WHAT THE FUNDRAISING
136: Transforming the JCC: From Local Affiliates to Philanthropic Partnerships with Doron Krakow
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“We needed to reinvent our self-perception as a great opportunity for philanthropy.”
– Doron Krakow
Episode #136
Overview
In this episode of What the Fundraising Podcast…
Are you ready to unlock the secrets that will revolutionize your nonprofit organization? Join us on a captivating journey as we delve into the dynamic world of nonprofit organizations and uncover the key to building successful marketing and fundraising strategies, the secrets to engaging your community, fostering deep connections, and igniting a passion for your cause that will leave a lasting impact. Together, let’s unlock your organization’s true potential and shape a better future through the art of giving.
In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Doron Krakow, the President and CEO of the JCC Association of North America. With over 30 years of experience in Jewish organizations, Doron has been instrumental in leading the JCC Association since 2017. His dedication to fostering stronger connections within the JCC movement, establishing new partnerships, and cultivating relationships with philanthropic donors has propelled the organization forward in its mission to enhance Jewish communities across the United States and Canada.
Throughout our conversation, Doron delves into his current work with the JCC, sharing insights into the strategies and initiatives driving positive change. As a respected leader in the Jewish community, Doron’s vast experience includes holding senior leadership positions with organizations such as American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Jewish Federations of North America, and Young Judaea.
We explore the importance of building solid relationships within the JCC movement and beyond and the transformative power of philanthropy in driving meaningful impact. Doron’s expertise and strategic vision have elevated the JCC Association’s profile and influenced the broader Jewish community.
Join us as we gain valuable perspectives from Doron Krakow, learning about his journey, the challenges he has faced, and the remarkable achievements he has spearheaded. Whether you are involved in the JCC movement or are interested in the Jewish community’s growth and development, this conversation promises to provide deep insights and inspiration!
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- From Corporate Finance to Community Impact: A Journey to the JCC
- Transforming the JCC: From Local Affiliates to Philanthropic Partnership
- Unleashing the Potential: The Power of JCCs as Community Builders and Philanthropic Partners
- Redefining Fundraising: Building Lasting Relationships and Resourcing for Impactful Change
- From Vision to Transformation: Navigating Challenges and Accelerating Progress
- From Crisis to Community: Nurturing Resilience and Unity in Challenging Times
- Building Sustainable Philanthropy: Embracing Aspirations over Crisis
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Doron Krakow
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Many thanks to our incredible sponsors at DonorPerfect. DonorPerfect has a lot of free educational resources for fundraisers. Learn more and download some of their guides and tools today at donorperfect.com/mallory.
- If you haven’t already, please visit our new What the Fundraising community forum. Check it out and join the conversation at this link.
- If you’re looking to raise more from the right funders, then you’ll want to check out my Power Partners Formula, a step-by-step approach to identifying the optimal partners for your organization.
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TIPS AND TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT TODAY
- Identify shared values and beliefs with your audience and speak to those in your content.
- Focus on building connections and community rather than just raising funds or making transactions.
- Use micro details and specific language to make your messaging more impactful.
- You can always elevate your organization's image and reputation to the wider community and potential philanthropies. Just because you have been seen one way in the past, you don’t have to get trapped in the narratives of ‘that’s just the way things are’. You can always reintroduce your organization to critical stakeholders in compelling and engaging ways.
- Discover your organization's unique opportunities and impact by diving deep into its potential and understanding its reach within the community.
- Sometimes you have to trade off instant gratification for more durable relationships and outcomes. It often takes restraint to stay the course and not go for the quick wins.
- If you want to engage people in a vision, you need to build compelling narratives and stories highlighting the breadth and depth of your organization's impact, emphasizing its role as a community relations enterprise and a catalyst for positive change.
FAVORITE QUOTES
- "We needed to reinvent our self-perception as a great opportunity for philanthropy." - Doron Krakow.
- "Undertaking to reintroduce ourselves in a compelling way to cultivate and pursue great partnerships." - Doron Krakow.
- "If we create good health on a community level, we'll be in a far better position to contend with a crisis when it comes." - Doron Krakow.
- "The chance to be part of something aspirational is energizing and captivating." - Doron Krakow.
- "Our efforts have been focused around aspiration, about growing and strengthening community." - Doron Krakow.
- "Every community is a reflection of local circumstance and leadership." - Doron Krakow
- "Influencing others by helping them to see what you can see and offering them an opportunity to be part of it is what I've come to understand fundraising is all about." - Doron Krakow.
- "Major gifts philanthropy is the not-for-profit alter ego too high net worth private banking." - Doron Krakow.
- "It's essential not to fall into the trap of saying, 'Yeah, but my fundraising is going to work better if I angle it around the crisis." - Doron Krakow.
- "We began many conversations, and that circle continues to grow." - Doron Krakow.
- "We needed to renew ourselves in a way that would allow us to feel a greater sense of ambition and bring new energy." - Doron Krakow.
- "If that's going to be really important moving forward, then we have to become a far greater version of ourselves." - Doron Krakow.
- "We should never fail to remember the remarkable things and continue to enable us to believe that we can become something better still." - Doron Krakow.
- "Keep one eye on the work sitting right in front of me, and one eye on the horizon." - Doron Krakow.
- "I believe this field was capable of things that it didn't necessarily see as the natural next step in its own evolution." - Doron Krakow.
- "We're going to be better at what we're supposed to be, which is an engine for creating a stronger community." - Doron Krakow.
- "We could never stop working on the future, even as we devoted whatever time and energy were required to help our constituents get through the crisis." - Doron Krakow.
- "If you share a sense about those things, and about those possibilities, and we can dream together a bit, then I think we can have the kind of transformational impact." - Doron Krakow.
- "We're far from where we aspire to be, but we're also far ahead of where we were." - Doron Krakow.
- "We were going to have to trade off instant gratification for more durable relationships and outcomes." - Doron Krakow.
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Doron Krakow is president and CEO of JCC Association of North America. Since joining JCC Association in 2017, he has guided the organization in strengthening ties across the JCC movement, forging new partnerships, and deepening its relationships with philanthropic donors, in a determined pursuit of greater Jewish community across the U.S. and Canada. Krakow, who brings more than 30 years’ experience with Jewish organizations to his work, previously held senior leadership posts with American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Jewish Federations of North America; and Young Judaea. He is a member of the executive council of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a board member of Tzofim: Friends of Israel Scouts, and a former board member of JPro. He holds an MBA from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University. Krakow and his family are longtime members of the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades.
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I teach nonprofit fundraisers to bring in more gifts from the RIGHT donors… so they can stop hounding people for money. Fundraising doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.
- CEO & Creator of the Power Partners Formula™
- Disruptor in the funding sector, changing lives everyday
- Relentlessly committed to the movement of money into the nonprofit sector
- Focused on win-win partnerships that allow fundraisers to be authentic and empowered in their work
- Over 15 years working in nonprofits (managing director and ED of multiple fast-growth organizations)
MALLORY ERICKSON
