Personal approach leads to record $8.3-million Vancouver campaign

From left at the campaign opening event are JFGV CEO Ezra Shanken – campaign chair Neil Pollock, Women’s Philanthropy chair Lisa Pullan, JFGV board chair Stephen Gaerber, and major gifts co-chairs Alex Cristall and Andrew Merkur.
From left at the campaign opening event are JFGV CEO Ezra Shanken – campaign chair Neil Pollock, Women’s Philanthropy chair Lisa Pullan, JFGV board chair Stephen Gaerber, and major gifts co-chairs Alex Cristall and Andrew Merkur

VANCOUVER – The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver (JFGV) closed another stellar campaign last month with a record haul of $8.3 million – $300,000 more than the previous year.

But the dollar figure was just one among many important numbers in the fundraising drive, said marketing director Becky Saegert.

“We had 75 new canvassers among our 292 canvassers and 409 campaign volunteers. What that figure really means is what it can do for the community, what it enables us to accomplish and the many more lives that can be touched.”

This year’s campaign also differed from last year’s in that it involved many more face-to-face meetings between canvassers and potential donors.

There were over 600 meetings, said federation CEO Ezra Shanken.

“It’s deeply powerful to sit with someone across a table and say to them, ‘I really need you to help these people in need, to take responsibility for the destiny of our community.’”

Still, he had no idea those meetings would achieve such a stellar fundraising result. This year there were 225 new donors to the campaign and 60 per cent of the donors who had in-person meetings increased their gifts, he said.

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“We had people sitting down and talking about what happens in our community, which is at the heart of the campaign, and it’s amazing. We’ve known for years that people’s authentic conversations drive an increased commitment to the community, and we believe it’s the way to drive a successful campaign.”

Stephen Gaerber, board chair of JFGV, said he’s witnessed first hand the profound reach of the campaign.

“The high cost of living in Vancouver has made it difficult for many community members to connect with Jewish life, either because they cannot afford to live centrally or because they cannot afford to participate. The federation annual campaign addresses issues like these, builds connections between our community and our partnership region in Israel, and helps Jews in need around the world,” Gaerber said in a statement.

“This record campaign result will provide the support we and our partners need to touch more lives than ever before.”