The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s 2020 Community Campaign—came out of the gate strong once again this year. As this article goes to print, the campaign total stands at $4.43 million from more than 1,000 individual donors—well on its way to a successful finish.
Federation leadership made the strategic decision last year to compress the traditional year-long campaign into four or five months. This would free-up staff and volunteers to work together and plan for an even more efficient campaign in the following year.
The fruits of this effort can be seen in this year’s unprecedented partnership programming, which has provided the community with opportunities to hear from, learn from, and interact with a diverse group of speakers and to engage in fantastic Jewish programming on a larger scale than in prior years. Working together across departments, the Federation has been able to make great use of guest speakers, traveling exhibits, and other value-adds in large and small groups, benefiting the entire community.
Last year’s compressed campaign also enabled UJFT staff and volunteers to reach out to donors for reasons “other than” campaign. With a majority of gifts closing early in the first four months of campaign, the campaign team was able to invite donors and prospective donors to attend some of the amazing programs being offered, giving many of them an opportunity to follow their campaign dollars to the kinds of programs and services that the Community Campaign helps fund.
Building upon last year’s successes, the 2020 campaign is likewise looking to close early and engage donors and donor prospects in the kinds of activities and programs they help make possible through their generous philanthropy.
As we support the Community Campaign, we invest in the future of our community with the goal of making sure that our children and grandchildren can benefit from those investments.
The 2020 Vision is about building community, and the Community Campaign is a vital component to ensuring a strong and vibrant Tidewater Jewish Community and to ensuring that Jewish life can be improved around the globe. That old Federation slogan remains true today: No gift touches more lives. And as we support the Community Campaign, we invest in the future of our community with the goal of making sure that our children and grandchildren can benefit from those investments.
If you’ve not yet made your 2020 Jewish “investment,” now is a great time to do it. You can call the Federation office at 965-6115 or make your gift online at www.jewishva.org. Once on the website, go to the UJFT tab, then click on the GIVE NOW button. Thank you in advance for all you will be doing to enhance and improve Jewish lives and to secure the Jewish community at home and around the world.
-Amy Zelenka