A Chronological Review: 1997-2011
2009-2011
2008-2009
Grants
- School Improvement Journey and New School awards made or renewed to 20 schools.
Expertise
- Day School Peer Yardstick® Suite of Tools expands to include Jewish Day School Parent Survey, Strategic Financial Modeling Tool, Admission Tracker, and Benchmark Report.
- Series of trainings and conferences on "Take Control of Your School's Future," "Getting the Right People on Your Board," New York area Leadership Fundraising Academy, "Making Admission, Recruitment, and Attrition Prevention Work in a Challenging Economy" and "Raising Skills, Raising Funds: Innovative Strategies to Use NOW".
- Second tier analysis of data from "The Impact of Day School: A Comparative Analysis of College Students" with focus on findings of specific interest for different grade levels.
Advocacy
- Consultation on implement of strategic planning process for Jewish day school education in the Reform Movement.
- Monthly e-newsletter distribution tops 6000 leaders; average open rates in recent months range from 30% to 65%; average click-through rates range from 15% to 72%.
- The Joint Purchasing Initiative begins functioning as an independent venture outside of PEJE's auspices.
2007-2008
Grants
- School Improvement Journey: 22 (nine of whom are new SIJ grantees) schools receive assessments, coaching, and matching funds.
- Pipeline: five schools receive coaching and matching funds.
- New School: six new schools or new school divisions receive coaching and matching funds.
- The grant department successfully concludes its first multi-year head transition pilot grant. Head transition support is now being offered using the SIJ program. Three of nine new SIJ schools (above) are participating in this pilot initiative.
Expertise
- PEJE Assembly for Jewish Day School Education mobilizes +1300 leaders from 265 schools. Featured speakers are Patrick Bassett and Natan Sharansky.
- Field-wide Conversation on leadership and affordability uses innovative World Café format.
- Eighty-six inaugural PEJE Marketing Awards given to 65 schools.
- Seventy-nine individuals receive "Taste of Coaching" at 2008 PEJE Assembly.
- Regional conferences continue: June 25, 2008, New York, NY "Take Control of Your School's Future: The Strategic Financial Modeling Tool Training" and August 12-14, 2008, Providence, RI "Moving Forward in Admission, Recruitment, and Attrition Prevention."
- Leadership Line receives its 100th request for advice.
Advocacy
- Celebration of PEJE's 10th anniversary with special symposium and publication of Ten Years of Believing in Jewish Day School Education with 21 essays on topics critical to day school growth and excellence.
- Publication of Sources on the Source: Jewish Reflections on BoardSource's Twelve Principles of Governance that Power Exceptional Boards.
- MATCH program, funded by a group of philanthropists and cosponsored by PEJE and the Jewish Funders Network, offered schools 1:2 matching funds for gifts of $25,000 and higher from new donors to Jewish day schools (or donors increasing their previous largest gift five-fold).
| Pool of MATCHing funds: |
$5 million |
| Funds raised by schools |
$10.9 million |
| New major donors: |
199 |
| Participating schools |
146 |
| MATCH funds since 2006: |
$41 million |
- PEJE begins strategic planning process.
2006-2007
Grants
- Challenge Grant for Growth awards made to 26 schools for School Improvement Journey, Pipeline, and New School projects.
- Special New York initiative launched with the support of UJA-Federation of New York.
- Follow-up coaching grants made to 35 conference participants.
Expertise
- Day School Peer Yardstick® analysis stimulates the creation of the Proactive Admission Tracking Tool and Strategic Financial Modeling Tool.
- Eight regional conferences take place across the continent ("Admission, Recruitment, and Attrition Prevention," "Strategic Financial Modeling for Day School Stability," "Marketing Your Day School," "Beyond the Usual Suspects: Vision, Strategies, and Tactics for Your Annual Campaign," "Partners in Leadership") attended by 454 individuals from 161 schools.
- Communities of Practice initiative expands to includes Israel Engagement and Professional Development
- LeadershipLine email hotline with follow-up phone calls piloted.
- Financial Management section of PEJE website launched.
Advocacy
2005-2006
Grants
- Challenge Grant for Growth awards made to 51 schools for School Improvement Journey, Pipeline, Consortium, and New School projects. Pilot grant for Executive Leadership Transition.
- Grantee Perception Report commissioned of Center for Effective Philanthropy.
Expertise
- March 2006 PEJE Assembly for Jewish Day School Education convenes +1000 leaders to address "Visioning, Collaborating, and Adapting for Day School Growth and Vitality." Featured speakers include Ron Heifetz and Doug Reeves. Over 100 workshop sessions with expertise and leading practice from the day school field.
- Day School Peer Yardstick® provides field with benchmarking management tool based on extensive data from 110 schools.
- Management Assistance expertise referral program piloted.
- Four regional conferences ("Ready, Set Govern," "Admission, Recruitment, and Attrition Prevention," "The Board-Head Relationship," and "Admission") attended by 142 individuals from approximately one hundred schools.
- Communities of Practice becomes key strategy with the hiring of a coordinator for the growing number of CoPs (admission, financial management, governance, regional advocacy, diverse learners, fundraising)
- Publication of Noteworthy Practices: Trends in Growing Enrollment and >Serving Diverse Learners in Jewish Day Schools
Advocacy
- February 2006 Reform Movement Think Tank mobilizes 28 rabbis and movement leaders to confront what it will take to increase Reform enrollment in day schools.
- MATCH (collaborative initiative with Jewish Funders Network) engages 296 new day school donors to make gifts that are matched to generate a total of $26 million into 159 day schools.
- Monthly e-newsletter distributed to more than 3000 school and community leaders.
2004-2005
Grants
- Challenge Grant for Growth awards made to 32 schools for School Improvement Journey, Pipeline, Consortium, and New School projects.
Expertise
- Twenty PEJE Coaches work with grantee schools.
- PEJE sponsors day school leaders to attend ISM summer workshop, "Dollars and Sense: Financial Management for Heads."
- In collaboration with the AVI CHAI Foundation, PEJE hosts a conference on "Strategic Planning, Strategic Financial Planning, and the Head/Board Leadership Team."
- In collaboration with UJA-Federation of New York, PEJE hosts a conference on "Admission, Recruitment, and Attrition Prevention."
- Communities of Practice launched in areas of admission, financial management, and governance.
Advocacy
- October 2004 Donor & Leadership Assembly convenes 700 leaders to address "Portraits of Excellence: Leading the Day School Movement with Vision, Passion, and Influence." Featured speakers include Jeff Solomon and Senator Joseph Lieberman.
- Regional groups in San Francisco, Phoenix, Greater Boston, and other communities professionalize their collaborative operations in support of day school education.
- PEJE website redesigned to deliver resources, knowledge, and information about PEJE.
- First annual PEJE Jewish Day School Calendar published and disseminated.
2003-2004
Grants
- North American Challenge Grant for Day School Growth developed with targeted grants for new and existing schools and consortia of schools working collaboratively.
Expertise
Advocacy
- PEJE Strategic Plan aligns program areas to support growing day school enrollment.
- Monthly e-newsletter launched to share resources and best practices with wide audience.
- PEJE Series on Affordability, booklets on Tuition Setting, Endowments, and Affordability in Perspective, widely distributed.
- Joint Purchasing Initiative enables over 400 schools to save upwards of $500,000 on purchases from more than 25 leading vendors.
2002-2003
Grants
- Delivering Expertise Assistance (DE'AH) trial balloons approved for support to existing schools in five areas: financial management, matching grants, lay leadership, joint purchasing, and coach development.
- Fifth conference for Challenge Grant, High School Madrikh Program, and Schusterman Grant recipients. 250 people participate, from 57 schools.
Expertise
- DE'AH lay leadership initiatives launched in cooperation with the Solomon Schechter Day School Association and the Association of Modern Orthodox Day Schools.
- PEJE convenes first Financial Management Conference. 90 people from 68 schools participate at Brandeis University.
- Publication of "Financial Resource Development & Management in Tough Times."
Advocacy
- Third Donor Assembly takes place February 2003 in Los Angeles.
- First Leadership Assembly takes place February 2003 in Los Angeles for lay and professional leadership from day schools, federations, community endowments, and bureaus of Jewish education.
2001-2002
Grants
- Fifteen day schools awarded Challenge Grants (four elementary and 11 middle schools).
- PEJE launches Charles Schusterman Small Communities Enhancement Program for Jewish Day Schools.
- Judaic Excellence Project is piloted with teachers from four Jewish high schools.
- PEJE establishes the Resource Development Initiatives program to offer fundraising expertise to new and established schools across North America.
Expertise
- PEJE convenes its first Resource Development Conference open to all day schools in North America. 113 people from 78 schools participate at Brandeis University.
- Fourth conference for Challenge Grant and High School Madrikh Program recipients. 177 people participate (numbers affected by September 11th).
- Publication of Jewish Day School Head Search Process: Strategies and Resources.
- Publication of Noteworthy Practices, Vol. 2: Tefilah.
Advocacy
- Second Donor Assembly is held. 164 people participate (numbers affected by September 11th), White Plains, NY.
- Making the Case for Jewish Day Schools, Vol. II is published.
2000-2001
Grants
- Nine day schools awarded Challenge Grants (four elementary schools and five middle schools).
Expertise
- High School Madrikh program established (seven high schools participate).
- PEJE holds first Madrikh Orientation and Training program. Orientations are now held semi-annually.
- PEJE launches its website.
- Publication of Self-Assessment Toolkit for Jewish Day Schools - inspired by the Evaluation Toolkit published by the Continuity Commission of the UJA-Federation of New York.
- Publication of Noteworthy Practices, Vol. 1: Tzedakah, Tikkun Olam, and Hesed.
Advocacy
- PEJE convenes inaugural day school Donor Assembly (donors contributing $100,000 or more to one day school invited to attend). 233 people participate in White Plains, NY.
- Three-Year Report chronicles PEJE's initial accomplishments.
- PEJE pilots partnerships with two Jewish communities (Boston and Milwaukee) for purposes of increased resource development.
- PEJE holds third conference for Challenge Grant and High School Madrikh program recipients. 160 people participate.
1999-2000
Grants
- Nine day schools awarded Challenge Grants (three elementary schools and six middle schools).
- Two high schools awarded pilot challenge grants. Program is revised and the High School Madrikh Program is later established.
Expertise
- PEJE pilots the Lead Expert Program, later re-named the Madrikh Program and provided to all Challenge Grant recipients.
- Second conference for Challenge Grant recipients. 130 people participate.
- PEJE launches the Pre-Application Consultation for Elementary Schools (PACES) program to provide consultation support for groups planning new elementary schools.
1998-1999
Grants
- Ten day schools awarded Challenge Grants (two elementary schools and seven middle schools).
Expertise
Advocacy
- "Making the Case for Jewish Day Schools: A Compilation of Advocacy Writings" is published.
1997: PEJE founded
Grants
- Four Pilot Challenge Grants awarded (two elementary schools and two middle schools).
History of PEJE Grantmaking
