April 1
LGBT Alliance
2009
This is an abridged lay leader history of the records of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. As a reader if you understand any portion of this record as not consistent with actual occurrences, please let us know by emailing lgbt@sfjcf.org. Thank you!
History from 1996 to 2009
Table of Contents 2009 LGBT ALLIANCE PLANNING AND ADVISORY GROUP .................................................................. 3 2009 SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUEST ............................................................................................. 4 2008 LGBT ALLIANCE PLANNING AND ADVISORY GROUP .................................................................. 7 LGBT ALLIANCE PLANNING AND ADVISORY GROUP GENERAL FAQ’S .......................................... 8 2008 – 2009: ALLOCATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 12 2007 LGBT ALLIANCE BOARD ...................................................................................................................... 13 2007 LGBT ALLIANCE CAMPAIGN .............................................................................................................. 13 2007 LGBT ALLIANCE PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH STRATEGY ..................................................... 13 2007 TRANSITION FROM A CAMPAIGN AFFINITY GROUP.................................................................. 14 2007 – 2008: ALLOCATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 17 2006 LGBT ALLIANCE BOARD ...................................................................................................................... 18 2006 LGBT ALLIANCE CAMPAIGN .............................................................................................................. 18 2006 LGBT ALLIANCE PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH STRATEGY ..................................................... 18 2006 – 2007: ALLOCATIONS ............................................................................................................................ 19 2005 LGBT ALLIANCE BOARD ...................................................................................................................... 21 2005 LGBT ALLIANCE CAMPAIGN .............................................................................................................. 21 2005 LGBT ALLIANCE PROGRAMS, STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP ................................................. 21 2004 LGBT ALLIANCE BOARD ...................................................................................................................... 23 2004 LGBT ALLIANCE CAMPAIGN .............................................................................................................. 23 LGBT LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, A COMMITTEE INSTITUTED IN 2004 ........................................................................................................................................ 23 2003 GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE BOARD ............................................................................................ 25 2003 LGBT ALLIANCE CAMPAIGN .............................................................................................................. 25 2003 LGBT ALLIANCE OUTREACH PROGRAMS ..................................................................................... 25 2002 GAY LESBIAN ALLIANCE BOARD ...................................................................................................... 27 2002 LGBT ALLIANCE OUTREACH PROGRAMS ..................................................................................... 27 SUMMARY: 2002-05 STRATEGY .................................................................................................................... 28 2001 GAY LESBIAN ALLIANCE TASK FORCE .......................................................................................... 31 2000 GAY LESBIAN ALLIANCE TASK FORCE .......................................................................................... 32 2000 UPDATED PLATFORM ........................................................................................................................... 33 1997 - 1999 GAY LESBIAN ALLIANCE TASK FORCE LEADERSHIP..................................................... 34 1997 TASK FORCE PROPOSAL ...................................................................................................................... 35 1996 GAY LESBIAN ALLIANCE TASK FORCE .......................................................................................... 38 1996 CREATING A TASK FORCE .................................................................................................................. 39
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2009 LGBT Alliance Planning and Advisory Group Rabbi Ruth Adar Ruth Atkin Chair: Al Baum JCF of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Staff: Karen Bluestone JCF of Greater East Bay Staff: Rabbi James Brandt Ziv Beyth Susan Bluer Stephanie Brill Ali Cannon Paul Cohen JCF of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Staff: Lisa Finkelstein JCF of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Staff: Julie Golde JCF of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Staff: Rabbi Marvin Goodman Betsy Fels Potruck Martin Fox
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Julie Haddon Frederick Hertz Rabbi Micah Hyman Leslie Katz Susan Krauss Kathy Levinson Susan Lowenberg Ben Lunine Stan Osofsky Mark Reisbaum Jerry Rosenstein Eileen Ruby Arthur Slepian Marc Smolowitz JCF of Greater East Bay Staff: Sam Strauss Howard Steiermann Martin Tannenbaum Susan Tubbesing Rabbi Eric Weiss Connie Wolf Dennis Ybarra Ron Wolberg
2009 Summary of Commission Request Program Purpose: The LGBT Alliance has charged itself with the crucial task to connect Bay Area LGBT Jews with Jewish life. Program Geographic Region: Greater San Francisco Bay Area including San Francisco, the Peninsula, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Sonoma Counties Program Population Participants & Targets: The estimated 36,000 self-identified LGBT Jews of the greater Bay Area. This estimate is based on the 2004 Jewish Community Study, which found that 13,000 LGBT Jews reside in the San Francisco based Jewish Community Federation Service Area (FSA) alone. Demographic estimates provided by the staff of the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay (JFED) and the LGBT Alliance’s Planning and Advisory Group (PAG) suggest that 36,000 LGBT Bay Area Jews is a reasonable estimate for planning purposes. To put this figure in the context of other groups funded by this commission, the Russian-speaking Bay Area Jewish community (according to the 2004 Jewish Community Study) consists of almost 13,000 Jews and 3,000 non-Jews. Program 2008 Accomplishments: Together with community leaders and partners from across the Bay Area, the LGBT Alliance supports a broad spectrum of initiatives directly related to Jewish life. Highlights include: Convened programs, committees and advocacy activities designed to unify the Bay Area LGBT Jewish community. Commissioned, designed, and conducted the LGBT Bay Area Jewish Needs Assessment Study Created the LGBT Alliance’s Planning and Advisory Group (PAG) and the LGBT Outreach Committee with the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay (JFED). Program responding to unmet needs: The LGBT Alliance believes that LGBT Jews are as diverse as the sexual orientations and gender identities of its members. In order to inform our future efforts, we are conducting an LGBT Bay Area Jewish Needs Assessment Study geared to help Jewish community leaders better understand LGBT Jews’ needs. The findings, to be used in the LGBT Alliance strategic planning process, are expected in the spring of 2009. To help guide ongoing programmatic and engagement strategies the LGBT Alliance Director relies on the 2004 Jewish Community Study, the LGBT PAG, and the LGBT Outreach Committee. To meet the range of needs geographically, the LGBT Alliance partners with the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay (JFED), so that the LGBT outreach functions of the two Federations have common leadership strategies and share lay- and professionally-led committees. Program implementation: In the past year, the LGBT Alliance sponsored, promoted, hosted and organized multiple events and programs connecting LGBT Jews to Jewish life. After one event, an attendee wrote, “It was especially meaningful that it was not just the Jewish LGBT community that showed up, but many Jewish communal professionals and straight allies. As we were driving home, we talked about how amazing it is to have
the Jewish Federation, and other Jewish organizations, so publicly supportive of LGBT issues… we found ourselves excited about getting involved and attending future events. Thank you for reaching out and planning such wonderful events like this.” Here are two examples: Milk and More…: In light of the disappointing passage of California State Proposition 8, the LGBT Alliance hosted a private screening of the film Milk followed by a reception. This event sold out within 12 hours of its announcement. Cosponsored by The SF JCF Business Leadership Council, SF JCF Young Adults Division, Congregation Sha'ar Zahav, and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, it featured a panel of LGBT Jewish speakers who addressed the times of Harvey Milk and how his message still resonates today. 300 people attended. Latkes, Vodkas and More…!: This annual event was co-presented with Congregation Sha'ar Zahav and provided a strong Jewish program honoring local LGBT Jewish leaders. It was co-sponsored by over 20 local groups, provided free childcare and featured LGBT Jewish entertainers. 350 to 400 people attended (an increase from 75 to 100 guests in the prior year). Program strategies: According to the 2004 Jewish Community Study, the unique needs of Bay Area LGBT Jews are not being met by existing programs and institutions. For example, over half of the Bay Area LGBT Jewish households reside on the Peninsula yet most programs targeting the LGBT Jewish community take place in the city. With the publication of the LGBT Bay Area Jewish Needs Assessment Study in the spring of 2009, the LGBT Alliance will increasingly work to match its engagement strategy with the needs discovered. Here are a few examples of how we have already adapted program strategy: In the summer of 2008, the LGBT Alliance organized one of the largest Jewish Marriage Equality events on the Peninsula with Kol Tzedek, a Bay Area coalition of Jewish organizations for Justice and LGBT rights. 350 people attended. Because of the current recession and in light of the 2004 Jewish Community Study's finding that LGBT Jews are the least affluent and the most poverty-prone subgroup among all Bay Area Jews, the LGBT Alliance has begun offering need-based scholarships for multiple Jewish activities. Given the high number of single parents in the LGBT Jewish community, our lowcost Chanukah party, organized by the LGBT Outreach Committee, offered free childcare as well as a speed-dating/networking game. 15 children participated in the free childcare. Community Partnerships: An integral part of the LGBT Alliance engagement strategy is community partnerships. The LGBT Alliance helps build partnerships and cooperation among organizations, professionals and institutions so that duplication is avoided, unmet needs are met, and resource efficiency is achieved. The LGBT Alliance has emerged as a model for promoting and embracing effective partnerships among those people and organizations who might not otherwise have found a way to join together. After one particularly successful event, Al Baum, founder of the LGBT Alliance wrote, “We learned a lot from this party basically that there is a need for communal activities for LGBT Jews and that organizations can work together to create them.”
Leveraging Peer Organizations: The LGBT Alliance partners directly with Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA), Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Congregation Sha'ar Zahav (CSZ) and the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay (JFED) to build diverse committees of lay leaders and to support a wide range programs without duplicating efforts. Here are two examples of partnerships that the LGBT Alliance Director cultivated in 2008: Kol Tzedek: A Bay Area Coalition of Jewish Organizations for Justice and LGBT Rights. Transgender and Gender Variant Task Force: Addressing transgender identity within the Jewish community Program key learnings (one example): The LGBT PAG recommended that a powerful way to reach previously-disenfranchised LGBT Jews was to become a visible advocate in the marriage equality movement. Analysis of the 2008 election found that California’s Jewish population overwhelmingly rejected Proposition 8, a measure to end marriage equality. In a Post-Election California Voter Survey, conducted by David Binder Research, of 800 to 1,000 voters in the November 2008 election, researchers found that 83% of Jewish voters voted NO on Proposition 8. Bolstered by this finding, the LGBT Alliance has remained a leader in the marriage equality movement. We are committed to a strong public stand for marriage equality while awaiting the March 5, 2009 California State Supreme Court hearing on the constitutionality of Proposition 8.
2008 LGBT Alliance Planning and Advisory Group Rabbi Ruth Adar Ruth Atkin Chair: Al Baum Ziv Beyth JCF of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Staff: Karen Bluestone JCF of Greater East Bay Staff: Rabbi James Brandt Stephanie Brill Paul Cohen Betsy Fels Potruck JCF of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Staff: Lisa Finkelstein JCF of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Staff: Julie Golde JCF of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma
Counties Staff: Rabbi Marvin Goodman Julie Haddon Frederick Hertz Leslie Katz Susan Krauss Kathy Levinson Susan Lowenberg Ben Lunine Eileen Lynette Stan Osofsky Mark Reisbaum Jerry Rosenstein Eileen Ruby Marc Smolowitz Howard Steiermann JCF of Greater East Bay Staff: Sam Strauss Martin Tannenbaum Ron Wolberg
LGBT Alliance Planning and Advisory Group General FAQ’s 1. What is the history of the LGBT Alliance? The LGBT Alliance began in 1996 as the Gay and Lesbian Task Force of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. Over the next decade Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Jewish Lay Leaders worked with the Alliance on leadership development, raising donations and hosting events. In 2007, in alignment with JCF’s adoption of the new Strategic Funding Initiative, the LGBT Alliance transitioned from the Campaign Department into the Federation’s Planning and Agency Support Department. Today, the LGBT Alliance has charged itself with the crucial task to connect Bay Area LGBT Jews with Jewish life. Together with community leaders and partners from across the Bay Area, the LGBT Alliance supports a broad spectrum of initiatives directly related to Jewish life. A few 2008 accomplishments: Convened programs, committees and advocacy activities designed to unify the Bay Area LGBT Jewish community. Commissioned, designed, and conducted the LGBT Bay Area Jewish Needs Assessment Study Created the LGBT Alliance’s Planning and Advisory Group (PAG) and the LGBT Outreach Committee with the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay (JFED). Sponsored, promoted, hosted and organized multiple events and programs connecting LGBT Jews to Jewish life. 2. Who are the LGBT Alliance population participants? The estimated 36,000 self-identified LGBT Jews of the greater Bay Area. This estimate is based on the 2004 Jewish Community Study, which found that 13,000 LGBT Jews reside in the San Francisco based Jewish Community Federation Service Area (FSA) alone. Demographic estimates provided by the staff of the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay (JFED) and the LGBT Alliance’s Planning and Advisory Group (PAG) suggest that 36,000 LGBT Bay Area Jews is a reasonable estimate for planning purposes. To put this figure in the context of other groups funded by this commission, the Russian-speaking Bay Area Jewish community (according to the 2004 Jewish Community Study) consists of almost 13,000 Jews and 3,000 non-Jews. 3. What viewpoints are we trying to include in the composition of this group? Group members are Jewish Lay Leaders from across the Bay Area bringing a wide range of perspectives and experiences within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Variant, Intersex and Queer identified continuum. Group members represent: All of the geographic regions or counties of the Bay Area Volunteer and professional leadership from Jewish Community Federations Various Jewish LGBT constituencies Rabbinic Leaders in our community 4. How is the partnership structured between the two Federations? To approach planning and grant advocacy, leadership development and community outreach, the Jewish Community Federation’s LGBT Alliance of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties (SFJCF) formed the LGBT Planning and Advisory Group in direct partnership with the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay (JFED). Although both Federations will partner in the needs assessment study, each federation will be responsible to its own constituency in utilizing the results of the study to inform strategic plans that work in their respective contexts. In addition to JFED and it’s educational services division, the Center for Jewish Living and Learning (CJLL) underwriting some portion of the cost of the needs assessment study, they are partnering directly with the LGBT Alliance of SFJCF in allocating staff
time to organize and support the LGBT Planning and Advisory Group and provide programmatic support in lay leadership development activities. 5. Why has the LGBT Alliance opted to pursue a strategic planning process now? The Jewish Community Federation’s 2004 Community Study found that more than 8% of the Jewish households in San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties identify as LGBT, representing over 21,000 individuals. The LGBT Planning and Advisory Group will specifically utilize the data from the needs assessment study to create an LGBT Alliance strategic plan focused on funding allocations of Jewish Community Federation over the next few years. The LGBT Alliance’s long-term funding plan and timeline will also be based on the strategic plan. 6. Why has the LGBT Alliance chosen to conduct a needs assessment study as the first step in the Strategic planning process? Although, the 2004 Jewish Community Study shed light on the basic demographics of the LGBT Jewish community, it was not designed to delve deeper. Additionally, we have access to basic trend data sourced in the general LGBT community, but we can not assume that this data is directly applicable. Any good planning process ought to start with an assessment of the needs of the population for whom the planning is being done. 7. Why has Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity been selected to conduct the needs assessment study? Jewish Mosaic is the premier national organization devoted to visibility, advocacy, education and research for the Jewish community regarding LGBT issues, concerns and needs. To date, Jewish Mosaic has completed five community assessments. They are currently involved with four separate community assessments and have plans for another five within the coming year. The roster of experts Jewish Mosaic is bringing to the table for the Bay Area LGBT Jewish needs assessment study includes a “Who’s Who” of Jewish communal and LGBT researchers, reflecting many decades of combined experience. Jewish Mosaic has the content and context background to make wellinformed action-based recommendations based on the data they will gather. This makes them an excellent group to conduct the research. 8. What geographic regions were included in the needs assessment study? Greater San Francisco Bay Area including San Francisco, the Peninsula (San Mateo and Northern Santa Clara Counties), Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Sonoma Counties. Data from the needs assessment study will inform the unique strategic planning processes of both the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay and the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. 9. What kinds of questions will the needs assessment study address? The needs assessment study was designed to provide data that will speak to: How, when, and where LGBT Jews feel most included in Jewish community? How, when and where LGBT Jews are motivated and/or discouraged from participation in the Jewish community? With what types of issues, people, and institutions do LGBT Jews resonate most? And least? What are the needs (general and in connection to Jewish community) among LGBT Jews? 10. How will the Strategic Planning process commence? In the coming weeks we will finalize the needs assessment study design with Mosaic. We will convene the group as study findings become available and begin setting mission and data driven goals for the LGBT Alliance. Strategic planning will move into “high gear” in April 2009
11. What is the role of the LGBT Planning and Advisory Group? To guide the overall strategic planning process which includes the needs assessment study as a first step. Specifically, within the needs assessment study members of this Group will be asked to: Act as community advocates/ambassadors helping others understand the importance of the needs assessment study and encouraging full participation Provide feedback and input when reviewing the findings to derive meaningful conclusions that will inform the strategic planning process Advise the LGBT Alliance Lay Leadership Outreach Committee (a separate committee) to ensure our continued impact in the community during the strategic planning process
Welcome PAG Member Letter 20 Nisan 5768 Dear LGBT Planning and Advisory Group Member, On behalf of the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay and the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, we are thrilled to welcome you to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Planning and Advisory Group. Thank you for your commitment to making our Jewish Community welcoming and responsive to the needs of LGBT Jews throughout the Bay Area. We look forward to working with you in the coming months on what promises to be a significant initiative. The LGBT Planning and Advisory Group is one of the central components of the new Strategic Funding Initiatives for both of our Federations. This initiative will further the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties’ Educating and Engaging Commission by assessing needs and developing strategies that are relevant to LGBT Jews. For the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay, the LGBT Planning and Advisory Group represents a crucial first step in engaging and serving LGBT members of the East Bay Jewish community and an emerging outreach priority of the Federation’s Center for Jewish Living and Learning. We are looking to this group to help define new goals, create a viable strategic plan with concrete implementation steps and commission and Bay Area wide LGBT needs assessment. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments. Again, thank you for your involvement in this important work. With every good wish,
Karen Bluestone Chief Planning and Program Officer Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Rabbi James Brandt Executive Director Center for Jewish Living and Learning Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay
2008 – 2009: Allocations Jewish Community Federation Grants for LGBT Jews locally and in Israel:
Total Grants made in 2008-2009: $294,538
Cong. Sha’ar Zahav, to reach interfaith families from both the CSZ community and unaffiliated community residents, providing them with greater access and connection to Jewish community activities and events via curriculum development, outreach and educational sessions. $10,000. The Jerusalem Open House, $15,000 LGBT Alliance, The staffing and program budget of our LGBT Alliance is fully funded by the Federation’s annual campaign. During its initial years seed funding grants from the Endowment Fund funded the Alliance budget into 2007 at varying amounts. The Alliance provides powerful and innovative events and programs that enrich the LGBT community, Bay Area-wide. $190,588. LGBT Bay Area Needs Assessment Study, although, the 2004 Jewish Community Study shed light on the basic demographics of the LGBT Jewish community, it was not designed to delve deeper. Additionally, we have access to basic trend data sourced in the general LGBT community, but we can not assume that this data is directly applicable therefore, and with the intention to start a new planning process, we commissioned Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity to conduct a Bay Area LGBT Jewish Needs Assessment Study. Commissioned in partnership with the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay. The purpose of the study is to understand what is meaningful to LGBT Jews in terms of being Jewish; Analyze the ways in which LGBT Jews currently interact with the organized Jewish community; Develop a portrait of what Bay Area LGBT Jews want and need from the Jewish community in terms of services and programs; Catalog existing LGBT-related programs and services in the Bay Area Jewish community; Identify gaps in services and programs for LGBT Jews and their families. The results of this study will help Jewish community leaders to better understand and plan for what LGBT Jews want and need. It will also identify successes and barriers in community efforts to engage LGBT Jews. $53,950 LGBT Strategic Plan, the LGBT Planning and Advisory Group (PAG) is one of the central components of the new Strategic Funding Initiatives for both Bay Area Federations. This initiative will further the SF JCF’s Educating and Engaging Commission by assessing needs and developing strategies that are relevant to LGBT Jews. For the Jewish Community Federation of the Greater East Bay, the LGBT Planning and Advisory Group represents a crucial first step in engaging and serving LGBT members of the East Bay Jewish community and an emerging outreach priority. Dr. Wendy Rosov will work with the LGBT PAG to specifically utilize the data from the needs assessment study to create an LGBT Alliance strategic plan focused on funding allocations of Jewish Community Federation over the next few years. The LGBT Alliance’s long-term funding plan and timeline will also be based on the strategic plan. Technical Assistance Grant for Rosov Consulting, LLC $25,000.
2007 LGBT Alliance Board Al Austin Chair: Susan Bluer Susan Caust Aaron Danzig Staff: Bonnie Feinberg Jason Feinberg Lou Fischer Michael Fischer Hellman
Leslie Katz Staff: Lisa Kron Campaign Chair: Eileen Lynette Stephanie Portman Immediate Past Chair: Howard Steiermann Dennis Ybarra
2007 LGBT Alliance Campaign We surpassed last year again, despite losing our director and the announcement of major structural changes before the end of the campaign. We saw the return of a previously lost gift, through the endowed annual gift of Michael Freedland, and Chair Susan Bluer and Campaign Chair Eileen Lynette continued the incentive contest. Major Gifts ($10K+): $42,879 Divisional ($250-$9,999): $72,082 Community Campaign ($250 & Below): $6,225 Total for 2005: $121,186
2007 LGBT Alliance Programs and Outreach Strategy Co-sponsorship of ADL’s “Finding Our Voice: Conference for progressives constructively addressing Anti-Semitism.” January 28th, 2007, this is a provocative all-day event, offering insight on dealing with anti-Semitism on the left. The LGBT speaker panel includes Julie Dorf from Horizons Foundation, Ali Cannon, a Jewish Trans activist, formerly with the Holocaust center, and Penny Rosenwasser, a Jewish American Peace Activist. Moderated by Karen Erlichman Alliance Night at the Traveling Jewish Theater. Death of a Salesman on a Thursday early in the play’s run, and post theatre chat and drinks, with performers in attendance. Tickets are only $18; $30 to cover expenses. Purim. A party held in the Mission, and should include a DJ and/or Klezmer rock. Power of One. Susan Bluer sponsored a table with Susan Caust. LATKES & VODKA, The evening was a success, with 200+ in attendance. The board agreed on a larger, new space for the next Chanukah Party, with catering.
2007 Transition from a Campaign Affinity group The LGBT Alliance was launched as a Campaign Affinity group of the Jewish Community Federation in 2001. The LGBT Alliance was charged with community outreach and engagement, leadership development and fundraising activities focused specifically on LGBT Jews and their allies within our Federation service area. While the Alliance has been consistently successful in building a strong sense of LGBT community within the FSA, increased LGBT inclusion in JCF activities, and has developed a small but committed cadre of LGBT leaders, the group has not been as successful in raising funds for the JCF annual campaigns. Time and again Alliance outreach and engagement efforts have been hampered by the pressure to solicit financial support before LGBT community members have had a chance to understand the work of the JCF and how their financial support through the JCF might benefit the LGBT community. In order to reach, engage and retain LGBT community participation in JCF activities; Bonnie Feinberg strongly recommended shifting the focus of the LGBT Alliance from a campaign affinity group model to a community outreach program model. Shifting the Alliance's goals away from fundraising and focusing solely on community outreach and engagement will allow the LGBT community the time to understand, appreciate and pursue the opportunities that the Jewish Community Federation offers to them and their families. TRANSITION GOALS 1. Transfer the LGBT Alliance (its professional staff, constituents and community partners) from the management of the JCF Campaign department to the JCF Planning department. 2. Reorganize the structure of the Alliance from a Campaign affinity group model to a Community Outreach Program model. POST-TRANSITION PURPOSE: Outreach, Engagement & Events OUTREACH: Reach out to and draw in new constituents to the JCF and to our beneficiary agencies using the following methods: Produce targeted community events Hold individual and small group meetings with potential constituents Network with LGBT & Jewish community members to generate referrals Research potential constituents Conceive of marketing plans to reach new constituents ENGAGEMENT: Capitalize on outreach efforts by connecting individual constituents to their areas of interest within the JCF and or to our beneficiary agencies (BA) using the following methods: Produce events featuring JCF related content & messaging
Collaborate with (BA) to identify educational, cultural & spiritual engagement opportunities within our Federation Service Area (FSA) Introduce individuals to lay leadership opportunities within the JCF Link constituents to Jewish community resources EVENTS: LGBT Alliance events are intended to reach out to, engage and educate LGBT constituents within our (FSA) with the following in mind: All events must be related to the program's overall mission which should be consulted during the event planning process Events must be targeted to a particular part of the LGBT, Jewish or Jewish LGBT communities Each event must have a budget, timeline, specific goals, a feedback mechanism and plan for follow-up Each event must meet a basic set of criteria, to be established by LGBT Alliance and Planning department staff POST-TRANSITION FUNCTIONS: Lay Leadership Development, Fundraising, Community Relations and Ambassadorship FUNDRAISING: LGBT Alliance staff along with all JCF staff will be engaged in the fundraising process each year by streamlining the campaign process for LGBT solicitors in working with their new campaign director/partners in each region and Lisa Kron acts as the campaign coordinator for LGBT donors, being the liaison between divisional directors and regional LGBT Alliance solicitors Recommending LGBT prospects to Campaign and Endowment staff Consulting with campaign staff on LGBT donors and prospects Assisting in solicitations of LGBT donors as needed Attending and participating in Campaign events as appropriate Stewarding LGBT constituents toward their 1st gifts to JCF COMMUNITY RELATIONS: The LGBT Alliance staff and lay leaders represent the JCF and manage external relations on behalf of JCF where LGBT Jewish matters are concerned by acting as an ambassador. Additionally, representing LGBT Jews within the organized Jewish Community and manage external relations on behalf of JCF where LGBT Jewish matters are concerned by: Participating in community meetings and activities on behalf of JCF Forging relationships between the JCF and LGBT community organizations and representatives Providing Jewish community information and referrals to LGBT people Pursuing projects that bring greater visibility and inclusion of LGBT Jews within LGBT community circles Building collaborative relationships with beneficiary agencies Offering expertise and consult to other federations (including UJC) and their communities on LGBT community building techniques Establishing on-going dialogue and encourage two-way referrals with synagogue leaders throughout the FSA Sharing resources with national Jewish organizations interested in collaboration
Co-sponsoring Jewish community activities that are designed to include LGBT Jews and their families (ex: annual Jewish wedding fair, Israel missions, JCC programming etc.) VOLUNTEER AND LAY-LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: The LGBT Alliance staff and lay leaders will strive to continually bring new people into the JCF and provide them with meaningful options for participation through: Recruiting new lay leaders from the community to serve on commissions, regional councils, committees and other portals of community entry Identifying Alliance advisory committee prospects and building the committees' capacity Leading/participating in overlapping community outreach programs Creating a LGBT leadership succession plan with Director of Leadership Development Working with Director of Leadership Development to engage lay-leadership throughout the JCF and beneficiary agencies Securing sufficient lay leaders & LGBT volunteers for various JCF-wide community events Super Sunday, Power of One, and Israel in the Gardens The LGBT Alliance's paradigm shift from a campaign affinity group to a community outreach program requires a different type of lay structure. I strongly recommend disbanding the LGBT Alliance Board and developing an LGBT Advisory Committee comprised of community leaders whose particular expertise contributes to the new goals of the LGBT Alliance. Disband the LGBT Alliance board as it is structured now and create an LGBT Advisory Committee Retain only the current board members with appropriate skill sets who are interested in participating in the new advisory committee Refer remaining board members to different lay positions within JCF that best utilizes their skills (commissions, councils, campaign etc.) Design advisory committee recruitment strategy and implement it
2007 – 2008: Allocations Jewish Community Federation Grants for LGBT Jews locally and in Israel:
Total Grants made in 2007-2008: $230,000 (estimated) The Jerusalem Open House, $15,000 Association of GLBT in Israel $15,000 The staffing and program budget of our LGBT Alliance is fully funded by the Federation’s Endowment $ Estimated $200,000
2006 LGBT Alliance Board Al Austin Campaign Chair: Susan Bluer Prudence Carter Ezra Cattan Susan Caust Aaron Danzig Staff: Bonnie Feinberg Lou Fischer Mark Fish Michael Fischer Hellman
Leslie Katz Staff: Lisa Kron Vice Campaign Chair: Eileen Lynette Melissa Packer Nurit Robinson Chair: Howard Steiermann Seth Skolnick Susan Tubbesing Dennis Ybarra
2006 LGBT ALLIANCE CAMPAIGN Our goal this year was $118,000, and to all intents and purposes, we made it. The first incentive contest was put in place by Campaign Chair Susan Bluer and Vice Campaign Chair Eileen Lynette. Major gifts: Divisional: Community Campaign: Total for 2006:
$28,500 $82,441 $6,924 $117,865
2006 LGBT Alliance Programs and Outreach Strategy Frameline Film Festival with Receptions with the Directors for the films Paper Dolls & Wrestling with Angels Jewish Film Festival with Receptions for the film Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School Family-friendly Outdoor Events with local LGBT partnership with Our Family Coalition and COLAGE
Latkes & Vodka: Annual LGBT Chanukah event LGBT night at the Traveling Jewish Theatre First Thursday Schmooze Contemporary Jewish Museum Nights & Tours Marriage Equality Events
2006 – 2007: Allocations Jewish Community Federation Grants for LGBT Jews locally & in Israel:
Total Grants made in 2006-2007: $230,000 (estimated)
Cong. Sha’ar Zahav: To reach interfaith families from both the CSZ community and unaffiliated community residents, providing them with greater access and connection to Jewish community activities and events via curriculum development, outreach and educational sessions. The grant is for $10,000. Thanks to an increase in the 2006 campaign last year, the Federation was able to make this strategic grant to serve the LGBT community. Camp Tawonga offers an LGBT Keshet Program for LGBT families with unique programs and activities over a long weekend each fall. Camp Tawonga’s annual campaign allocation for operating support is $120,200. Jewish Family and Children’s Services ($1 million annually from Federation, part of which funds the LGBT Outreach Program, adoption assistance and psychotherapy/social services to LGBTs); Jewish Vocational Services ($900,000 annually from Federation, part of which funds back-to-work programs for people with HIV/AIDS); SF Jewish Film Festival ($57,000 annually from Federation, 20% of festival’s audience is LGBT); Lehrhaus Judaica ($100,000 annually, part of which funds Jewish courses at Congregation Sha’ar Zahav); Bay Area Jewish Healing Center ($200,000 annually from Federation, spiritual care to a significant number of LGBTs and their families coping with illness, death and loss). The Aguda (Civil rights and Advocacy organization serving LGBT people with branches throughout Israel). $7,300 to $12,500 annually from Federation. The Jerusalem Open House (LGBT Community Center in Jerusalem) $7,300 to $12,500 annually from Federation. The JOH was the organizing body for the World Pride celebrations in August 2006. Endowment grants have been approved to support the participation of non-Jewish LGBT elected officials and key community leaders on missions to Israel sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council. These missions have helped educate LGBT leaders about the realities and complexity of Israel today. Funding approved this past year includes support for a special LGBT public officials mission to coincide with the World Pride celebration to be held in Jerusalem in August of 2006. The Endowment also has a Fund for Gay and Lesbian Causes in Israel established in 1999 following the “Journey of Pride” when members of the LGBT community participated in a Federation sponsored trip. The Ronald P. Wilmot Scholarship Fund, a restricted fund of the JCEF, was established through a bequest from Ron Wilmot to provide scholarships for the children of gay/lesbian parents. We’ve awarded 4 to 6 scholarships totaling about $16,000 per year in each of the past 6 years. The Endowment Fund also provides significant need-based scholarship funds to send children to Jewish summer camps (about $250,000 per year) including a significant but unknown percentage of children of gay and lesbian families.
A major grant from the Albert and Janet Schultz Supporting Foundation of the JCEF also made available grants for family camp weekends. At least three were awarded this year for the Keshet gay/lesbian family camp at Camp Tawonga. $18,000 Endowment Fund seed funding in 1999 for the “Keshet” Gay and Lesbian Family Camp weekend at Camp Tawonga helped create the first-ever gay and lesbian Jewish family camp program. The pilot program was extremely successful and is now a regular part of Tawonga’s annual programming. The JCEF Newhouse Fund, one of our restricted funds, provided seed funding for the AIDS Project at Jewish Family and Children’s Services in 1987, and was the largest funder of this program each year, provided annual grants of $60,000. In 2002 JFCS integrated these services into their other activities for people with disabilities. A $10,458 Endowment Grant was approved in May of 2001 to Congregation Sha’ar Zahav to provide one-time security improvements Federation provides need-based funding for Israel Experience programs for all Federation area families, and provided matching funds for the Gift of Israel program. A $13,000 Endowment Fund grant was approved in October of 2003 to co-sponsor an exhibit by openly gay Israeli photographer Adi Nes that was held at the Palace of the Legion of Honor. The staffing and program budget of our LGBT Alliance is fully funded by the Federation. During its initial three years seed funding grants from the Endowment Fund funded the Alliance budget. The Alliance provides powerful and innovative events and programs that enrich the LGBT community, Bay Area-wide.
2005 LGBT Alliance Board Al Austin Al Baum Prudence Carter Aaron Danzig Daniel Howard Leslie Katz David Lasker Dan Levy Aaron Danzig Nurit Robinson
Seth Skolnick Oren Slozberg Susan Tubbesing Campaign Chair: Susan Bluer Campaign Co-Chair: Eileen Lynette Chair: Howard Steiermann Staff: Lisa Kron & Bonnie Feinberg
2005 LGBT Alliance Campaign Despite the loss (by death) of a major donor, with the gradual building of greater board participation, full staffing, and a greater community presence, our numbers went up considerably this year, and will continue to rise‌ Major Gifts ($10K+): $27,975 Divisional ($250-$9,999): $64,599 Community Campaign ($250 & Below): $4,573 Total for 2005: $97,147
2005 LGBT Alliance Programs, Strategy and Leadership The Alliance is slowly building partnerships with community organizations to position us for full inclusion and participation in the Bay Area Jewish and LGBT communities. The Alliance board continues to grow to include diverse representation from across the LGBT and Jewish communities. We are still the only LGBT Alliance division of any Federation in North America. We are leaders in bringing LGBT Jews together for community building and leadership development. As the only group of our kind, we are in a unique position to create a model to be replicated in other communities throughout the country. This is a great opportunity for the board and for those involved in Alliance activities. Super Sunday The Alliance had excellent representation this year in this Jewish community wide event, which touches thousands of lives through Tzedakah. Yom Keshet The Alliance was a co-sponsor of this one-day mini-educational conference for Jewish Day School staff and administrators. The sessions allowed participants to learn about LGBT issues in education, the Jewish community and a sense of how to effectively serve LGBT families
Hanukkah Hoe-down The Alliance was a co-sponsor of this longtime community celebration of Hanukkah set in the Mission district. This variety show hosted by Jewish Trans activist Fairy Butch brought in over 400 attendees. Text in the City The Alliance co-sponsored this Kabbalah text study with the NYC diva the Rebbetzin Hadassah Gross. This high camp Jewish drag performer made Jewish text available and fun for the audience at the SFJCC. Gay Day on the Russian River The Alliance hosted this trip down the Russian River for the 2nd year in a row. The canoe trip was followed by a lavishly catered barbeque at the riverfront home of Walter Leiss. Homosexuals in the Holocaust In June 2005, the Alliance will be a community partner in presenting the traveling exhibition from the US Holocaust museum entitled Homosexuals in the Holocaust. The exhibit takes place in the main branch of the SF Public Library. Magnes Museum show On April 17th, the Alliance is hosting a private tour of the new Cahun-Moore exhibition at the Magnes. The tour will be preceded by a special reception in the museum gardens. Jews on Ice LGBT Alliance members had a ball skating at Yerba Buena gardens as part of our addition of activity based programming. Schmooze & 1st Thursdays These monthly mixers were the Alliance’s 1st program mainstays. We continue to host them every few months for those who enjoy a cozy cocktail gathering. Not In Our Town This KQED documentary about community responses to hate crimes in Northern California examines the intersection between racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia. The Alliance may host a community screening and panel discussion about this film in May. Karaoke at the Mint The Alliance event drew a diverse group of crooners and onlookers who covered songs from the 70s to today. The feedback after this event was outstanding. Frameline Film fest The Alliance will be sponsor of one of the films in the Frameline festival this year. The specific film has not been chosen yet, but it is sure to be followed by a great reception in the Castro.
2004 LGBT Alliance Board Al Baum Adam Berman Prudence Carter Tiela Chalmers Daniel Howard Leslie Katz Bernis Kretchmar Staff: Lisa Kron David Lasker
Dan Levy Steve Mazer Irene Ogus Nurit Robinson Seth Skolnick Oren Slozberg Howard Steierman Susan Tubbesing Connie Wolf
2004 LGBT Alliance Campaign Even during a difficult year, with much transition in the board, no LGBT Alliance director, and the retirement of our founder and one of our most connected solicitors, Al Baum, we kept close to our goal, although our numbers showed the stress. Major Gifts ($10K+): $31,675 Divisional ($250-$9,999): $55,237 Community Campaign ($250 & Below): $3,683 Total for 2004: $90,595
LGBT Leadership and Advocacy in the Jewish community, a committee instituted in 2004 Attempt to have consistent LGBT representation on JCF’s PAS committee, Israel and Overseas committee and Endowment grant-making committees to advocate for consistent and meaningful funding of LGBT Jewish activities and programs. Write policy statement to be adopted by Federation’s Board of Directors calling on all Jewish organizations to practice non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and inclusiveness as to sexual minorities in all activities. Train members and staff of Federation’s PAS committee, Israel and Overseas committee and Endowment committees which have roles in making grants to sensitize them to the demographics and special needs of LGBTs and to possible presence of homophobia affecting their activities. Write policy statement to be adopted by Federation’s Board of Directors calling on its beneficiary organizations to provide LGBT sensitivity training to their staffs and lay leaders. By LGBT sensitivity training, we mean sensitizing people to the special needs of their LGBT constituents (including clients, members, staff, volunteers). Consider Federation’s convening annual or biannual workshop for all beneficiary organizations (governing boards, managements and program staff) to provide LGBT sensitivity training. (Coordinate efforts with JCF’s Planning Dept.).
Ensure that LGBT Jews are meaningfully included on Federation’s Board of Directors, among its officers, and on its staff. Convene advocacy group involved in Jewish education of youth to ensure that Jewish youth in schools and synagogues are being educated about sexual diversity and alternative Jewish families. Coordinate efforts with Bureau of Jewish Education, Board of Rabbis and Jewish Family and Children’s Services. In coordination with Federation’s Marketing Department, encourage mention of LGBT people and activities in material that Federation provides for the Northern California Jewish Bulletin. In coordination with the Federation’s Planning Department, encourage the Jewish Community Relations Council to include a LGBT angle on issues that it follows. Wherever possible, link these advocacy efforts back to the Federation and the work of the LGBT Alliance of the Federation.
2003 Gay and Lesbian Alliance Board Advocacy Board Committee: Caryn Aviv Co-Chair: Al Baum Programming/Community Building Board Committee: Adam Berman Co-Chair: Tiela Chalmers Staff: Danny Givertz Advocacy Board Committee: Alan Gordon Fundraising Board Committee: Leslie Katz Staff: Lisa Kron Bernis Kretchmar
Programming/Community Building Board Committee: Dan Levy Advocacy Board Committee: Susan Lowenberg Steve Mazer Fundraising Board Committee: Oren Slozberg Howard Steierman Programming/Community Building Board Committee: Susan Tubbesing Programming/Community Building Board Committee: Connie Wolf
2003 LGBT Alliance Campaign The new LGBT Alliance, with a new director, and the active participation of its founder in setting up substantial solicitations, garnered many one-time initial gifts, but also laid the foundation for a steady base that we continue to cultivate Major Gifts ($10K+): $29,525 Divisional ($250-$9,999): $74,094 Community Campaign ($250 & Below): $2,317 Total for 2003: $105,936
2003 LGBT Alliance Outreach Programs Israel AMUTA Breakfast Briefing in January and again in April with 20 people Distinguished Lecture Series: “Daddy & Papa” Film/Panel Discussion in January with 80 people. Distinguished Lecture Series: Uzi Even in February with 125 people Book Reading with “Queer Jews” in February with 50 people Shabbat Across America at Sha’ar Zahav (Religious Services/Panel Discussion) in March with 25 people A Night at “The Producers”) in March with 36 people “June Bride” Sara Felder performance in April with 250 people Distinguished Lecture Series: Dr. Peggy Drexler in May with 65 people Super Sunday The Alliance had excellent representation this year in this Jewish community wide event, which touches thousands of lives through Tzedakah.
Gay Day on the Russian River The Alliance hosted this trip down the Russian River for the 2nd year in a row. The canoe trip was followed by a lavishly catered barbeque at the riverfront home of Walter Leiss. Schmooze & 1st Thursdays These monthly mixers were the Alliance’s 1st program mainstays. We continue to host them every few months for those who enjoy a cozy cocktail gathering. In 2003 we hosted 8 gatherings and attracted on average 33 people each time. Frameline Film fest The Alliance sponsored the Israeli films Yossi & Jagger, attended by 1,800 people as well as the film Send Me An Angel with 750 people. Additionally, a reception for 120 people at Frameline festival. Jewish Film Festival “Hand on the Pulse” Film in July for 500 people at two showings.
2002 Gay Lesbian Alliance Board Emily Allen Advocacy Board Committee: Caryn Aviv Co-Chair: Al Baum Programming/Community Building Board Committee: Adam Berman Co-Chair: Tiela Chalmers Paul Cohen Barak Ben Gal Staff: Danny Givertz Advocacy Board Committee: Alan Gordon Randi Gerson Fundraising Board Committee: Leslie Katz Bernis Kretchmar Staff: Lisa Kron
Programming/Community Building Board Committee: Dan Levy Advocacy Board Committee: Susan Lowenberg Steve Mazer Eric Saddik Fundraising Board Committee: Oren Slozberg Howard Steiermann Programming/Community Building Board Committee: Susan Tubbesing Programming/Community Building Board Committee: Connie Wolf
2002 LGBT Alliance Outreach Programs Super Sunday The Alliance had excellent representation this year in this Jewish community wide event, which touches thousands of lives through Tzedakah. Gay Day on the Russian River The Alliance hosted this trip down the Russian River with 45 people. The canoe trip was followed by a lavishly catered barbeque at the riverfront home of Walter Leiss. Schmooze & 1st Thursdays These monthly mixers were the Alliance’s 1st program mainstays. We continue to host them every few months for those who enjoy a cozy cocktail gathering. In 2002 we hosted 4 gatherings and attracted on average 36 people each time. Jewish Film Festival “Ruthie and Connie” Film in July for 25 in the South Peninsula as well as a showing and reception in San Francisco for 50 people.
Summary: 2002-05 Strategy MISSION: To provide opportunities for meaningful and joyful involvement by LGBT individuals in the Jewish community and create a reciprocal connection between the Federation and its agencies with the LGBT Jewish community. Additionally the mission hopes to reach LGBT Jews and strengthen their Jewish identity through community building and fundraising for the ongoing programs of the Jewish community, locally and abroad (special attention given to reach unaffiliated LGBT Jews) and to integrate LGBTs into the Jewish Community Federation through community building and fundraising. In order to realize this mission, the Alliance must identify prospective members through outreach, develop and provide engaging programs to retain the members, and provide leadership development opportunities to grow their involvement. Marketing efforts to promote a pro-LGBT image of the Federation as well as to increase awareness of the Alliance will be crucial to these efforts. Community building efforts and community-based alliances with other organizations (within both the Jewish and the LGBT communities) will be used extensively. Over time, the Alliance aims to turn the community’s program participation into philanthropy for the Federation. Gaining LGBT donors to the Federation will require extensive marketing efforts to make a compelling case for giving to the Federation’s umbrella campaign. The Alliance is conscious of its role as the first dedicated LGBT division of a Federation. As the Strategic Plan is implemented and as membership, leadership affiliation and philanthropic contributions grow, it is our vision that other Federations and Jewish organizations across the country and across the globe will turn to the San Francisco-based Alliance for help with dedicated LGBT efforts of their own. Vision of the LGBT Alliance: To reach a point of meaningful and substantial involvement in the Jewish Community Federation and in the Jewish community by members of the LGBT community of the Bay Area. Specifically, the goals to meet our mission and vision include: TARGET POPULTION: While the San Francisco city area is the most densely populated, the Alliance is planning to reach out to local communities outside of the City. In addition to geographical distribution, the Alliance must consider the various ages and relationship statuses of our target population. The Alliance will target isolated groups who particularly seek Jewish community (e.g., unaffiliated newcomers to Bay Area, singles seeking Jewish partners, LGBT families with children seeking social networking, parents of LGBTs seeking social networking); however, it remains dedicated to creating exceptional programming for all segments of the LGBT Jewish community, including: Youth Young adults Adults Seniors
LGBT Parents and Families family members of Non-Jewish LGBTs partners of LGBTs Lesbians MESSAGING: Before beginning a large-scale marketing effort, the Alliance leadership is considering a change of name from “Gay and Lesbian Alliance” to “LGBT Alliance” and/or
an acronym that allows the Alliance to be inclusive of all members of the LGBT Jewish community. In its marketing efforts, the Alliance will place special emphasis on representation by Alliance staff and volunteers who can reach the broadest cross-section of constituency (e.g., men and women of all ages, races, and sexual identities). Through its marketing efforts, the Alliance will attempt to strongly and publicly communicate the Federation’s efforts (past and present) to serve the LGBT community. In addition, the Alliance’s marketing efforts will communicate the following messages: The LGBT Alliance of the Jewish Community Federation provides unique opportunities for LGBT Jews to engage meaningfully in strengthening both the LGBT Jewish community here and internationally, as well as the Jewish community as a whole. The LGBT Alliance of the JCF provides avenues of social connection for LGBT Jews and families/loved ones of LGBTs. The LGBT Alliance of the JCF offers diverse and edgy programming. The LGBT Alliance of the JCF and the Federation as a whole is a meaningful and inspiring organization in which to volunteer, contribute to Jewish communal development, and to grow oneself as a lay leader. The LGBT Alliance of the JCF is reaching out to young people and cultivating their participation in the Jewish community, even if the youth or young adults may not have great financial capacity to give at this stage. The LGBT Alliance holds community building as a primary goal. The LGBT Alliance embraces risk taking. FUNDRAISING: Through its programming, the Alliance attempts to provide consistent education to all donors and prospective donors about Federation’s Annual Campaign and its beneficiaries; Federation’s Endowment and opportunities for targeted philanthropy; Federation’s committees and opportunities for Jewish communal volunteerism within Federation. Our Goals: o In Federation Year 2003, the Alliance will build its donor database to 600 donors and prospective donors. In subsequent years, the Alliance will increase its database by 50% each year until it reaches a baseline goal of 2500 people (or 10% of the estimated local LGBT Jewish community). o In Federation Year 2003, the Alliance will raise $100,000 for the Annual Campaign. The Alliance is entering Federation Year 2003 with a donor base of approximately $50,000 of LGBT giving in prior Federation years. The goal therefore will be to maintain at least this $50,000 base and to add $50,000 new donor dollars to the Annual Campaign. The Alliance is aware that it is attempting to achieve an ambitious fundraising goal and may not reach this goal during its first year of contributing to the Annual Campaign. Of special importance in the LGBT community, the Alliance will provide detailed information of the Federation’s annual allocations to LGBT programs. The Alliance will encourage philanthropy to the Federation in whatever capacity and avenue the donor wishes to give. Donors will be initially encouraged to give to the umbrella Annual Campaign. Secondarily, donors will be encouraged to create endowment vehicles for their Jewish philanthropy through the Jewish Community Endowment Fund. Examples of such endowment vehicles include individual or family philanthropic funds and supporting foundations, as well as LGBT community philanthropic funds.
In some cases, donors will be encouraged to underwrite or endow certain Alliance events or programming. This underwriting will not replace or reduce the donor’s gifts to the Annual Campaign. The Alliance’s budget for Federation Year 2003 depends upon raising $17,500 in underwriting. As a part of a larger philanthropic organization, the Alliance will also recruit volunteers for participation in general Federation fundraisers. These will include a dedicated Super Sunday LGBT phone bank, participation in ongoing telethons and other special event fundraisers. $350,000 Endowment loan to help Congregation Sha'ar Zahav with its Dolores Street building (made in 1997 and paid back in full in 2002) was the only time the Federation/ JCEF has ever made funds available (loan or grant) to a synagogue capital project. The loan was made specifically in recognition of CSZ's unique role in reaching out to the gay and lesbian community.
2001 Gay Lesbian Alliance Task Force Kenneth Altman Bill Ambrunn Kathleen Baca Chair: Al Baum Mark Battat Tiela Chalmers Philip Charney Michael Chertok Paul Cohen Larry Colton Jewish Community Endowment & Federation Staff: Phyllis Cook Bruce Crondder Ed Chushman Malcom Danoff Julie Dorf Jewish Community Federation Staff: Maxine Epstein Avner Even-Zohar Wayne Feinstein Simon Glinsky Ellen Goldstein Michael Heinl Thomas Herz Tobert Heyman Tom Herz Ron Lezell Robert Mison Saralie Pennington Mark Reisbaum Dave Ring Jerry Rosentstein Howard Steierman Holly Their Sam Tucket Rabbi Eric Weiss Israel Center Staff: Meirav Yarom Dennis Ybarra
2000 Gay Lesbian Alliance Task Force Bill Ambrunn Chair: Al Baum Philip Charney Michael Chertok Larry Colton Jewish Community Federation Staff: Maxine Epstein Tom Herz Rob Heymann Bernis Kretchmar Mark Leno Ron Lezell Susan Lowenberg Program Chair for the Rabbi Steve Greenberg event: David Maltz Robert Mison Saralie Pennington Dave Ring Jerry Rosentstein Howard Steierman Holly Their Sam Tucker Dave Ring Jewish Community Endowment Staff: Mark Reisbaum Margaret Rothman Marti Sands Judy Schwartz David Tuller Janice Weinstein Rabbi Eric Weiss Israel Center Staff: Meirav Yarom Dennis Ybarra
2000 Updated Platform On April 5, 2000 Al Baum wrote to the members of the Gay and Lesbian Task Force with a proposal for how we might transform the 1997 “platform” of the Task Force into an Action Plan. The plan was to move the Federation and its beneficiary agencies forward giving full attention and weight to the needs of Bay Area lesbian and gay Jews in our community. Al wrote, “There have been some good actions carrying out some of the “planks” of that “platform,” but much more remains to be done.” He recruited volunteers from the G/L Task Force to serve on the following four committees to divide up the content of the work to be done: Assessment of the present state of interactions between the JCF and its local beneficiary agencies and G/L Jews. Are there G/L on the various boards of our local agencies and organizations, and if so how many? What are the significant needs and issues affecting G/L Jews, and how can they be integrated in the overall approach and planning by all beneficiary organizations and agencies of the JCF? Recommendations on ways in which current interactions (if any) can improve. Outreach and Education Does JCF need to create a G/L affinity group of the Annual Campaign, analogous to the Young Adults Division (YAD) and to the various professional divisions? This committee will also serve as a planning committee for Outreach Programs and Events, such as the Rabbi Steve Greenberg Program scheduled for May 21, 2000. This includes political issues and how to gain support from allies in the general community. Israel and Oversees This committee will work closely with JCF’s Israel Center staff in arranging for a reciprocal Journey of Pride visit from our G/L Israeli counterparts, and the second Journey of Pride from San Francisco to Israel in April/May 2001. Grants and Allocations This committee will spearhead the Task Force’s recommendations for grants and allocations from its donor-advised philanthropic fund geared toward G/L causes here and in Israel. Members of this committee would also assess and follow the JCF and the Endowment Department of the JCF in its funding of G/L activities.
1997 - 1999 Gay Lesbian Alliance Task Force Leadership Peter Altman Bill Ambrunn Mark Battat Chair: Al Baum Tiela Chalmers Staff: Maxine Epstein Paul Cohen Laurence Colton Julie Dorf Henry Hardeveldt Rabbi Yoel Kahn Jonathan Katz Leslie Katz Irwin Keller Mark Leno Robin Leonard
Ron Lezell Jason Lorber Susan Lowenberg David Nathanson Irene Ogus Doug Okun Gerald Rosenstein Alix Sabin Sharyn Saslfsky Judy Schwartz Scott Shafer Oren Slozberg Fred Sonenberg Howard Steiermann Sam Tucker Rabbi Eric Weiss
Outreach & Leadership Development: In April 1999, the Jewish Community Federation in partnership with the Israel Center’s Living Bridge Program sponsored the first of its kind, Journey of Pride Mission to Israel. This ten-day trip with 20 guests combined some of the usual orientation activities for first-time visitors to Israel but with an intensive exposure to the activities of G/L civil rights and communal organizations and activists. The trip was a great success, and strong bonds were forged between some of the San Franciscans and their counterparts in Israeli activist organizations. One immediate result of the Journey of Pride was the establishment of the Fund for Gay and Lesbian Causes in Israel, a donor-advised fund at the Jewish Community Endowment of the Jewish Community Federation. This fund will make grants to G/L organizations in Israel as advised by the G/L Task force. Another response from the trip was a strong desire from the Task Force to propose a reciprocal trip in 2001 of bringing four to eight Israelis to San Francisco to learn organizational and other methods of American social service agencies, G/L, Jewish and AIDS-oriented. San Franciscans would learn a lot about G/L issues and progress in Israel. In 1999 Al Baum was quoted saying, "The San Francisco community has taken a lead in connecting to the gay and lesbian community in Israel. “Journey of Pride" alumni are considering support of a variety of gay, lesbian and transgender organizations and projects in Israel, including the Leo Baeck Education Center in Haifa, to support diversity training programs; Open House in Jerusalem, a gay and lesbian community center; the Israel AIDS Task Force; and the Aguda, the Association of Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders in Israel.”
1997 Task Force Proposal Thursday, February 20, 1997, the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties Board of Directors unanimously approved the Proposal from the Gay and Lesbian Task Force created through multiple meetings in 1996. This marks, as Al Baum wrote in a memo date February 25, 1997, “a significant beginning towards the integration of gay and lesbian Jews into the activities and ranks of the Jewish Community Federation.” This Proposal, committed in Tikkun Olam to strengthening links between gay and lesbian Jews – affiliated or not- with Judaism and with the organized Jewish communal institutions, both in the Bay Area and nationwide, was submitted with the following abridged points in the original language format: I. The Need for Gays/Lesbians (G/L) to be Included in Federation planning and actions. The Task Force in unanimous in the wish that Federation recognize gaysand-lesbians as an identifiable group with distinct needs, and that Federation urge the “local beneficiary agencies” (LBA’s) and national Jewish organizations to do the same. This is the single most important felt need. II. Measures Internal to Federation that should be taken: There has been inadequate publicity, either in the gay or mainstream press, about the positive measures that Federation has already taken in regard to this issue over the years. One easy, fast, and cost-free way of demonstrating that G/L’s are taken seriously and included is the attendance by Federation officers and executives at specifically G/L events. Another important symbolic matter would be more-than-token representation of (open) G/Ls on Federation Board of Directors, among its officers, and on its staff. Consideration should be given to whether it would be effective to create a G/L section of the Annual Campaign, analogous to the Young Adults Division (YAD) and to the various professional divisions. We would like to see a policy statement adopted by Federation Board of Directors calling on all Jewish organizations to practice non-discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and inclusiveness as to sexual minorities in all activities and to provide diversity training to theirs staff and lay leaders. III. Measures External to Federation, but which Federation could influence The Task Force felt that it was necessary that issues important to gay and lesbian Jews as gays and lesbians be made familiar to Jews in general and that issues important to gay and lesbian Jews as Jews be made familiar to gays and lesbians in general. IV. The Need to assure that the Needs of the Gay and Lesbian Jewish community are given serious consideration by the Planning and Allocation process of Federation, by the grant allocation process of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund, and by local agencies that receive Federation and Endowment grants. The Task Force recommends that during 1997 and 1998:
Training be given to members and relevant staff of the Planning and Allocations Committee of Federation, of all Endowment Committees that have a role in making grants, and of other Federation standing committees where appropriate, to sensitize them to the demographics of the served populations affecting their activities and how to handle it. Organize a workshop for the governing boards, the managements, and the program staffs of all LBA’s, to give appropriate training covering the same matters. V. The Need that Federation allocations and Endowment grants support some Gay/Lesbian causes as such. The Task Force unanimously feels it must see some Federation funding of G/L activities before it can expect full participation by G/L Jews in the annual Federation campaign. The Task Force recognizes with appreciation that Federation and the Jewish community in general have already made significant contributions, particularly in respect to AIDS services. But the Task Force unanimously feels that much more should be done, with respect to worthy causes both within the Bay Area and in Israel, and that such funding must be accompanied by appropriate publicity. In the Bay Area: Funding for Synagogue-based programs not as grants to synagogues per se, but as a way of funding the G/L community in general. Additionally, funding for Non-Synagogue-Based programs and for direct support to those few institutions in Israel that deal directly with G/L causes. Most of the G/L Jews in the Bay Area are not members of Congregation Sha'ar Zahav nor of any other synagogue. As with straight people, a major task of Federation in the next ten years is to reach the unaffiliated and somewhat-alienated gay and lesbian Jews and to retain them as Jews. The Task Force’s suggestions: o At Congregation Sha'ar Zahav scholarship aid with outreach to make sure that aid is available for those many children of G/L parents who cannot or only with difficulty can afford tuition for Jewish Religious School, Summer Camps, trips to Israel. Additionally, a no or low-interest loan to assist acquisition and remodeling of its future home, a development grant to aid in hiring expertise in the development of financial resources to support the synagogue, support for the personnel, materiel or program costs of the Religious School program. o Mainstream Synagogue Funding could encourage and finance not-costly outreach to G/L families for membership and participation in the mainstream congregations. Federation could encourage Jewish Family Life Initiative activities to include discussion of issues important to the G/L community, including the treatment of G/L teenagers in school, special classes for G/L prospective parents, etc. o Encourage and fund G/L film showings at the Jewish Film Festival and Jewish films at Framelines’s Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. o Encourage and fund a G/L week or weekend at Jewish summer camp for adolescents. o Encourage and fund a G/L events and special visitation periods at the Jewish Museum. o Support the campus Hillel’s Israel Project in reaching out to G/L students. o Make sure that the annual Jewish Resources booklet either has a separate G/L section or that items of special interest to G/L are clearly marked.
o There is precedent already for our Federation “adopting” a geographic area of Israel and carrying on over a number of years a highly-regarded program of mutually-determined assistance. Why then should San Francisco’s Federation not “adopt” a functional area of Israeli society, dealing with G/L concerns (including, but not limited to AIDS)? The prime candidates for adoption would be the Society for the Protection of Personal Rights (SPPR), which maintains hot lines and a community center, social groups, and even lobbying on behalf of G/L rights, and KLAF, a lesbian group. Such support might be direct, through our Amutah, through the New Israel Fund which has a history of support of SPPR or supporting the Israeli Task Force on AIDS. Very small amounts of money would make an enormous difference to those organizations. And contributing to these causes would send a strong signal of support for the diversity of community, both in Israel and in the United States, a signal which would have an effect on G/L Jews far out of proportion to the amount of money involved. I. Implementation of the Gay/Lesbian Task Force Proposal The Task Force believes that even with the enthusiastic support of Federations’s Board of Directors and management staff, this novel program will need intensive effort to develop detailed specific proposals, and to ensure the participation of the Task Force members, and of the staff and Board members of Federation and of LBA’s. To this end, we urge immediate commencement of the process to obtain staff assistance for this process and purpose.
1996 Gay Lesbian Alliance Task Force Peter Altman Bill Ambrunn Mark Battat Chair: Al Baum Tiela Chalmers Paul Cohen Laurence Colton Julie Dorf Maxine Epstein Henry Hardeveldt Rabbi Yoel Kahn Jonathan Katz Leslie Katz Irwin Keller Mark Leno Robin Leonard Ron Lezell Jason Lorber Susan Lowenberg David Nathanson Irene Ogus Doug Okun Gerald Rosenstein Alix Sabin Sharyn Saslfsky Judy Schwartz Scott Shafer Fred Sonenberg Howard Steiermann Sam Tucker Rabbi Eric Weiss
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1996 Creating a Task Force The Gay and Lesbian Task Force, created in mid-1996 by then-President Doug Heller and continued by his successor Alan Rothenberg, under the chairmanship of Al Baum, member of the Federation Board of Directs and Executive Committee. The charge from the President to Al Baum was to gather a representative sample of gay and lesbian Jews and (1) determine their assessment of the present state of interactions between Federation and its local beneficiary agencies on the one hand, and gay and lesbian Jews (whether affiliated or not) on the other; and (2) propose ways of improving those interactions, for the mutual benefit of both groups. A first, preliminary planning meeting was held at the Jewish Community Federation offices on May 21, 1996, with eleven in attendance out of approximately 18 men and women invited. That led to a much larger meeting on September 10 (approximately 25 attending out of 30 invited), of a group that sought to include people of different backgrounds and viewpoints. Each person attending had an opportunity to make comments and suggestions. Later Al Baum, working from detailed contemporaneous notes on the discussion, complied Minutes which served as a first draft of a Proposal. This draft was circulated to all Task Force members on November 5, 1996 with request for comments; Al Baum incorporated most of the suggestions received for the improvement of the document, which became the November 18, 1996 draft Proposal. This draft Proposal was submitted for comment to Alan Rothenberg, Wayne Feinstein and Phyllis Cook, and on December 12, 1996 the President and Executive Vice President met with the Task Force to exchange views and continue on drafting the proposal to submit on February 20, 1997.
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