Financial Stewardship Research Group

Questions and Answers

Given our deficit, can you give us some examples of alternative dues models to consider?

Most membership organizations, including religious institutions nationwide, are suffering from decreasing revenue and membership attrition. Therefore, a lot of work has been focused on alternative models. Check out: New Membership and Financial Alternatives for the American Synagogue by Rabbis Kerry & Avi Olitzky (http://www.jewishlights.com/page/product/978-1-58023-820-5) for wonderful information about synagogues of all sizes across the country experimenting in membership and dues models, including implementation and next steps. This book is being used by our dues model research team. Our strategic planning process makes no pre-suppositions as to what might be the best model for Temple Beth Ami. A research group will present a range of potential alternatives.

Available publications for future reading

New Membership and Financial Alternatives for the American Synagogue by Rabbis Kerry & Avi Olitzky

If you want more information, or wish to become more involved in this process, please contact the Vision 2020 chairs, Nancy Shapiro and Tom Temin.