Welcome to the canvasser portal!

1. Protecting Our Most Vulnerable
While the global pandemic has subsided, needs for emergency funding continue in our community. The Federation continues to provide support to mitigate the ongoing impact of the pandemic on the community’s most vulnerable population. This includes addressing the rise in food insecurity within our community.

2. Countering Antisemitism
Federation has increased our efforts in the realm of advocacy and countering antisemitism. From hiring additional advocacy staff to approving additional strategic funding to further support advocacy efforts, Federation is ensuring a safe space for everyone to participate in Jewish life.   We ensure Jewish voices are heard and that there is the training, tools, and resources needed to keep Jewish Ottawa vibrant and safe.

3. Ensuring Access To Jewish Life And Education
Federation ensures that everyone has access to the Jewish Superhighway and education, and the ability to enjoy meaningful Jewish journeys. To support this, Federation invests deeply into Jewish education through support for day schools, as well a new tuition incentive for supplementary schools. Federation also funds a vast array of Jewish experiences through Microgrants, and other programs like PJ Library, all aimed at igniting a lifetime of Jewish pride and connection.

The vision has four goals:
• Inspired Jewish experiences for all ages
• Enriched Jewish education and learning
• Compassionate care for our most vulnerable
• A safe and secure community

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa is the only charity exclusively committed to the mission of supporting Jewish people in need and strengthening Jewish life here in Ottawa and around the globe.

Through regular allocations and strategic funding, Federation fuels approximately 50 different organizations. I am happy to share links to our allocations summary and impact reports that shares a specific financial breakdown of how Annual Campaign funds are invested in the Jewish people and which organizations receive our support. 2022 Financial Report (June 2021 - July 2022)

Federation’s cost of fundraising is less than 12% of funds raised. We are proud that this percentage is among the lowest for any major non-profit organization in North America. We are able to do this through prudent management and an effective partnership between an efficient professional staff and hundreds of volunteers.

Through community-wide reach and strategy.
Annual Campaign allocations benefit more than 50 organizations in every area of community life: poverty relief, countering antisemitism, Jewish education, supporting Israel and Jews overseas, and more. We have an incomparable network to mobilize and address big challenges in a holistic way. Federation funds work across the full range of our community’s needs. Reach, resources and deep expertise enable Federation to mount a powerful response to any emerging crisis.

The pandemic was an important example of why our community needs Federation. The crisis impacted our community in so many ways and it was not enough to focus on just one area. Vulnerable Jews need a range of social services, from the Ottawa Kosher Food Bank to financial assistance to rent subsidies to employment services. Most community members in need require a variety of programs in order to overcome poverty and return to self-sufficiency, which is why Federation brings together our agencies to collaborate and ensure a
client-centred approach.

For these reasons, we ask donors to make a gift to the Annual Campaign — which tackles challenges in a holistic way — and don’t provide an option for donors to designate their gifts for any one agency.

We don’t support any particular government or political party – we help the people of Israel. Funds go to support social services and humanitarian needs, particularly in the northern periphery of Israel. For example, your gift helps fund programs for youth-at-risk, expanding their educational and career opportunities, like STEM (science, tech, engineering, arts and math) programs in elementary and junior high schools; therapy & emotional group services for young people; and programs for Bet Gesher, a recreation centre for young adults aged 18-30 with special needs. None of your charitable dollars go beyond the Green Line and none go to the Israeli government or the IDF.

Our Annual Campaign is focused on ensuring a strong Ottawa Jewish community recovery. At the same time, Federation and our community have always had a very strong relationship with Israel. Even during these challenging times, we remain committed to supporting some of Israel’s most vulnerable citizens. In Israel, Federation’s Annual Campaign investments focus on our partner region in the northern periphery where we have helped with employment, education and at-risk youth.

Through the P2G partnership program  that supports our partner region in the north of Israel, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa alongside Federations in Atlantic Canada, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Winnipeg have helped these humanitarian projects:

• A program to create a support group for day care principals in Kiryat Shmona, an area facing frequent rocket attacks, terrorist incursions.

• The 60+ Greenhouse Project to support social and recreational activities for seniors. Projects include art classes, multi-generational gatherings and activities, hiking, walking club and informational lectures.

• The first ever Terry Fox Run in the north of Israel with fundraising benefiting the Bar Ilan Institute for Cancer Research in Safed. About 1,500 children from the region participated.

•The Reim Program, which supports children and young adults on the autistic spectrum, many of them also experiencing severe learning disabilities, with the aim of helping participants create friendships. 

If you cannot make the same gift, please do not feel that a smaller gift isn’t important. Every gift is valued. And remember, the pledge you make today isn’t due until December 31, 2024. You can pay your gift in full at that time, or you can pay installments throughout the year.” 

If the person you are speaking to has lost a job, are isolated and need help, then do  NOT proceed with a fundraising ask. Simply listen and conclude with some of the following lines, based on context.
“I’m so sorry to hear about your situation. Please know that we’re here for you and that Federation has a wide network of support in place. Would you like a member of Federation’s team to get in touch with you to see how they may be able to assist?”

The Federation funds major beneficiary agencies based on their adherence to our funding formula which mandates that programming serve the Jewish community. Reporting requirements ensure that the Grants and Evaluation Committee review the use and effectiveness of funding. While Federation will share our perspective with agencies, we must respect their independence.

Federation’s mission is to foster an inclusive environment that honours and supports diverse opinions and respectful discourse. Our only concern is to help provide a productive environment that reflects the diversity within our community. We do our best to be supportive of all denominations.

We do not support any particular political leaning and our only concern is to help provide a productive environment that reflects the diversity within our community.

There are many agencies doing great work in our community. We encourage you to make them a part of your charitable giving. At the same time, Federation is the only organization that has the resources, strategy, and community-wide reach to take care of the comprehensive needs of our community.

Yes please! If you are interested, I would be happy to share your contact information with the Community Building team and they can connect with you to get you involved in volunteer opportunities.

Expressing a concern is a good thing. It means the donor is thinking about giving.
Concerns are like questions and require logical, honest and compelling answers. Deliver appropriate information, and remember to never argue or suggest that the donor is wrong.

• Recognize the type of concern.

• Identify and address the actual concern. Consider using the feel, felt, found method: “I am sorry that you feel that way, at times I have also felt that ... and I have found …”

• Remember that NO does not always mean NO – it can mean:
“I do not KNOW…” or it can mean
“yes at a future date”
A donor may simply need more time to get back on solid financial footing before being able to give. We can work with a “maybe later.”

• Remember this not personal.

• Use your listening skills: this can be a great indicator of what is really important to the donor.

• Allow the donor to talk, never cut them off.

• React positively: tackle the concern, not the prospective donor. Avoid argumentative language (for example the word “but”).

• Be honest. If you do not have an answer, say so and get back to the donor with the information as soon as possible (this is actually a great opportunity for another conversation!)

• After answering and discussing the concern, restate the suggested amount and wait, then allow the donor to speak.

• If you need support, do not hesitate to contact Micah Garten at 613-798-4696 x270 or mgarten@jewishottawa.com, or Yulia Elgin at 613-798-4696 x296 or yelgin@jewishottawa.com.

• Always make sure the conversation ends on a positive note (regardless of the outcome).