Welcome!

Among our new programs that begin this month is our latest cohort of Legacy camps. Eight new camps will be participating in the Camp Legacy Initiative, an incentivized program for obtaining bequest gifts for endowment purposes. These eight new Legacy program committees will be attending their initial training session in mid-February. They join 41 other camps in the Legacy program; these camps have reported over 2,000 bequests with an estimated value of over $53 million through December 2011.

Also starting in mid-February is our newest cohort of Grinspoon client camps. As we highlighted at our Conference in November, this year's class consists of eleven JCCA day camps. Well aware that there are still overnight camps seeking Grinspoon Institute services, our commitment to overnight camping has not waned. We are already putting plans in place to grow our camp base in 2013, and overnight camps will be a key part of that growth.

Our Mentors have already begun the process of developing annual work plans with camp Boards of Directors. Now in our eighth year of providing services, we are hearing a growing number of camps tell us that they have a strategic plan in place and they don't need more planning, they need more achievement. We believe that planning is an ongoing effort, and so our webinar this month, "What's Next? What to Do in Year 4 of a 3-Year Strategic Plan" addresses many of the issues that come up during a full strategic planning cycle. I think you'll find this webinar of particular interest.

Finally, a reminder to send back your service renewal forms. We are required by IRS code to have a request for service on file from camps to which we provide services. For those camps that have already returned your service request renewal form, thank you. For those of you who have not yet returned your renewal, please get it back to us before the end of January. We use the renewal request as an opportunity to solicit additional information that will assist us in providing our services; we appreciate your cooperation in providing this added information.

Mark

From the Archives - Strategic Planning Resources

Our Knowledge Center contains a number of resources on the subject of Strategic Planning. A few highlights include:

To Think or Not to Think Strategically: Is That Even a Question? An article by Mentor Natasha Dresner.

Strategic Planning: Three Options. A description of the pros and cons of different Strategic Planning processes.

No Dust! Using Your Strategic Plan. A tool to help organizations consistently use their Strategic Plan to move toward their goals.

Camp Case: Camp Ramah in New England

Beginning in 2003, CRNE participated in three generous matching programs funded by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF). With the funds provided by HGF and the donors who participated in these programs, over several years CRNE was able to:

• Build alpine tower and climbing wall
• Renovate bunks
• Paint bunks and communal buildings
• Renovate large Bet Am Bet multipurpose building
• Make buildings handicap accessible
• Build large covered deck on lake, used for services and programs
• Renovate fields and installed sprinkler systems
• Build guesthouse

But HGF did more than provide the essential funds for these projects. With the invaluable support of HGF mentor Julia Riseman, CRNE has completed a strategic plan and is now implementing it. The camp's key staff members have become more comfortable in their fundraising roles through HGF's professional development opportunities. The technical infrastructure has been improved with the guidance of HGF tech consultants Kevin Martone and Joe Ruotolo. And CRNE launched a legacy program with David Sharken's support.

HGF's support helped CRNE to usher in a new era of vibrancy. Last summer, 740 campers - the most in at least a decade - enjoyed a summer at CRNE. In fall 2010, CRNE also launched Camp(aign) Ramah - The Campaign for Camp Ramah in New England, the most ambitious capital campaign in the camp's history. The campaign supports an exciting array of projects - encompassing both renovation and new construction - designed to improve housing, community space, and camp infrastructure. Already, the campaign has raised over $3.2 million. With these funds, CRNE has broken ground on a Bet Am Gadol, a large multipurpose building large enough for all campers to join together for theater performances and sporting events. Construction on the K'far Nivonim, a teen village for our oldest campers that also will be winterized for year-round educational programming, has also begun. Over the next several years, CRNE plans to build several other important buildings, including a new dining hall.

While HGF is not providing the funds for CRNE's current campaign, HGF helped to bring CRNE to this pivotal moment. HGF helped to "prime the pump" for an ambitious campaign that has attracted important gifts that will transform CRNE camp forever.

Camp Legacy Initiative Welcomes Round 5 Camps

On Sunday, February 12, professional staff and lay leaders from 8 camps just starting the Camp Legacy Initiative will attend a training session at the Sheraton Hartford (CT) Hotel at Bradley Airport. Attendees will work together to create their Legacy action plans, get their teams of lay and professional leaders educated about planned giving, and initiate their legacy programs with Camp Legacy Initiative Director David Sharken, Program Consultant Gail Littman of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, and their Grinspoon Mentors.

We look forward to these 8 camps adding to the over 2,000 individual and family pledges valued at over $53 million that have already been received by camps participating in the Camp Legacy Initiative (since the program began in 2008).

Welcome to the eight camps who are part of this latest Legacy Cohort:

• Beber Camp
• Camps Airy & Louise
• Camp Avoda
• Camp Interlaken JCC
• Camp Nageela
• Camp Solomon Schechter
• Habonim Dror Camp Miriam
• URJ GUCI (Goldman Union Camping Institute)

Bring Jewish Teen Philanthropy to Camp!

Note: This program is not sponsored by the Grinspoon Institute.

January Grinspoon Institute Webinar

You created a 3-year plan for your camp. You worked hard to keep it a living document, referring to it regularly to keep the camp on track. The three years are up, so now it's time to...what, exactly? Please join Grinspoon Institute Mentor David Sharken as he leads our next webinar, What's Next? What to Do in the 4th Year of a 3-Year Strategic Plan. Come prepared to learn how to evaluate the success of your completed plan, revive the strategic planning process, and ask specific questions about your camp's current situation. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 1 PM EST and will only take about 20-30 minutes of your day.

Please register now for What's Next? What to Do in the 4th Year of a 3-Year Strategic Plan.