“Gift of the Heart”

On Monday, May 12, 2014, the Board of Trustees of Temple Emanu-El voted to implement a new “Gift of the Heart” sustaining contribution model, changing the financial relationship of members and the synagogue.

Members will be asked to pledge the amount of financial support that is both comfortable and generous for their household. They will receive personalized pledge forms explaining how much it costs, per household, to run the synagogue. This “sustaining level” is $2,300 for 2014-2015. Their pledge form also includes information about how much the member contributed last year and a suggested modest increase for the coming year. This annual pledge, made before the start of the fiscal year, will replace dues and annual fund solicitations. 

After many hours of discussion over several years, the committee and board members voted unanimously to implement this new sustaining contribution. The membership committee spent more than a year studying and discussing possible models of financial contribution to the synagogue including how other synagogues and faith communities support themselves. 

The committee also learned how private schools, artists and non-profits are rethinking their relationships with customers, families and donors. After determining the best model for Temple Emanu-El, the synagogue moved forward with a one-year implementation process. 

Through the transition, many Temple members expressed appreciation for the “Gift of the Heart” approach in its recognition of dignity, as opposed to the humiliation people may have felt when they asked for a reduction in their dues. Rabbi Wayne Franklin stated, “Through the implementation of  ‘Gift of the Heart,’ we are seeing a change in the culture of connection throughout the Temple. The stories members shared at house meetings fostered a heightened sense of community. I am looking forward to continuing opportunities to build yet a stronger sense of community among the Temple’s members.” 

Connection between the synagogue and other Temple members was a key factor in the implementation of “Gift of the Heart.” Outgoing vice president for membership outreach, Rebecca Kislak Brown, explains that the Board considered many logistical considerations. However, “the individual relationships that were made between other Temple members, at Kiddush lunches, at house meetings, and over coffee, were highlights for me during this past year. We have such a vibrant community, and it was energizing to hear stories from Temple members, old and new.”

Rabbi Elan Babchuck discusses the underpinnings of the implementation.

“By using the community-building tools of community organizing, we built consensus and understanding about this major initiative throughout our broad and diverse constituency.” Communication and community building were integral to the success of implementation. The synagogue members met at one-to-one meetings, house meetings and town hall meetings, all of which provided opportunities to strengthen existing ties across the community and create some new ones. According to Babchuck, “At its core, this process was about the power of storytelling, and as a result, we are richer today than we were a year ago.”

The early results gave the Board of Directors the confidence to move forward with implementation. About 50 percent of households returned their forms, pledging about 75 percent of the target. “We think that we will collect about the same amount that we would have collected had we raised dues and sent out bills. But, through this process, we are changing the financial relationship of our members and synagogue,” says Kislak Brown. 

Temple Emanu-El’s President, Judy Greenblatt, explains, “The strong foundation for “Gift of the Heart” was built by much hard work. It gives us a structure with which to continue. We must and will continue to provide opportunities to meet with everyone in the community, so that they all know they are an important part of the wonderful community that is Temple Emanu-El.”

To read about and watch personal stories of some of our members, visit Temple Emanu-El’s “Temple Tales” blog, at teprov.org/temple_tales. To inquire about “Gift of the Heart” or to set up a visit, contact the Temple’s Advancement & Membership Coordinator, Meital Cafri at mcafri@teprov.org or 401-331-1616.