A unique event was held recently for executive directors and fundraising professionals at Caraville Glatt in Brooklyn. The purpose of the event was to offer schools and nonprofit organizations solutions that can be implemented right now to improve their fundraising results. The event featured valuable information, tips and real-world examples to help fundraisers make their programs more productive.
Well known and respected presenters helped attract a diverse group of participants. Michael Rothschild, Director of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, opened the proceedings with a short account of how his organization has successfully used different marketing techniques to achieve its goals.
The highlights of the afternoon included presentations by Rabbi Herschel Leiner, president of H. Leiner & Co. and a founding partner in Eastgate Management Service Corp; and Yitzchok Saftlas, president of Bottom Line Marketing Group.
Rabbi Leiner discussed the need for schools and nonprofits to develop a strategy when planning campaigns. One example he explained in detail was a recent 50th Anniversary Banquet Campaign for a client in Chicago—a campaign handled jointly by H. Leiner and Co. and Bottom Line Marketing Group. Rabbi Leiner demonstrated how strategic planning directly resulted in more reservations and overall response.
The second half of the seminar was delivered by Mr. Saftlas. He focused on how to identify your target audience and get an understanding of the best methods to properly communicate with them. The interactive presentation was peppered with advice from industry experts, such as Rabbi Richard Bieler, Senior Executive Director for Community Affairs for Yeshiva University.
The diverse group of attendees included a cross-section of the Jewish organizational landscape and nonprofit world, including: Rabbi Josh “JP” Pruzansky of Agudath Israel of New Jersey; Yossi Mentz of Yeshivat Yavneh from Los Angeles; Rabbi Eliezer Grunberg of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim—Rabbinical Seminary of America; Nachum Segal of JM in the AM; Mrs. Miriam Weiss of Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services; and Rabbi Dovid Rosenberg of Scranton Hebrew Day School, among many other notables.
Based on the enthusiastic reactions, plans are in the works for future presentations, including bringing the seminar to Chicago and LA in the coming months.
