Facing a steep shortfall in fundraising, the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation and its endowment fund announced this week the elimination of 33 staff positions, across-the-board budget cuts and reduced allocations to grantees.
The JCF staff reductions include 18 layoffs and the elimination of 15 positions that are currently unfilled.
With a preliminary tally of around $18 million as of June 25, the federation’s annual campaign fell short of last year’s $22.8 million total, triggering the cuts and layoffs.
In an open letter to the Jewish community, federation CEO Jennifer Gorovitz said, “We are in a time of extraordinary challenge and change in our Jewish community, our economy and in our major institutions. It is clear that what has worked for the past 100 years of the Federation’s history will not sustain us for the next 100 years.”
She went on to briefly describe the cuts, adding, “Given the reduced allocations we are asking our beneficiary agencies to endure, adjusting our own staffing and budgets is the right thing to do. These cuts reflect an ongoing priority of the Federation to direct as many resources as possible to the community.
”Change of any sort is painful, and never more so than when its impact is on those who have dedicated themselves to sustaining Jewish life. But we believe that these steps are necessary and unavoidable in order to position the organization to meet the inevitable ongoing challenges in the economy, our local community and the world of philanthropy.” – dan pine