Leaders of Jewish Federations Will Meet to Secure Stability in National Fund-raising

A two-day meeting of a special committee established by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds to explore the “desirability and feasibility” of various proposals aimed at assuring greater stability, unification and community participation in policies government national fund-raising for non-local causes will take place in New York during the coming week-end, it was announced here today.

The thirty-man committee, headed by Julian Freeman of Indianapolis, will seek remedies for repeated crises which have threatened disruption of major national drives and caused local conflicts. It will also study the efficiency of current forms of national, campaign organizations.

In a statement issued here today, Freeman stressed that his committee will report regularly to the communities on its progress. The Committee is acting in accordance with a resolution passed by the organized Jewish communities of America at the last General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. The recommendations of the committee must be submitted to the next General Assembly. “Leaders of the Jewish communities will have full opportunity to study and discuss these findings in advance of the 1950 General Assembly so that the widest possible consideration and understanding of the issues and alternatives involved will be assured,” Freeman said.

OVER 100 AGENCIES, IN ADDITION TO U.J.A., RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM WELFARE FUNDS

Alternative proposals to be considered by the committee were presented to the General Assembly by the C.J.F.W.F. Committee on National-local Relationships as a basis for discussion. They are: 1. Establishment by the communities of a National Jewish Welfare Fund to raise and distribute all of the funds collected by the communities for non-local causes; or 2. such a fund for overseas causes only; or 3. such a fund limited to non-U.J.A. overseas appeals; or 4. a further limitation on such a fund restricted to only those cities which want to use it and only those non-U.J.A. overseas agencies which choose to affiliate; or 5. an endorsement committee to clear and pass on overseas appeals, especially relatively new ones, These and several other alternatives will be before the committee for analysis and judgment.

In a memorandum to committee members, Freeman cited the fact that in addition to the U.J.A. more than 100 other national and overseas agencies “obtain come measure of support” from local welfare funds. Except for a few instances, most of the agencies are completely separate and independent in regard to fund raising, budgeting and Planning, the memorandum declared.

Over a period of ten years, the memorandum said, there have been periodic crises which hampered efforts by communities to set up a favorable climate for maximum fund raising. Most recently, it added, the 1948 differences which delayed negotiations of a U.J.A. contract, and community concern about the growing multiplicity of campaigns, culminated in the General Assembly resolution which the committee is now beginning to implement.