table – any table, home or restaurant. He simply enjoyed celebrating with his family around the table. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I enjoyed watching the pure enjoyment on his face. As we celebrate tomorrow night, I will remember those who are not with us. I will use their memory to inspire me, guide me and lead me to be better than I was yesterday.
Wishing everyone a wonderful Passover and may this week bring you renewal, vision, and lasting memories.
Showing posts with label jewish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewish. Show all posts
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Fundraising Is Like Weaving A Quilt
Fundraising is like weaving a quilt…
By Lori Tessel, 12-11-11
Working in the Jewish community is an extraordinary experience. While working with donors, I learn about their interests and passions. I realize that like a quilt, each family has memories and life lessons that are woven together so that their decisions fall directly in line with their experiences. For young fundraisers, below is an easy way to get to learn the most about a donor and to build a long lasting trust.
Questions – Asking the right questions are critical to every conversation and will help guide the conversation to create the best solicitation to fulfill the donor’s philanthropic goals. One must remember that questions should help you build a relationship with donors and in time the donor will trust you with many philanthropic decisions including leadership opportunities, financial decisions and general organizational inquiries. These questions along with the donors’ answers essentially create the fabric blocks of their quilt and are the foundation for all that you do with any donor.
Unique – Remember that we are all individuals with different experiences that shape our opinions, passions, and interests. Choosing questions that allow a donor to open their heart to you will make the entire process enjoyable for both you and the donor. There are always the standard questions: What was your most pivotal Jewish experience? Who has made the most impact on your life? And then there are some difficult conversations: Have you ever experienced a tragedy? What are your thoughts on Israel? Do you and your spouse have conflicting opinions? These are all important questions to help you see how a donor articulates their experiences.
Investigate – Learn as much as you can before you meet with a donor. Knowing the information helps you form the best and appropriate questions. It is important to know several key elements about a person before you meet with them: personal information, company information, other philanthropic interests, political contributions and social connections.
Listen – When you listen carefully, you are able to weave all the information together and continue to ask additional questions. Over time, as you hear the donor share their thoughts and passions, watch their families grow, share their ups and downs, you will become part of their living quilt. As you give them positive philanthropic experiences and help foster their own philanthropic goals, you become their partner. They will look to you for guidance about your organization as well as others. As you move to other organizations, they may or may not support your new organization. This is another vital piece of information.
Timing – With all of this information you gather and the relationship you are building with your donors, you must know the best time to make the ask. Is it good timing for them financially, are others involved in their decision-making, will you need their leadership as well, or will this significant gift be tied to an event or campaign? Regardless of the size of the ask, you need to feel confident and understand as much as you can about the donor. The best way to know if the timing is right is to let the donor know that you are coming to speak to them about a gift to the organization. Be truthful, don’t ever surprise a donor with a solicitation.
Smile – Be confident. Enjoy the work. As a fundraiser, you are doing special work that many people are uncomfortable doing. You are asking people to give money to help those in need; don’t ever be ashamed of this. You are the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Be proud and speak from your heart. As you do, you will enhance the lives of so many and these donors’ “quilts” of information will help you to do what is best for both the donors’ and the community.
By Lori Tessel, 12-11-11
Working in the Jewish community is an extraordinary experience. While working with donors, I learn about their interests and passions. I realize that like a quilt, each family has memories and life lessons that are woven together so that their decisions fall directly in line with their experiences. For young fundraisers, below is an easy way to get to learn the most about a donor and to build a long lasting trust.
Questions – Asking the right questions are critical to every conversation and will help guide the conversation to create the best solicitation to fulfill the donor’s philanthropic goals. One must remember that questions should help you build a relationship with donors and in time the donor will trust you with many philanthropic decisions including leadership opportunities, financial decisions and general organizational inquiries. These questions along with the donors’ answers essentially create the fabric blocks of their quilt and are the foundation for all that you do with any donor.
Unique – Remember that we are all individuals with different experiences that shape our opinions, passions, and interests. Choosing questions that allow a donor to open their heart to you will make the entire process enjoyable for both you and the donor. There are always the standard questions: What was your most pivotal Jewish experience? Who has made the most impact on your life? And then there are some difficult conversations: Have you ever experienced a tragedy? What are your thoughts on Israel? Do you and your spouse have conflicting opinions? These are all important questions to help you see how a donor articulates their experiences.
Investigate – Learn as much as you can before you meet with a donor. Knowing the information helps you form the best and appropriate questions. It is important to know several key elements about a person before you meet with them: personal information, company information, other philanthropic interests, political contributions and social connections.
Listen – When you listen carefully, you are able to weave all the information together and continue to ask additional questions. Over time, as you hear the donor share their thoughts and passions, watch their families grow, share their ups and downs, you will become part of their living quilt. As you give them positive philanthropic experiences and help foster their own philanthropic goals, you become their partner. They will look to you for guidance about your organization as well as others. As you move to other organizations, they may or may not support your new organization. This is another vital piece of information.
Timing – With all of this information you gather and the relationship you are building with your donors, you must know the best time to make the ask. Is it good timing for them financially, are others involved in their decision-making, will you need their leadership as well, or will this significant gift be tied to an event or campaign? Regardless of the size of the ask, you need to feel confident and understand as much as you can about the donor. The best way to know if the timing is right is to let the donor know that you are coming to speak to them about a gift to the organization. Be truthful, don’t ever surprise a donor with a solicitation.
Smile – Be confident. Enjoy the work. As a fundraiser, you are doing special work that many people are uncomfortable doing. You are asking people to give money to help those in need; don’t ever be ashamed of this. You are the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Be proud and speak from your heart. As you do, you will enhance the lives of so many and these donors’ “quilts” of information will help you to do what is best for both the donors’ and the community.
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