Thanks to the 1,469 generous donors to the 2009 Jewish Federation of Madison Tzedakah Campaign, our community can continue to support 20 essential agencies and programs here in Madison and hundreds of humanitarian programs in Israel and 70 other countries around the world.

These donors contributed a total of $966,670, which is a 4.4% increase from the 2008 campaign total. This extraordinary result, relative to other nonprofit organizations during this economic crisis, is thanks to the hundreds of donors who increased the amount of their gifts this year. These increases more than offset the many large and small decreases the campaign suffered from donor deaths, illness, and financial difficulties.

In addition to the majority of major donors who increased their gifts, 371 donors increased their gift at least $18 in response to the Federation’s first-ever match program for donors who gift up to $2,500.

Federation volunteer committees and the Board of Directors have already begun to meet to determine how to allocate these funds. Please click here for a listing of the agencies and programs currently funded by the Campaign.

The Tzedakah Campaign accounts for 91% of the Federation’s budgeted income.  The remainder of the budget is from a mix of sources, including interest earned on cash deposits, endowment investment income, tribute gifts, website sponsorships, periodic donor bequests, and other miscellaneous income. Given decreases in some of these areas this year, the total income available for the 2010 budget is 6% less despite the success of the Campaign.

Consequently, the Federation volunteer committees and Board will have to make some budget cuts. However, thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have avoided the painful reductions that most Jewish communities throughout the country have been forced to make.

The 2009 Campaign was expertly led by Jim Stein and the members of the of the Executive Campaign Cabinet: Dan Abelson, Lisa Abelson, Melissa Barmore, Kathy Blumenfeld, Dan Kaplan, Jordan Loeb, Deborah Minkoff, Lester Pines, Diane Seder, and Jim Youngerman. More than 100 volunteers also generously contributed their time and talents.

We express our sincere appreciation to the community members who so generously contributed to the Tzedakah Campaign.  The Madison Jewish News will continue to keep you updated throughout the year about the needs being met by these contributions.