Recently, I was out with my friend Merav. We were driving in her car to a place I don’t really recall right now, but we were discussing my monetary situation. At the time, it was incredibly desperate, as Ari didn’t have a job yet (not to say we’re out of the woods yet. Money’s still tight).
As we discussed this, she almost immediately brought up an organization that often solicits donations and the upcoming event they were doing.
“We keep giving that money, and where does the money go?” she asked. “Shouldn’t it go to members of our community that are suffering? We know you are having problems, and what are they doing to help you and Ari?”
It is a question that I have heard brought up hundreds of times, and often it is thought about for five seconds and dismissed even quicker. There are Jewish non-profits all over the United States that donate to Israel and developing countries throughout the world. They help other non-profits for other causes, such as cancer cures and blood donation. Others claim they are changing the world by allowing innovators to come together, but the truth of the matter is that they’re only making themselves feel more important. When it comes to helping those who need it in the community, it is something that is often mumbled and then moved away from.
Non-profits, in the Jewish world, have the most power. Synagogues are considered non-profits, and the majority of powerful organizations in our world are also non-profits. They receive tons of money every year. However, do we really know where our money is going when we donate $5, $50 or $500 to our local Jewish non-profit? Does it go to help a family in need or help pad the salary of someone who already makes a bunch of money? Are we helping those who need it locally or are we sending the money far away? And is the money going directly to those in need or are people skimming off of the top? These are all questions that deserve to be answered.
Jewish non-profits have the power to help those who need it the most, and how do they repay the people who give them money? In some cases, they are incredibly mismanaged, some to the point where the non-profit fails and takes advantage of their employees. There are others that hire incompetent people who have proved themselves incapable of serving the community in other positions, but are the “friend of friends” and get the job instead of people that can make a difference. I swear, the only people who are worse at changing their habits and replacing the older people than the Jewish non-profit world is Congress.
This is not to say there aren’t great people working at Jewish non-profits. Some happen to be my friends and are amazing at what they do. This is also not to say that there aren’t wonderful Jewish non-profits that are doing great work. Jewish Family Services has been a wonderful source of low-income therapy for people who need it but can’t afford the cost. I was active in Hillel most of my college life, and they need donations in order to keep offering programming (and to keep some of my good friends employed). But when I hear about organizations asking for money or receiving thousands of dollars without any evidence of output… well, it makes me kind of mad. After experiencing difficulties firsthand and seeing how organizations responded, it’s worth getting mad over.
So what do I ask for from Jewish non-profits to regain my trust? The answer is simple – transparency. Every corporation that’s for profit has to post how much money it made or lost in quarterly reports. This is not required by non-profits, but I think it is vital for the public trust. Either way, annual reports should not be hidden in the corners of a website, but rather posted right there on the main page. If there’s anything fishy going on at a non-profit, the Jewish press should be responsible and let people know, not allowing things to be swept under the rug. And as my friend Eden has said, we need more MBAs working with non-profits. We need people who understand that in order to run a non-profit effectively, you need to have the best people working for you and be able to manage properly. They need to have common business sense in addition to being compassionate and able to run a non-profit.
Eden is currently doing that – getting her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in order to specialize in running Jewish non-profits. I already know that she is going to be an amazing leader for this community. I honor her as a person who is ready to make a difference. As for the non-profits out there, you have been put on notice. Know that there is someone out there who is keeping an eye on you, like here at Young, Broke and Kosher. It’s time for you to take care of your own.
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