A first-of-its-kind academic institution focused on boosting Israel’s non-profit
sector by improving its philanthropic and fund-raising capabilities is set to
open its doors at the end of this month.
Aimed at addressing the needs of
Israel’s struggling “third sector,” The Israel Academy of Philanthropy comes as
a direct response to the global economic crisis of the past few years and, more
recently, the social justice protests here last summer, say founders Jeff Kaye
and Natan Golan, both veterans of the Jewish organizational world.
“As
the number of NGOs in Israel continues to grow, the more the not-for-profit
sector needs to compete for scarce funding opportunities both at home and
abroad,” point out Kaye and Golan on the organization’s website.
“It is
critical, therefore, that Israeli fundraisers equip themselves with the proper
education, tools and resources in order to participate in this incredibly
competitive market.”
Hoping to attract employees of non-profit
organizations, municipalities and associations that engage in fund-raising both
here and abroad, the academy offers a range of intensive and less intensive
courses that cost NIS 4,000- 7,000 for a period of up to three
months.
With courses set to take place in four different locations
countrywide, registration for the first course, The Art of Philanthropy, opened
last week and the first class will take place on April 29 in
Jerusalem.
On the website, Kaye and Golan explain that in addition to
focusing on improving fundraising techniques, the courses will teach how to
cultivate relationships with organizations and foundations overseas. There will
also be an emphasis on managerial practices, professionalism and ethical
standards that are popular in the US and in Europe but are often missing in
Israel, say the two.
“Professional fundraisers in Israeli non-profit
organizations are lacking some of the important rudimentary practices of this
profession,” write Kaye and Golan on the academy’s website.
“They often
lack the appropriate interpretation of international philanthropic codes,
without which, the Israeli fund-raiser faces insurmountable obstacles in his/her
global fund-raising attempts.”
They also point out that while in the
business and high-tech sectors Israel is “perceived globally as cutting-edge and
bold,” in the non-profit world, despite some highly innovative and useful
projects, Israeli NGOs “lack the required expertise” for
fundraising.
“They fall short in their ability to fully integrate their
Israeli bravado within the ever-rigid structures of global philanthropic
foundations and struggle to produce the results needed by the organization they
represent,” Kaye and Golan express on their website.
Both Golan and Kaye
have vast experience in Jewish philanthropy and the non-profit world in Israel.
Golan, who is also a lecturer and inspirational speaker, spent many years
managing the Israeli operations of the Jewish Community Federation of San
Francisco, the United Jewish Israel Appeal of Great Britain and other leading
Jewish American foundations.
Kaye, who is originally from Scotland, was
the first chief development officer for World ORT and before that held key
positions in the Jewish Agency for Israel and the United Israel Appeal
(UIA).
According to Kaye and Golan, The Israel Academy of Philanthropy is
the first professional teaching initiative for fundraising in Israel and
graduates will receive credit towards the Certified Fund Raising Executive
(CFRE) credential diploma for initial certification or recertification.
Website for the Israel Academy of Philanthropy: http://iap.org.il/