Council of Jewish Federations Optimistic on 1951 Fund-raising; Analyzes Prospects

Improved economic and psychological conditions will make fund-raising in Jewish communities in the United States more successful in 1951 than this year, it was predicted in an analysis made public here today by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, which will hold its annual General Assembly this week-end in Washington.

“As communities plan and organize for 1951, they face the campaigns with these developments in mind, and with a background of solid facts on the 1950 experience,” the analysis says. “The feeling among communities is that while 1951 will most assuredly see a tough campaign, there is more than an even chance for success.” The analysis establishes the following facts:

1. Instead of the predictions that the 1950 campaign would raise from 25 to 50 percent less than 1949, a preliminary analysis compiled by the C.J.F.W.F. indicates that the 1950 decline of approximately 13 percent was considerably less than the decrease from 1948 to 1949.

2. The broad base of contributors is still largely intact. The years 1939-1948 witnessed an unprecedented rise of 141 percent in the number of givers. Following a seven percent decline in contributors during 1949, there were gloomy predictions that the drop would be even sharper in 1950. Latest C.J.F.W.F. figures show that there will be approximately four percent less donors than in 1949. Some cities did even better in this respect than in 1949.

3. The untertainties of the economic picture during 1949 and 1950 contributed to campaign declines. Recent developments indicating a general upsurge in business and employment during the latter half of 1950 and for 1951 have raised the hopes of campaign planners. Coupled with the general business expansion is the developing tax situation. With higher taxes in the offing, individual and corporate giving will be encouraged, since the government will pay a greater share of gifts.

GIVERS IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITIES

4. Many observers felt that in relatively few instances had uncertain economic conditions been the prime determinants of 1950 campaign results. Pather, it was felt that the business situation had accentuated the major psychological factors which operated to depress the level of giving. Another favorable psychological factor now is the increasing identification of the giver with his welfare fund as the means for meeting total Jewish needs. To a greater extent than ever before, campaign appeals are beamed to the community as a community.

5. Concerning the interrelation of business conditions with psychological elements, many leaders are convinced that just as these factors reacted to depress giving standards in 1949, new developments will cause them to reinforce each other in an upward swing.

6. While lay and professional leaders were pessimistic a few months ago concerning the availablility of top leadership and other workers for the 1951 campaigns, the factors cited above have caused some to revise their opinions. The feeling is growing that it is more than possible to revitalize campaign structures–that not only must the job be done, but that it can be done.

7. Communities are making a concentrated drive on collections–to enter the 1951 campaigns with clean slates. Strong consideration is also being given to the possibility of concentrating all energies on specific campaign dates, instead of stretching campaigns out over a long period of time. “The underlying strength of organization is present. With good planning and a real mobilization to meet Jewish needs everywhere, a better job can be done in 1951,” the C.J.F.W.F. analysis concludes.