torah fund - The Jewish Theological Seminary

Bimah Announcements—Talk with your clergy and synagogue leadership about making
Torah Fund a regular item for bimah announcements; type up the announcement for the
appropriate person to read.
Program Displays—Integrate Torah Fund into all of your sisterhood events. Give a
tzedakah box at your Paid-Up Membership event. Have a display at every sisterhood event.
If you
don't ask,
the answer
is always
No!
Have videos and slide shows running before sisterhood programs and
synagogue board meetings. Ask to speak for two minutes at each
sisterhood program.
Broadcast Email—Send reminders, updates, and announcements
through email. However, please note that email is never appropriate
for a solicitation or a thank-you note.
One-on-One Conversations—Nothing succeeds as well as speaking one-on-one about
your commitment to Torah Fund. Wear your Torah Fund Pin and take the opportunity to
explain what Torah Fund means to you whenever anyone asks about “that lovely pin.”
CULTIVATION
Your job is to help donors have a relationship with
Torah Fund. Providing information is a very
important aspect of that. But personal contact is
still the most important part of fund-raising.
People give to need as well as success.
Let them know about the accomplishments and the
future needs of Torah Fund.
Plan to have someone from your development team
contact each donor three or four times during the
year. Your committee can help you decide who
would be the best person to make these contacts.
Organize small teas, brainstorming sessions, oneon-one
lunches, or a casual cup of coffee. And never
underestimate the power of a personal note.
DO
▪ be confident, crisp, and lively
▪ be personable and personal; use
her name
▪ listen to her and set your pace
▪ leave her feeling good no matter
what the result
▪ set the tone—it’s not a social call
▪ make sure it’s a convenient time
▪ put the money number on the table
as soon as possible
▪ ask for a higher amount than has
been given in the past
DON’T
▪ call on Shabbat or a Jewish holiday
▪ ever, ever argue
▪ apologize—you’re not asking for
yourself but for future generations
▪ talk too much
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