Jewish Communities Throughout Country Report Unprecedented Increase in Contributions

Although seeking amounts which overshadow all previous campaign efforts, success seems assured in scores of Jewish communities conducting Spring fund raising drives, according to reports received by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.

Current campaign goals established by 89 welfare fund members of the Council total $80,440,000 as against $32,883,000 in 1945–an increase of 145 percent. To match these goals communities disclose they are getting gift increases ranging from 800 to 1,600 percent over last year. All elements in every community are getting behind the campaigns in an unprecedented display of complete unity, the reports emphasize.

High increases have been commonplace occurrences in cities which have just completed substantial and highly successful capital fund campaigns. One such city, Philadelphia, out for $6,000,000 as against $2,225,000 last year, raised $1,500,000 from a small group who last year gave $400,000. Philadelphia reports increases from $25,000 to $150,000, naught to $100,000 $2,000 to $50,000, $1,000 to $20,000. Another, Hartford, has already passed $943,000 as against $537,000 last year and a goal of $875,000 this year; while New York is beginning to roll by passing the $12,000,000 mark.

MANY CITIES PASS THEIR LAST YEAR’S FIGURES; SMALL GROUPS GIVE LARGE SUMS

With from 50 to 75 percent of the gifts yet to be collected, many communities have already passed last year’s final figures: Newark $1,040,167 as against $898,594 last year; St. Paul $267,000 as against $262,000; Syracuse $204,000 as against $190,000; Toronto $498,000 as against $421,000; Atlantic City $180,000 as against $129,897; Ft. Worth $130,000 compared to $73,000; New Haven $500,000 or $175,000 more than last year; Portland, Ore. $238,000; as against $155,000; Peoria $290,000 versus last year’s final total of $117,736, and a goal of $250,000; and Monroe $70,000 in contrast to $27,000.

Dallas set $300,000 as its goal, to supplement $100,000 already available to the United Jewish Appeal from the War Chest allocation. The sum actually raised was $665,000 or well over twice the original goal. St. Louis, out for $1,300,000, is rapidly approaching the million dollar mark. Dayton, seeking $225,000, has raised $122,000 from 49 contributors who had pledged only $35,000 during that city’s last independent fund raising drive.

Initial gift increases have already netted Indianapolis $300,000 towards its $500,000 goal. One group of 36, who pledged $52,000 in 1942, came through with $193,000 this year. Bridgeport, which raised $74,000 in 1942, had to twice revise its 1946 goal upward. The first time they sought $250,000. When 500 special gifts which noted $40,000 in 1943 brought in $220,000, the goal was raised to $285,000. Later when a small group gave additional increases amounting to $40,000, the goal was lifted to $300,000.

Detroit, Milwaukee and Buffalo are among the War Chest cities which are discarding all previous standards of giving. Last reports from Detroit, which is seeking $2,000,000, is that it is running tremendously ahead of its last independent campaign. Milwaukee is seeking $1,000,000 as against its last independent effort of $250,000. That the goal is inspiring a new tempo of giving was demonstrated when 20 persons who gave $23,000 in 1942, subscribed $185,000 this year. Buffalo intends to raise $365,000 to supplement a War Chest allocation of $150,950. Preliminary gifts received from 30 persons amounted to $115,000 or five times better than they did in their last independent effort.