Constants Amid Market Turbulence
It's been a week of highs and lows -- financial and emotional for many -- as the stock market has been like a roller coaster. It's also been a week when we've been soliciting our top level donors for commitments to our forthcoming 2012 Birmingham Jewish Federation Campaign. And what a heartening week it's been. Two donors, one a high five figure contributor, and the other, a six figure contributor, both maintained their giving levels despite the uncertainty. They are two folks who care deeply about the Federation, obviously, and their response was heartening. One, in particular, raved about the work of The BJF. Volunteer Randi Landy, who is chairing the 2012 campaign along with her husband, Dave (both pictured here), and Daniel Odrezin, a University of Alabama law student who has been working at The BJF, were the folks who met with this donor. And, in addition to praising our work, this contributor promised that if things pick up financially The BJF would be the first organization to receive an increase.
ADDITIONAL COMMITMENT
These responses came on the heels of some other very positive solicitations. Daniel and Amy Saag, a past Campaign Chair and current President of The Birmingham Jewish Foundation, met with a couple who not only recommitted to their mid-five figure gift, but also made an additional commitment to help fund a project we hope to develop. Daniel and Randi also met with another couple, two of our most generous and longstanding supporters, who also maintained their gift. And BJF Executive Director Richard Friedman, along with Daniel, met with another family who gives at the six figure level and received a tentative commitment that they would continue at that level. As we were leaving, one of the members of the family walked us to the door. "Y'all do a great job," he said. "I'm not just saying it. I really mean it." We are so grateful for the support and friendship from all of these donors, particularly the warmth and receptiveness they showed toward Randi and Daniel. Randi is chairing the campaign for the first time and Daniel is still learning the fundraising ropes.
MAXIMUM VALUE
One of the things we sensed, in each of these conversations, is that donors have great faith in The BJF. We are not perfect, by any means, and a couple of folks offered suggestions. These suggestions were welcome, for we are determined to provide our donors -- be they at the $100 level or the $100,000 level -- with maximum value for their money. We are committed to working hard, spending the dollars we raise carefully, being accountable and using the funds we raise wisely, to enrich lives locally and globally. These visits also allow us to remind our donors that we, as a Federation, are committed to living within our means, and making hard decisions, when necessary, to do so; the same kind of decisions many of them have had to make in their personal lives and businesses the past few years. We want to measure up to every donor's standards before we ask for a single dollar. Fundraising for us at The BJF, though serious and challenging right now, continues to be fun and uplifting. I could tell Daniel was on a "fundraiser's high" after we left our meeting with the family mentioned above. "You know," he said, "I can't imagine doing anything more meaningful and more enjoyable. The people are so warm and so nice -- and so supportive." Yes, he's got it exactly right. Just about everyone who has solicited gifts at the higher levels for The BJF walks away with the same feeling. We live in a remarkable community, with donors at every level of giving passionately devoted to The BJF. This devotion to and confidence in The BJF are the constants that continue to help us offset the volatile nature of the economic times we're facing. Moreover, experience tells me that this rock solid and ever-growing base of support will endure, well beyond the temporary turbulence of today.
