Generations Baltimore Impact Report

In the last three years, the schools participating in The Russel Family GenerationsBaltimore Project have dramatically increased their endowments, embedding endowment giving into their development plans and transforming the way theyfund their budgets.

Many of Baltimore’s visionary day school advocates, including Randy Getz andYehuda Newberger, saw the powerful potential of a collaboration of The Associated:Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, PEJE, and The AVI CHAI Foundation tobring Generations, PEJE’s groundbreaking, three-year endowment-building initiative, toBaltimore. The purpose of Generations is to strengthen Jewish day schools’ capacity to raise endowment dollars, providing long-term sustainability.

The Associated secured a generous gift from the Russel Family to add to the fundingfrom The Associated, PEJE, and AVI CHAI, which enabled the program to kick off inFebruary of 2012. The participating schools are:

n Bais Yaakov School for Girlsn Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Schooln Bnos Yisroel of Baltimoren Krieger Schechter Day Schooln Talmudical Academy of Baltimoren Torah Institute of Baltimore

The partnership between The Associated and PEJE is marked by mutual support and learning, which we share with the schools and the coaches. With The Associated’sand PEJE’s guidance, the Generations coaches have enabled the schools to maketremendous changes in their cultures, resulting in impressive increases in everyschool’s own endowment.

Russel Generations Baltimore Impact Report

Russel Generations Baltimore school teams have received training from national andlocal experts in endowment building, grappled with internal and structural issues withtheir coaches, and traveled across the country to learn with other Generationsschools in specially designed workshops. Generations has provided each school withthe scaffolding necessary to demonstrate to their donors that investing in dayschool endowment fulfills their donors’ philanthropic dreams.

Each Russel Generations Baltimore school has been transformed. Every single Russel Generations Baltimore school has seen dramatic improvement indonor relationships, development infrastructure, and endowment results. As of theformal end of the program in November of 2014, the schools collectively have raisedmore than $14.3 million in endowment funds. This is just the beginning. The RusselGenerations Baltimore schools’ embrace of endowment giving will enable them tocontinue to raise endowment funds for years to come.

We are so proud of our work together and know that the grandchildren of this year’s kindergarteners will benefit from the enduring harvest of Russel GenerationsBaltimore.

Read on for moving impact stories from The Associated and from each Russel Generations Baltimore school in their own words.

Jill GoldenbergPEJE Strategy Manager, Endowment & Legacy

Russel Generations Baltimore has energized Baltimore’s day schools, introducing effective skills into the community and enhancing general appreciation for the waythe day schools have grown in their capacity to secure their futures.

THE ASSOCIATED: JEWISH COMMUNITY

What are the benefits of the Baltimore schools’ participation in a national program?

The Russel Family Generations Baltimore DaySchool Endowment Project has enabled theschools’ Generations Teams to learn from their national peers. The Endowment & Legacy Institute trainings encouraged development professionals from the schools to share and learn from each other. Our schools’ GenerationsTeams have been trained by nationally recognized leaders. The support that the teams have received from experienced professionals in the field of endowment development for day schools has been invaluable and has deepened the level of knowledge and sophistication in fundraising in participating Baltimore Jewish day schools. It has been inspiring for the Generations Teams to be part of a national effort.

What kind of unexpected benefits haveyou seen from working with your schoolson Generations?

Training in endowment fundraising hasprofessionalized development offices atthe participating Russel Generationsschools. Not only have the developmentprofessionals and lay leaders upgradedtheir approaches, planning, and techniquesof endowment fundraising, their generalfundraising has become more effective. In some schools, a whole new cadre of lay leadership has risen to the top and isinfusing the school with new energy andideas. There is also a deeper appreciationand understanding of endowment development among the day schools,which is a lasting, positive result.

FEDERATION OF BALTIMORE

How has Generations strengthened the Baltimore Jewish community?

Russel Generations has been a collaborative project that has energized Baltimore’s day schools, introducing effective skills into the community and enhancing general appreciation for the way the day schools have grown in their capacity to secure their futures. Several schools are joining tobuild a joint endowment, which will benefit all of the participating schools. A community day school endowment awareness event was planned by several schools to educate the communityabout planning for the future of our day schools. Overall, our community has a heightened, positive awareness of the importance of our day schools’ long-term financial stability, affordability,and excellence.

Russel Generations Baltimore attendees at the 2014 PEJE National Endowment & Legacy Institute Training

BAIS YAAKOV SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

What have the funds raised through Generationsmade possible at your school?

At the inception of The Russel Family GenerationsBaltimore Day School Endowment Project, BaisYaakov had a modest endowment fund; however,since joining the Generations family, our endowmentfund has increased significantly. The guidance andsupport that we received through Generations enabledus to develop a more robust and results-driven endowment campaign. Our commitment to developingsuccessful and proud Jewish women requires that weuse every resource at our disposal. The endowmentfund at Bais Yaakov is an integral part of our fundraisingefforts, and we have used these funds to enhanceseveral key programs in the school, including ourSpecial Education Learning Center, technology, aswell as advanced teacher training.

The passion that was displayedthroughout the program, along withthe concern for each school’s success,has been remarkable. It has been anextraordinary experience that willcontinue to impact Bais Yaakov for Generations.

What skills did your school leaders improve throughyour participation in Generations?

Bais Yaakov has been a proud partner in the RusselGenerations Project for the last three years. With the guidance and support of The Associated, and byworking alongside our local and national peer schools, wehave gained much knowledge, skill, and encouragementin the endowment process.

Through the PEJE-sponsored Endowment & LegacyInstitute trainings, one-on-one coaching, and withthe encouragement of The Associated, our lay andprofessional leaders have gained an advanced awareness of the endowment development processand the criticality of a significant endowment fund.

How has Generations strengthened theculture of philanthropy at your school?

The program has helped us identify moreclosely with the present and future needs ofthe school and has created a collaborativeapproach to our methods of solicitation.This has given us the tools to be more effective ambassadors for the school and has strengthened our culture of philanthropy.

The passion that was displayed throughoutthe program, along with the concern for eachschool’s success, has been remarkable. Ithas been an extraordinary experience thatwill continue to impact Bais Yaakov forGenerations!

BETH TFILOH DAHAN COMMUNITY SCH

What have the funds raised through Generationsmade possible at your school?

Beth Tfiloh has raised significant endowment fundsfor our school during our participation in The RusselFamily Generations Baltimore Day School EndowmentProject. While a large portion of the funds committedhave been made through testamentary commitments,the gifts we secured in outright donations have madea direct impact on our ability to fund financial aid.Over forty 40 percent of students attending BethTfiloh receive financial aid to attend our school. We realize that the best way to ensure permanent funding to support our financial aid needs is by building our endowment.

What skills did your school leaders improve through your participation inGenerations?

Working with several coaches over the lastthree years has provided our school withvery valuable endowment and developmentexpertise. Not only have our coaches sharedbest practices and helped to problem solveand strategize with us, they also have helpedus to hold ourselves accountable formeetingthe benchmarks and for making continuedprogress. Additionally, participating in thelocal and national trainings has prepared usto improve our prospect list developmentand our stewardship plans.

Participation in the Generationsprogram has significantly increasedour comfort level with integratingendowment and legacy requests as a part of our comprehensive conversations with donors.

HOOL

How has Generations strengthened the culture of philanthropy at your school?

Participation in the Generations program has significantly increased our comfort levelwith integrating endowment and legacy requests as a part of our comprehensive conversations with donors. Additionally, theprogram has helped us to raise the visibilityof our endowment as a permanent source offunding for financial aid and has inspired usto speak to many more members of ourschool community about the importance of testamentary giving.

BNOS YISROEL OF BALTIMORE

What will the funds raised through Generationsmake possible at your school?

A strong endowment for our school will ensure that aBnos Yisroel education is affordable and available toall. Most of our parents are stretched beyond theirability to pay their tuition obligations. We strive to havesufficient scholarship funding to assist all parents whoneed help. The endowment income also will ensureBnos Yisroel’s overall excellence by retaining qualifiedteachers and enhancing academic programming.

What skills did your school leaders improve through your participation inGenerations?

The Russel Family Generations BaltimoreDay School Endowment Project wastremendously beneficial in focusing ourprofessional staff and lay leaders on thefuture needs of the school. Our involve-ment in Russel Generations created an excitement for the possibilities and opportunities that can be unlocked in the future for our students, teachers,school, and community.

Our involvement in Russel Generationscreated an excitement for the possibilities and opportunities thatcan be unlocked in the future for our students, teachers, school, andcommunity.

How has Generations strengthened theculture of philanthropy at your school?

The Generations program helpedstrengthen the culture of philanthropy atBnos Yisroel. Donors, teachers, and staffare more motivated to give and invest inthe future of the school. Development efforts are donor-centric, and all understandboth the importance of securing theschool’s future and the tremendous impact of their support.

KRIEGER SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL

What will the funds raised through Generationsmake possible at your school?

The funds raised through Russel Family GenerationsBaltimore Day School Endowment Project will helpus meet the needs of an academically rich studentbody and make sure Jewish life has much meaning in its different forms. The funds raised will helpKrieger Schechter Day School to have access to the best quality and most innovative secular education while continuing to build a school community that prepares our students to become responsible citizens in a global environment. Fundsraised through Generations also will give students access to work with teachers whose passion is toteach and who see themselves as constant reflective practitioners.

What skills did your school leaders improvethrough your participation in Generations?

KSDS leaders were given the skills and thetools to understand better how to cultivate,steward, and ask for a gift. Our leadershipalso has embraced the knowledge thatthey are responsible for helping to sustainand strengthen KSDS for future generations.With the help of The Associated: JewishCommunity Federation of Baltimore, PEJE,and AVI CHAI, our leaders and leadershiphave received training to be successful inlegacy and endowment giving.

Generations helped us as a community to take ownership inourselves by strengthening our heritage and our traditions, andtherefore shaping the Jewish future.

How has Generations strengthened the culture ofphilanthropy at your school?

Generations has brought the idea and the opportunityof giving to endowment closer to the minds of ourstaff, our board, and our institution as a whole. Itmade us look and relook at our constituency. It haschanged the way we ask for community support. It is part of our strategic plan for the future as well aspart of the development report on a monthly basis. It also helped us as a community to take ownership in ourselves by strengthening our heritage and ourtraditions, and therefore shaping the Jewish future.

TALMUDICAL ACADEMY OF BALTIMORE

What will the funds raised through Generationsmake possible at your school?

The funds raised for TA through The Russel FamilyGenerations Baltimore Day School Endowment Project will help the school ensure that it can properlymeet its financial goals well into its future. As our student body continues to grow, and regular tuitionand fundraising dollars become stretched more thanever, the funds raised as part of the Generations program will have a profound impact on every one of TA’s future students for many years to come.

Because of our participation in theGenerations program, we have beenable to connect with certain donors ona more profound level and allow themto feel that they will be a permanentlink in the chain of TA’s future.

What skills did your school leaders improve throughyour participation in Generations?

The nature of a legacy conversation or solicitationmay be, at times, uncomfortable. TA’s school leadershave been able to develop the ability and confidenceto be successful in the donor solicitation process. Wealso have learned about various creative ways inwhich donors can be part of the legacy process, and arenow able to articulate and communicate that processin our solicitations.

How has Generations strengthened theculture of philanthropy at your school?

A solid development plan includes all aspects of fundraising, and legacies andbequests are a crucial part of that puzzle.Because of our participation in the Generations program, we have been ableto connect with certain donors on a moreprofound level and allow them to feel thatthey will be a permanent link in the chainof TA’s future.

Perhaps an even greater benefit is the factthat our lay and professional leadershiphave developed a greater appreciation ofthe critical role that bequests and legaciesplay in all of our organizations, and welook forward to being able to secure manymore gifts in the future.

TORAH INSTITUTE OF BALTIMORE

What will the funds raised through Generationsmake possible at your school?

Funds raised through The Russel Family GenerationsBaltimore Day School Endowment Project will help low-income families receive much-needed tuition assistance.As many families are struggling financially, we are happyto reassure and offer them the opportunity to receivea Jewish education at a significantly subsidized rate.Additionally, as our endowment grows, the need toincrease tuition will be minimized.

What skills did your school leaders improve through your participation in Generations?

Generations has taught our school leader-ship to include long-term sustainability inour fundraising. As a result, the entire nature of our fundraising is expandingfrom annual needs and concerns to alsoensuring future support as the school growsand new needs arise. Technologically, ourdonor database has been modified to nowinclude endowment prospects. Relationshipswith donors are strengthened as our conversations now include discussionabout how they can play an important role in our school's future.

As a result of Generations, the entire nature of our fundraising is expandingfrom annual needs and concerns toalso ensuring future support.

How has Generations strengthened the culture ofphilanthropy at your school?

Generations has helped refocus the importance ofJewish education, which is the strongest factor in preserving the Jewish people, with Tzedaka, philan-thropy, its vital counterpart. Through Generations, the direct link between Jewish education and Tzedakawas sublimely highlighted, profoundly effecting ourvarious constituents and impressing upon them that philanthropic giving and creativity will make a difference today and tomorrow.

The success of The Russel Family Generations Baltimore Project schools would not have beenpossible without the tireless efforts of those who have directly managed the program:

Michael Friedman, Senior Vice President, Philanthropic Planning and Services, The Associated

Helen London, Project Manager, The Russel Family Generations Baltimore Project, The Associated

Rochel Robbins, Project Coordinator, The Russel Family Generations Baltimore Project, The Associated

Outstanding outcomes like these are also the direct result of the support, wisdom, and commitment of:

Dan Perla, Program Officer, Day School Finance, AVI CHAI

Amy Katz, Executive Director, PEJE

Sharon Haselkorn, Strategy Officer, PEJE

Jim Blankstein, Strategy Manager, PEJE

Suzi Schuller, Senior Program Manager, PEJE

Francine Shron, former Program Officer, PEJE

Solomon Flax, Program Assistant, PEJE

Steve Drysdale, Russel Generations Baltimore coach

Robert Evans, former Russel Generations Baltimore coach

Doris Feinberg, former Russel Generations Baltimore coach

Kim Hirsh, Russel Generations Baltimore coach

Pearl Kane, Russel Generations Baltimore coach

Amy Schiffman, Russel Generations Baltimore coach

Herb Tobin, Russel Generations Baltimore coach

© PEJE 2014

www.peje.org

Cover art: Cynthia Bell