By Richard Friedman, Executive Director

So much exciting stuff is happening around The Birmingham Jewish Federation these days that it's hard even for me to keep track of it all sometimes. However, I did want to share three items that I shared with our board this week -- items I dubbed "teaching moments."

The first relates to Operation Grassroots. This is an unprecedented effort by the BJF to raise 1000 new gifts or increases of at least $100 to receive a $100,000 challenge gift. We officially launched it on Jan. 1.

So far, 150 gifts have come in overall for the 2012 campaign. Of these, 87 -- or 58% -- have been new gifts or increases of at least $100, virtually all of them in response to Operation Grassroots. This is a remarkably high percentage. The highest percentage of new gifts and increases in recent Federation history for an annual campaign was 40 percent.

Particularly gratifying was a nice email we received from the donor who is providing the $100,000. The BJF, the person wrote, "is doing an unbelievable job with Operation Grassroots and it means so much to me."

In 2010, our then-campaign chairs Karen and Joel Piassick encouraged us to develop new strategies to broaden our base. Though we've just started Operation Grassroots, this initiative clearly has the potential to do this; thus, the lesson is that by thinking differently, working hard and approaching donors to invest in new ideas, we can LIFT our BJF to even greater heights.

LIFT, as Update readers know, is a word that we're using a lot at The BJF these days -- it stands for Leadership Initiatives For Tomorrow, a new movement at The BJF to develop professional and volunteer leaders to guide our Federation for decades to come.

SHARING VISION

The second item involves Daniel Odrezin, a third year University of Alabama law student who has worked for us part-time, who will be joining our staff full-time in August as Assistant Executive Director. We believe that Daniel will make a big impact on our future.

In several conversations recently with major donors, I was asked questions by them about the future of The BJF -- what our plans are, what the organization might look like, etc. I found that sharing with them the vision that we have created and that was featured in Update last Saturday night (see below link) heightened their attachment to our organization and deepened their confidence in The BJF. In one recent instance, us having a vision for the future helped motivate a donor to make a large financial commitment.

As part of his work for us during winter break, Daniel has been visiting with key donors; getting to know them better, asking them to share their perspectives on the Federation, and building his own relationships with those who support us most generously. In addition, he and BJF Director of Operations Lauren Klinner had a wonderful meeting with 2013 BJF Campaign Co-Chairs Brian and Katie Held, Elisa and Aaron Nelson, and Layne Held to talk about the 2013 campaign. Parents Ginger and Jerry Held will be chairing the campaign. This pairing is one more reflection of our new inter-generational leadership model which already has provided a LIFT.

THIRD LESSON

The third lesson involves Amanda Weil, who, as readers also know from last Saturday night's Update, will join our staff full-time March 1 in the role of Strategic Fundraising Associate.

Amanda has begun working with me in a limited role as she finishes up her current job at Children's Aid Society. One of our goals through Our Next 100 Years, a historic initiative now underway, is to work with our Jewish community agencies to help them raise money for the future.

As a result of this approach, Amanda and I are involved right now in helping the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School with such a project. We are doing a campaign feasibility study for the Day School, helping their leadership assess the prospects of a future capital/endowment campaign. This is something I could not have done just by myself. However, having Amanda on board will make it possible. The lesson here is that there are a multitude of ways that The BJF can serve our community and broaden our impact, if we can position ourselves creatively and strategically.

Finally, I have always believed that the amount of money available to The BJF for good causes, well thought out strategies and innovative ideas is virtually unlimited. I have seen this once again with the donor who, in addition to a generous campaign gift, has provided the $100,000 Operation Grassroots challenge gift, and with the group of families who have helped fund Amanda's position in addition to their own campaign gifts. I also believe that we are moving into a new BJF era that will demonstrate this belief dramatically.

To all who contribute to The BJF, I say thank you. We remain grateful for your continued support and faith in the future. A remarkable 2012 awaits us. Of this, I am certain.

Photo is of Amanda Weil and Daniel Odrezin participating in The BJF's new Leadership Writing Project. Both will join the staff of The BJF this year.