In this Issue

1. A Message From Dr. Gary A. Tobin

2. New Affiliation With The Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion

3. Talking Truth About Jewish Federations

4. Study of Jewish Foundations

A Message from Dr. Gary A. Tobin President Institute for Jewish & Community Research

Greetings,

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Quad.

In this installment we are pleased to announce our new research association with The Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion.

This issue also features the publication of our new policy paper titled, "Talking Truth about Jewish Federations." This publication was released in coordination with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which has opened a philanthropy forum to coincide with the North American Jewish Federations' general assembly. Federation executives and volunteers have been highly receptive and interested in the policy change ideas set forth in the piece.

In addition, we think you will be interested to know about the publication of our new monograph titled, "A Study of Jewish Foundations." My editorial about the study, "Save the Chastising of Jews Who Give to Non-Jewish Causes," encourages Jewish organizations to stress the positive if they want to be the recipients of more philanthropic dollars.

We welcome any feedback and ideas you may have.

Best Regards,

Dr. Gary A. Tobin
President
Institute for Jewish & Community Research

New Affiliation with The Baylor Institute
for Studies of Religion

IJCR Research Review
By IJCR Staff, August 2007, The Institute for Jewish & Community Research

The Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR) and The Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion recently announced a new association for a series of collaborative research projects. Senior scholars from each institute now hold reciprocal appointments that create a top team of scholars to conduct research and produce joint publications in the study of religion. Among the projects will be studies of attitudes about religion among college faculty and an extensive survey about how college students experience religion on campus. They will also engage in a multi-year study of tolerance and intolerance of different religious groups in the United States.

The Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion

Talking Truth About Jewish Federations

Perspective (IJCR Op-ed)
Philanthropy Forum: Federations Need to Adapt
By Gary Tobin, November 5, 2007, JTA

San Francisco (JTA) - North American federations could and should be doing much better than they are. they matter. They are important. they embody the ideas of community, common cause and the ability to respond to collective concerns. They are vital institutions and we want them to succeed.

Read on...

JTA Philanthropy Forum
Reimagining Federated Philanthropy
JTA Special Coverage, General Assembly Nashville 2007

Leaders of community federations in North America gather Nov. 11-13 in Nashville for their annual General Assembly. JTA presents five perspectives on what's working and what's not - and how the federation system might be reimagined.

Read on...

Report PDF

Talking Truth About Jewish Federations
By Gary Tobin, 2007,
The Institute for Jewish & Community Research

Jewish federations need to change if they are going to remain a dominant force in Jewish philanthropy. This policy paper explores how federations operate, the challenges they face, and possibilities for reform.

Press Release

Study of Jewish Foundations

IJCR Op-ed
Save the Chastising of Jews
Who Give to Non-Jewish Causes
By Gary Tobin, October 22, 2007, JTA

Jewish foundations are giving away billions of dollars. A recent study conducted by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research found that 80% of the dollars they gave away in 2004/2005 went to general society, while 20% went to Jewish causes. It is wrong to assume that foundations established by Jews that give to secular causes have lost their way for choosing to give the way they do, or to assert they must not care about being Jewish.

Read on...

Report: A Fifth of Jewish Foundation Dollars Going to Jewish, Israeli Causes
By Jacob Berkman, October 9, 2007, JTA

New York (JTA) -- The country's largest Jewish foundations give about a fifth of their funds to Jewish causes -- and that number could fall, according to the researchers behind a report released this week.

The study conducted by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research was based on a review of the 2004 and 2005 tax returns of the 56 largest American foundations started by Jews.

Read on...

A Study of Jewish Foundations
By Gary Tobin and Aryeh Weinberg, 2007,
The Institute for Jewish & Community Research

San Francisco - (October 9, 2007) According to a new study released by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR), a sample of the largest and most prominent Jewish foundations in the United States gave 79% of their dollars to secular causes and 21% to Jewish causes in recent years.

Press Release