Two years with no raise . . .

It's budget season and once again many synagogues (and other non-profit organizations) are facing income projections lower than they had hoped for when they were doing last year's budget. Many of you took real and extensive measures to trim our budgets last year. The results, in many instances, was a lean budget with almost no fat left. Now in the Spring of 2010, many synagogues are engaged in putting together a 2010-2011 budget that has not significantly eased since last spring.
Last year many synagogues gave no raises to non-contract staff and even asked contractual staff to forego increases they were contractually entitled to. This year many are contemplating a similar situation for non-contract staff again. While every employee should be grateful to have a job in this economy, we must also keep in mind that staff morale is a real issue that effects productivity.
If you cannot give money this year. Consider giving things that cost the synagogue little or nothing to give. For instance, perhaps you could offer an additional week of vacation in lieu of an increase. You could also offer free high holiday tickets, synagogue membership, and building usage for little or no impact on your bottom line.
Afterall, expenses have gone up for your staff. They are paying more for health insurance, property taxes and grocery bills. As their incomes have stagnated their ability to afford what they need has narrowed. I encourage you to get creative so your staff will know that they are valued by your community even when you cannot show them in the form of money.
B'shalom, Lisa

I've been giving some thought to how synagogues can assure that their volunteers meet with success. I've always been a big proponent of giving people the tools they need to be successful at their jobs. I promote the use board handbooks for all synagogues containing contact information for all officers, trustees, committee chairs and staff; constitutions, by-laws, fund information, yearly calendar of events, etc.
A couple of years ago I developed a concept called the "Committee Chair Covenant" which outlined what tools committee chairs need for success and additionally included a list of expectations for committee chairs.
Recently, I discovered a wonderful Event Planning Guide from Temple Beth El of Aptos, California. http://www.tbeaptos.org/events/event_planner.shtml
This guide takes the user through the steps of creating a program.
From the event proposal form, to facility services and calendaring, publicity, and mailings, there is no guess work involved. This workbook includes such items as an event countdown calendar, explanation of costs, reimbursement policy, budget worksheet, keeping event funds secure worksheet, check request information and event contacts for the current year.
Every page ends with the following statement, "We love to make you look good! When we receive your communication in a timely manner, it's easy to do." Love it!
Why not take a moment to check out this excellent example and see how you can replicate this important tool.
B'shalom, Lisa

A "sweet" way to raise some FAST CASH.

HIGH HOLIDAY GREETING CARD

Design a beautiful high holiday greeting card from the synagogue family. Include the names of all congregational families and bill each family $18 for card. Families who complain can be told, “We are sorry, we thought you’d like to be included. We will take the $18 charge off of your bill and will be sure not to include you next year.”

Print in color on quality paper and mail out. The following represents earning potential (subtract cost for printing and postage from these numbers).

Simple math:

$18 per listing x 200 listings = $3600

$18 per lisitng x 400 listings = $7200

$18 per listing x 500 listings = $9000

$36 per listing x 200 listings = $7200

$36 per listing x 400 listings = $14,400

$36 per listing x 500 listings = $18,000

Prove it!

By now, and as per my previous posting, I hope you are all well under way with your High Holy Day appeals. As such, I want you to answer the following question, "I pay my dues. Why should I give the Temple extra money?"

Have any of you ever run into a question like this? High Holy Day Appeals are just like any other type of financial campaign. When an institution embarks upon a Building Campaign they develop A CASE FOR GIVING. This is generally a glossy piece that can be handed out by solicitors to prospective donors. Although I hardly recommend the creation of an expensive glossy piece just to go ahead with your High Holy Day Appeal; I do recommend that every synagogue be prepared to MAKE THE CASE FOR GIVING. (Actually, developing this "case" or ELEVATOR PITCH is a marvelous Board exercise.)

According to Wikipedia:
"An elevator pitch is an overview of an idea for a product, service, or project. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride (for example, thirty seconds and 100-150 words).

The term is typically used in the context of an entrepreneur pitching an idea to a venture capitalist or angel investor to receive funding. Venture capitalists often judge the quality of an idea and team on the basis of the quality of its elevator pitch, and will ask entrepreneurs for the elevator pitches to quickly weed out bad ideas and weak teams.

A variety of other people, including entrepreneurs, project managers, salespeople, evangelists, policy-makers, job seekers, and speed daters commonly use elevator pitches to get their point across quickly.

Elements

An effective elevator pitch generally answers questions such as:

• What the product, service, or project is.
• What it does for the buyer, investor, or sponsor (e.g. the benefits).
• Who you are and why you will be successful."

The most important take away from the above is that you need to have a CLEAR, CONCISE, COMPELLING message for donors when you are asking them to give money. Here is an example,
(referenced with permission) from Temple Shir Tikva of Wayland, MA.

Core Funds for Sustaining Temple Shir Tikva

Annual Fund

The Board of Trustees asks every family to join them in making a contribution to the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund supports everything we do at Shir Tikva each year -- salaries for our clergy, professional, administrative and custodial staff; programs for education, lifecycle events, holidays, social action and community-building; and maintenance and improvement to our buildings, grounds and technical infrastructure. A contribution to the Annual Fund will also ensure that no member of our congregation is turned away for financial reasons.

Having and providing this type of script is an invaluable resource for your solicitors. Consider it.

For another very interesting Case for Giving visit http://www.shirtikva.org/PDF/Publications/Campaign.

B'shalom

Lisa

LAZY, CRAZY, HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER . . . NOT FOR SYNAGOGUE LEADERSHIP!

It's July 20th and do you know the status of your High Holiday Appeal? If you think the summer months are slow in the synagogue then I am asking you to think again. NOW, is the time to have your High Holiday Appeal in gear. Have you:

1. Solicited your Executive Committee and Board of Trustees (Directors) for their High Holiday contribution? Remember, people holding these positions are obligated to give "in a way that is personally meaningful to him or her." (That means that if that person can afford a dollar than that dollar is okay because the message of 100% participation of this group is more important than the amount solicited.)

2. Designed a letter soliciting your appeal that has a space for how much the person gave last year and asking if they would consider a gift of "X" this year? (Consider a motivator in your letter, such as, "If we get 100% participation from the congregation before the High Holy Days there will be no live appeal during services.") This letter should also include the statement that you have achieved 100% participation from the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees (Directors).

3. Developed a plan for follow up to the letters? I recommend setting up several dates to bring together a group of your leadership to make follow-up phone calls. Perhaps everyone can come to the synagogue office or a business office of a member so that everyone can make calls together and motivate eachother (a la Super Sunday).

4. Developed a recognition strategy? It is important to recognize people for their contributions. First and foremost, send a thank you note for the donation. Next, plan to print a list in your bulletin and your High Holiday Honors (Aliyah) book (if you have one). This list can be printed by level of giving (not actual numbers) or alphabetically. Or, the High Holiday Honor Book list can be done one way and the bulletin another. I would run the bulletin piece for several months adding in new givers all the way through December. The campaign need not end with Simchat Torah! Further, you can have a high holiday donor board displayed either permanently (although changeable) or on easels during the High Holidays in your building. People LOVE to see their name in print.

Yes, the economy is tough but people value the synagogue and understand that it, too, needs support. Personal contact is really important so know going in that you will have to be working the phones and following up with people. But, with some planning and diligence I know that you will notice increased returns on your appeal.

B'shalom, Lisa

Content

Welcome to my blog SynOpsSOPs > Synagogue Operations Standard Operating Procedure. What you will find here are ideas for what kind of planning you should be undertaking at this time of year in your synagogue. Special focus will be on Managing Membership Income and Financial Hardships; but we will also cover seasonal topical information.

Thought for the day July 15, 2009:
Has your synagogue sent our your MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORMS? Don't know what a membership renewal form is . . . send me your questions and I will respond.

--- LHG