Hello… Happy (secular) New Year! (Isn’t it great how we get to wish each other this feel-good greeting twice per year instead of just once?!?) This month, I’m actually going to use my “bully pulpit” to discuss a topic you’d expect to see in a President’s newsletter column… Shul finances. My intent, however, isn’t to get too preachy… Rather, I need your input and feedback on this very important topic.

The situation is this: This year, it will take roughly $850,000 to operate our Shul. Through significant cost cutting and fiscal scrutiny this is almost $100,000 lower than last year’s budget and is the lowest since I’ve been active in Shul operations (and probably much longer). This is actually a great accomplishment for both the staff and lay leaders of our synagogue and I’d like to thank and commend all the hard work and sacrifice that has taken place to get us here. This is an important part of ensuring that we remain a viable community for the long term!

Unfortunately, however, this kind of fiscal responsibility is not sufficient. Of this budget, dues (including Chai Club members who voluntarily pay above and beyond standard full dues) covers a bit over half. Other income (including L.I.F.E. tuition and support, investments and endowments, catering, and programs) covers another 20 percent or so. This leaves a full quarter of our budget - or over $200,000 - that needs to come from member support above and beyond annual dues. This is a very daunting challenge that the leadership of our Shul faces each and every year… and it’s one with no easy answers… which is why I need your input.

Late this past summer, I asked one of our congregants – Steve Schwartz – to pull together an ad hoc committee to develop a 3-year strategic fundraising plan. With the help of Alan Hurvitz, Dennis Blender, and Steve Mondrow, they delivered a plan to me that lays out a series of potential fundraisers through 2014. Thank you to each of them for their work on this!

As the executive committee reviewed and discussed the plan, however, it really got us thinking about the various approaches that we could take for fundraising throughout the year. We began asking ourselves questions like: Is it better to have one BIG fundraiser each year or would multiple smaller ones be better? Is the annual campaign/Kol Nidre appeal an effective way to raise funds or are there opportunities to make it more engaging and participatory? How can we best meet our annual fund raising objectives without it seeming like we’re constantly asking our membership for more money?

We all had our own thoughts on what some answers may be, but I really want to hear from you. So please… pull me aside at Kiddush… or drop me an email or phone call… and let me know what you think. I’d really like to turn fundraising into something that’s enjoyable and fun… and not such a burden!

Speaking of which, planning is just getting underway for a spring-time fundraiser (hopefully around the end of April). At this time the planning is really early, so I can’t share any details. But, I’ve snagged a couple committee chairs with a proven track record of putting on fun events… so my expectations are high! Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

In the mean time… stay warm! See you in Shul!