American Friends of Hebrew University (AFHU)

Day 3: American Friends of Hebrew University

Web site: http://www.afhu.org/

About American Friends of Hebrew University's (from the AFHU web site):

American Friends of The Hebrew University (AFHU) is a national, not-for-profit organization which provides programs, events, and fundraising activities in support of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel’s foremost center of higher education and research.

Forging a meaningful partnership between American Jewry and the people of Israel, AFHU helps to ensure the nation's well being by nurturing Israel’s greatest asset: the intellectual strength of its people.

AFHU cultural and educational programs attract people from all walks of life, including Hebrew University and Rothberg International School alumni, American scholars and scientists and the general U.S. public. Please visit our calendar. These initiatives promote greater understanding of the University’s contributions in fields ranging from technology, medicine and law to agriculture, public policy and Jewish Studies.Founded by the American philanthropist, Felix M. Warburg in 1925, AFHU has been a central force in The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s rise to international prominence.

Today, AFHU is part of an international Society of Friends organizations spanning more than 25 countries.

Our Leadership:AFHU has an independent lay-led national board of directors consisting of dedicated professionals, civic and Jewish communal leaders from throughout the United States.

Branding 102

Dan Brown is happily welcomed as our guest writer today. Dan's posts on Jewish Philanthropy can be found on his informative blog http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/. Thanks Dan, we hope to see more of your posts on JewishDonorBlog.com soon!

"The American Red Cross spent $10. million to develop their web site; $2. million annually sustains it. While I do not know any organization in our communal world with an expenditure so large, I do suspect more than one are in the same ballpark as a percentage of their operating budgets.

So, the question is, you’ve put all this time, effort and money into the site. Beta-tested new ideas; possibly even held focus groups. And you’re still left with the nagging question, will they come?

You can easily fall into a bottomless pit spending money to market your website. But, there are also many (and important) ways you should be building your brand for free. What brings this up now?

During the past month or so we have seen a number of Conferences in our Jewish world. Many of our regular readers took time off for the Pesach Chag. As a result, on any given day our daily updates are sent, I receive a good number of automatic “out of office” replies. Looking at the email signatures is often a good way to tell the organizational affiliation and responsibility level of our subscribers.

The surprising fact? The name is there; occasionally a title; generally the phone number; and sometimes even the email address is printed below. But, uniformly what is missing? the organization’s web address.

That’s right. From the largest, and wealthiest, organizations in our Jewish world (including two powerful Foundations); from their media spokes-persons (unbelievable!) to the CEO’s, the email signature does not contain the web address. And every single one of these organizations has a pretty good web site.

In fact, a “shout-out” to Sharsheret; the ONLY “out-of-office” reply we received with a web-site tag-line!

We list for you six places you should always list your web address. After all, you’ve probably spent a fair amount of money designing not only your site but your ancillary marketing materials. What’s more, this is all free advertising!

letterheads

pledge cards

newsletters

business cards

all marketing materials

last but not least, your email signature."

Honest Reporting

Day 2: Honest Reporting

web site: http://www.honestreporting.com/

Honest Reporting's mission (from the Honest Reporting web site):

Israel is in the midst of a battle for public opinion – waged primarily via the media. To ensure Israel is represented fairly and accurately "'HonestReporting'" monitors the media, exposes cases of bias, promotes balance, and effects change through education and action.

When media bias occurs, our worldwide base of subscribers takes action by contacting news agencies, drawing issues of bias to their attention, and requesting changes. Media outlets, correspondents, and editors are now held accountable for biased reporting and are becoming more aware of the need for factual, impartial and fair reporting. Our subscribers also make use of our Communiqués to bolster their own knowledge and understanding of the often complex issues.

The work of HonestReporting yields results. Since 2000, the organization prompted hundreds of apologies, retractions, and revisions from news outlets. These efforts are changing the face of the media and reporting of Israel throughout the world.

As an organization dedicated to defending Israel against prejudice in the Media, we aim to provide educational tools and resources to anyone wishing to advocate for Israel. Our materials provide people with information that is helpful when responding to the Media, in their dealings on Campus or in the work place, and in any other sphere where having credible, considered background material is of value.

Why is the struggle for media fairness so important? The media sways public opinion, which directly affects foreign policy towards Israel and in turn the lives of her citizens. One person alone may not impact this struggle, but thousands united can!

ZOA - Zionist Organization of America

Over the next week, in Honor of Israel's 60th anniversary, we will be posting about Jewish organizations that fundraise and support Israel. Six organizations in Six Days (no post on Saturday).

Day 1: Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)

Web site: http://www.zoa.org/

What is ZOA (from the ZOA website) …

Since its founding in 1897, the Zionist Organization of America has been fighting for the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. Under the leadership of such illustrious presidents as Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, Rabbi Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, and current National President Morton A. Klein, the ZOA has been on the front lines of Jewish activism.

With a national membership of over 30,000, and chapters throughout the United States (including Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, North Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, South Jersey and Washington D.C.), the ZOA today works to strengthen US-Israeli relations, through educational activities, public affairs programs, working every day on Capitol Hill, and by combating anti-Israel bias in the media, textbooks, and on campuses.

Wherever our message is needed, our voice is being heard. The ZOA is the only organization that documents and exposes Palestinian Arab violations of the Road Map plan. The ZOA leads the efforts on behalf of American victims of Palestinian Arab terrorism. The ZOA's campaigns have repeatedly led to the defeat of hostile critics of Israel who were nominated for important government positions.

The ZOA has played a key role in Congress regarding victims of terrorism, keeping Jerusalem unified under Israeli sovereignty, fighting Hamas and Fatah, and working on the imposition of sanctions on Syria and Saudi Arabia.

The ZOA's growing Campus Activism Network organizes college students to combat Arab propaganda on campuses from coast to coast. The ZOA regularly brings student activists to Israel for leadership training programs; we are preparing the Jewish activist leadership of the future.

The ZOA's Center for Law & Justice works through the courts to help Israel and the Jewish people. The Center has filed suit against the State Department for ignoring the law requiring that "Jerusalem, Israel" be stamped on the passports of U.S. citizens who are born there. The Center also helped bring about the shutdown of ten pro-terrorist web sites. The ZOA initiated a groundbreaking case under federal civil rights laws to rectify the anti-Semitic/anti-Israel climate on campus.

The ZOA speaks out for Israel - in reports, newsletters, and other publications...in speeches in synagogues, churches, and community events, in high schools and colleges from coast to coast...in e-mail action alerts...in op-eds and letters to the editor...in radio and television appearances by ZOA leaders.

Always on the front lines of pro-Israel activism, ZOA has made its mark.

Happy Anniversary

We just may have a small image issue here.

Just look at the results of this recent poll done for the BBC (not exactly a source of pro-Israel material itself).

People think more highly of North Korea than they do of Israel.

Let’s put this in perspective.

North Korea: a Stalinist dictatorship that oppresses and starves its population. It has terrorized it neighbors with nuclear weapons and missile tests and has been caught promoting terrorist activity around the globe while selling its atomic technology to rogue states.

Israel: the only democracy in the Middle East, a loyal ally of the United States and The European Union. Despite fighting 6 wars and an ongoing onslaught of terrorist attacks, it boasts a vibrant economy, a vibrant free press and full participation of its minority populations in the political process.

Israel’s 60th anniversary is coming up on May 8th.

It’s time that we started doing a better job in making our case to the rest of the world.

David

Introducing Our New Blog Logo!

Camels are desert dwellers, Negev Direct is located in heart of the Negev in Israel. Camels can be well dressed, so are we. Camels can't talk, but if they could they would be telling you to check out our informative posts on the JewishDonorBlog.com.

Thanks to Andrew Tibbetts in Chicago who designed our new blog logo. Great job Andrew. If any one wants to contact Andrew about doing logo or web design work, his portfolio can be seen at andrewtibbetts.com

Yoav

Broadcast Your Cause - YouTube Nonprofit Program

Untouched by Man. Until You Think It.

What’s remarkable about your product, or your organization, or for that matter, you?

If you don’t think that it’s worth the effort to find out, this story may change your mind.

In the March 31st issue of the New Yorker there is a long profile of Lynda Resnick, termed “The Pomegranate Princess” because of her stewardship of the POM Wonderful Company; the people who are turning pomegranate juice into a new health drink craze.

But that’s another story.

This story is about another company that Lynda and her husband own: Fiji Water.

It’s just bottled water. True it is from Fiji, but it’s still water in a bottle. Nothing special.

But Lynda was able to find something remarkable about Fiji Water that the previous owners didn’t think was even important.

Fiji Water comes from an underground aquifer on the Island of Viti Levu. And it goes straight from the aquifer to the bottle without any contact with the air, other water or additives.

Lynda thought that this was the remarkable quality of the product. Or in her own words, “That’s huge!”.

And it was.

Lynda’s team changed the label from an image of a waterfall (“surface water, yuck”) to a picture of tropical flower and palm fronds. The slogan was changed from the banal “Taste of Paradise” to the more provocative “Untouched by man. Until you drink it.”

Since the makeover sales have increased by 300%.

What’s remarkable about your product?

David

Thoughts on Urgency

As a direct marketer I get a lot of last minute “urgent" business requests especially around our busy seasons. I am always happy to help out any customer that needs my help regardless of the timing,

but here’s the thing…

Most of the stress and chaos that is caused by urgency is unnecessary and a big waste of time and energy. With a better communication of expectations and a little advanced planning, we could curb this "stressed out" working habit in no time.

Jason Freid is a great guy and someone I regard very highly in the business world. on the SvN blog Jason has this to say about the subject of urgency:

“One thing I’ve come to realize is that urgency is overrated. In fact, I've come to believe urgency is poisonous. Urgency may get things done a few days sooner, but what does it cost in morale? Few things burn morale like urgency. Urgency is acidic."

Jason also adds...

"If stress is a weed, urgency is the seed. Don’t plant it if you can help it."

Yoav Kaufman

Bad Phone Karma

As I write this, I am sitting on the phone waiting for my “next available personal service consultant” from a well-know website registration company to answer my call.

Luckily I have a Panasonic 4-line KX-TS4100b desktop phone console that tracks my call time. So far: 6 minutes 18 seconds and counting.

In the meantime, I am being entertained by a constant flow of bad elevator music interrupted by annoying announcements trying to sell me services I have no use for.

We’ve passed 8 minutes now and I’m starting to wonder whether this company is understaffed, overwhelmed or just doesn’t care about its customers. From my previous experiences with them, I’m guessing that the third option is the correct choice.

Another question occurs as we head towards, and pass, the 10 minute mark: why doesn’t this company (and many others) come up with a better customer service system?

11 minutes and I’m about to be transferred to a real, live person…..

And instead all I get is dead air. No one. Nothing.

There must be a better way to service customers, right? The technology is there. They know I called, they have my number.

If it was my company I would have a staff of people who immediately called back all dropped calls. “Mr. Rubin, what happened? Did we drop the call? I’m so sorry, how can I assist you?”

If that happened I would love this company forever. I would tell all of my friends about them and their great service. I would get them to switch their websites and blogs to this company.

Instead I’m going to try one of their competitors next time I need to register a domain name.

David

Matisyahu Jerusalem - Pesach Edition

As Pesach nears we remember that we were once freed from slavery in Egypt.

Let us however, not be complacent in our freedom, lest we forget that there are still many atrocities in this world that need the light from our collective soul to shine upon them.

Pesach Samayach.

Priorities

Does your non-profit view fundraising as one of it's primary missions? If not, it could be time to change your priorities.

This just in from Jeff Brooks on the Donor Power Blog…

”How is it that fundraising is a bothersome distraction from the ‘real' work of so many nonprofits?

If these (non-profit) leaders paid attention, they’d see fundraising in a different way. They’d realize that what (fundraising) does for donors, for causes and for society are astounding.

(Non-profit leaders) might come to understand that fundraising is so great, so important, that it matters as much as their primary mission.”

Yoav Kaufman