Putting Family First: How a Charity Founder Decided It Was Time to Step Down
“Is everything OK?” came the note from my friend’s BlackBerry to my inbox. “Everyone is worried about you.” Only minutes before, the charity I’d been running for the past decade — Jewish Family & Life — had sent out the news that I was going to be stepping down as its CEO in the fall. “Everything…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
With Dreams of the Big Leagues, an Executive Meets His Coach
“May I have a word with you?” David Mersky, one of my board members, asked recently. “Outside.” As always, David’s voice was deep and courteous, betraying his past as a rabbi. A fund-raising consultant by profession, he has a knack for magically appearing at the right moments and saying the right…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
In the Struggle to Balance Work and Home Life, Here Comes Baby No. 4
The rare tranquillity aboard a flight from Detroit to Los Angeles highlights for me how much my life has changed since co-founding my nonprofit organization, and it occurs to me that I may not be ready for my fourth child, scheduled to be born in mid-June. This is my last overnight trip before I…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
The Triumphs and Travails of a Traveling Charity Leader
The charity I lead is based near Boston, but more and more my work calls for me to be elsewhere to meet with potential board members, foundation program officers, and leaders of nonprofit groups we might want to work with. I’ve learned the hard way that there is a direct relationship between how…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
Waiting for the Ruinous Drought on Wall Street to End
A major foundation has been flirting with the charity I lead, Jewish Family & Life, for some time now. We got to the stage where foundation officials had requested a proposal, and we turned it around quickly. And then silence. No acknowledgment. No return phone calls or e-mails. Finally, a key…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
Focus May Be the Most Important Skill in Fund Raising
“Hey, sexy,” my new executive assistant’s voice blared into the phone to Sandy Cardin, executive director of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. “Are you ready to speak with Yossi?” Barbara Burg’s unrepentant chutzpah didn’t bother Mr. Cardin at all -- in fact, he knew her well, as…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
Rediscovering the Fun in Fund Raising
The seared tuna melted in my mouth at the Four Seasons Hotel. At the table were three philanthropic leaders of the UJA–Federation of New York. I was looking pretty good in my blue suit and black leather shoes. The conversation was interesting, and I was relaxed. “This is an introductory meeting,”…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
Letting Go of an Endowment Fantasy
We had the perfect plan: a for-profit Internet venture that would yield a $20-million endowment for the charity I run, Jewish Family & Life. With the $1-million a year in investment income this endowment would produce, I would be free to focus on mission -- using the Internet and other media to…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
A New Charity CEO Learns How to Dress the Part
A few weeks ago, my development director took me to Filene’s Basement so that I could buy my first suit in 15 years. “Do you have dress shoes?” he asked, after choosing my new, conservative, blue wool-silk combination. “I actually do,” I responded, heading for the checkout line. “My Edgar shoes.”…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor
Middle East Crisis Raises Tricky Fund-Raising Questions
A month ago, the head of an important foundation gave me an oral commitment to support the charity I run, Jewish Family & Life. Our organization uses Web sites, magazines, and other media to stimulate young people and others to weave Jewish culture, traditions, and values into daily life. But when…
By Yosef I. Abramowitz
Contributor