Over 1300 Jewish day school leaders attended the PEJE Assembly for Jewish Day School Education, representing 265 schools from across North America. With over one hundred sessions, keynote addresses from NAIS President Pat Bassett and Israeli statesman Natan Sharansky, as well as a World Café Field-Wide Conversation among all participants, the Assembly linked the day school field and positioned school teams for growth.
Watch the website for photos, Assembly recap, and learning that emerges from the Assembly.
Sunday Session Listing >>
Monday Session Listing >>
Tuesday Session Listing >>
PEJE Collaborative Website (Wiki), enables participants and those who could not attend to continue the discussion. Each session has its own space on peje.wikispaces.com.
Yardstick Suite of Tools
Learn how to make data-based decisions using the newest products in the Yardstick™ Suite of Tools.
- Benchmark Report
- Jewish Day School Parent Survey
- Strategic Financial Modeling Tool
- Admission Tracking Tool
- Placement Tracking Tool
MATCH Winners Announced
On January 31 146 schools in 27 states and two Canadian provinces opened their email to learn that they were awarded MATCH grants through the Day School MATCH program. Thanks to the generosity of MATCH philanthropists and the 199 Jewish day school donors who submitted applications for the program, the $5 million matching-grant pool is infusing the field with more than $15 million in new funding.
The MATCH program provided a 1:2 match (50 cents for every dollar donated) for a) first-time day school gifts of $25,000 to $100,000 and b) subsequent gifts of (at least) five times the donor's largest previous contribution. Matching grants of up to $50,000 were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to schools meeting eligibility criteria. Applications were accepted starting November 5, and a wait list was opened just two weeks later.
Please join PEJE as we celebrate the success of the MATCH program at the PEJE Assembly for Jewish Day School Education in April.
MATCH is a project of Jewish Funders Network and PEJE. MATCH is funded by The Gottesman Fund, Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert, The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The AVI CHAI Foundation, and an anonymous donor.
View the list of MATCH schools >>
Did Your School Promote IRA Rollover Gifts?
If your school approached seniors to take advantage of the Pension Protection Act and donate their IRA distributions tax-free, PEJE wants to hear from you. Please take our quick IRA-rollover fundraising survey and tell us about the response you received, any funds raised, and any experience with your local federation or Jewish community foundation.
To help schools benefit from the IRA rollover legislation, PEJE worked closely with UJC. "The partnership was a great opportunity to explore how we can work together to advance the financial-resource development agendas of day schools and federations," says Alan Secter, UJC's Associate Director of Planned Giving and Endowments. "We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate."
The Pension Protection Act expired this past December 31, but Congress is considering extending the law retroactively. Your survey participation will help PEJE and UJC strengthen future day school fundraising initiatives. Please take the survey by Friday, March 14.
Ten Years of Believing in Jewish Day School Education
To mark PEJE's ten-year anniversary, we asked a number of leaders in the day school field to reflect on achievements and envision the future for Jewish day schools. Copies of the publication were sent to Board Chairs, Heads of School, Admission Directors, Development Directors, Business Managers, and community leaders. Additional copies are available by request.
View the Publication >>
Read "10 Ways Jewish Day Schools Thrive" >>
See PEJE's Chronology >>
Read "What PEJE Believes" >>
Free Advice from PEJE Leadership Line
Since PEJE began piloting its free Leadership Line in April, a range of day school leaders has received helpful, actionable advice on a variety of concerns and challenges. In a survey of Leadership Line participants, 100 percent of respondents reported that they were extremely satisfied with the recommendations or referrals they received, and 100 percent would recommend the resource to a colleague.
The Leadership Line is a free, (approximately) one-hour phone call with a PEJE coach who has broad and extensive expertise. To date, school leaders have dialed in regarding topics from board development to head support/evaluation to student recruitment/retention. Callers have included heads of school, board chairs, and development and admission officers. In some cases, two or more leaders have participated--for example, a board chair plus a head of school or a support and evaluation committee. Leadership Line callers say they've appreciated the practical advice and the opportunity to bring a fresh, expert perspective back to their schools.
To arrange a call, please email leadershipline (at) peje (dot) org.
A PEJE coach will reply and schedule your call.
Read the Latest PEJE E-Newsletters!
PEJE publishes multiple electronic newsletters throughout the year. Visit our Newsletters page to read up on any e-newsletters that you may have missed.
NOTE: Add info@peje.org to your address book to ensure you receive our emails!
Adelson Family Foundation
The AVI CHAI Foundation
The Beker Foundation
The Gottesman Fund
Paula and Jerry Gottesman
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
The Jesselson Family
Jim Joseph Foundation
Robin and Brad Klatt
Fran and Bobby Lent
The Marcus Foundation
Charles z"l and Lynn Schusterman
Sheila Schwartz and Family
David and Fela Shapell
Family Foundation
The Steinhardt Foundation for
Jewish Life
Jeffrey and Deborah Swartz
UJA-Federation of New York
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Sustaining Partners
Edgar M. Bronfman
Leslie H. and Abigail S. Wexner
Deborah Cogen Swartz
Chair
Michael H. Steinhardt
Founding Chair
