Recently, philanthropist and volunteer Stan Bushman asked Bill Carr, “What are you going to do now?”
A partner with the law firm of Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C., Carr is wrapping up a two-year term as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. What Bushman really was asking him was, “What are you going to do now that you won’t be spending so much time in one way or another dealing with just about every issue that affects our Jewish community?”
Carr says he honestly isn’t sure. Considering how much he and his board of directors accomplished in an economic climate arguably more challenging than any in the past 50 years, he’s likely to have a lot more spare time.
New strategic plan
When Carr became president, one of his top goals was to develop a new Strategic Plan for the Jewish Federation.
“I focused on setting a path for how we could improve,” he said. To do so, he created four task forces, whose efforts are now resulting in new and exciting approaches to achieving the Federation’s mission of sustaining and enhancing Jewish life here at home and around the world.
Take the Financial Resource Development Task Force, headed by Ward Katz.
“The Federation is by far the largest aggregate, year-in and year-out fundraiser in the Jewish community,” said Carr. “The more successful it is, the more funds we can allocate to our Jewish agencies to do the things they want to do. But we’re often so busy running the campaign that there isn’t time to sit back and analyze how it can be improved.”
A large proportion of gifts today come from a relatively small group of donors, many of whom are older. “Gifts will need to come from a larger group,” said Carr. “It’s not automatic. I believe engagement comes before any type of leadership or significant gifts, but I think the Federation is up to the challenge.”
Fundamental to enlarging the donor base and meeting that challenge are issues being tackled by the three other task forces.
The Education and Identity Task Force, led by Stacey Belzer, is analyzing the success of Federation-run programs, such as Learning for Life, and working closely with a task force of the Funders Council exploring how community education dollars can be spent most effectively.
The Engagement and Leadership Task force, led by Sarah Beren, is focusing on ways to encourage everyone, regardless of means, to feel ownership in the Jewish community and good about helping it to prosper.
Chaired by John Isenberg, the Israel and Overseas Task Force is designing new ways to share the excitement and impact of the Federation’s work in Israel, Eastern Europe and other areas around the world.
The unanswered question
In addition to launching the task forces, Carr also wanted to build upon successful endeavors already established in the community, like the Funders Council, which serves as a vehicle for collaboration among the Federation, Jewish Community Foundation, Jewish Heritage Foundation and Menorah Legacy Foundation.
Funders Council initiatives undertaken during Carr’s tenure that he believes are especially important include enhanced cooperation between the funders and the synagogues, establishment of a common grant application form to eliminate unnecessary duplication of effort by the Jewish agencies, and assistance in the development of a plan to ensure the financial security of the Jewish Community Campus.
“While I can’t say it was a personal accomplishment,” says Carr, “I feel very good about the spirit of cooperation that’s been present in the community throughout my term and have great confidence in Miriam Scharf, whose knowledge, experience and dedication will serve her well as the Federation’s next president.”
Still, that leaves unanswered the question Stan Bushman asked about what Carr is going to do now. Carr says he isn’t sure, but then gives it some more thought.
“Maybe the larger question,” he says, “is what do you do with a leader after their term has ended? Once they’ve acquired all that knowledge of the community’s political, economic and social interactions? Do you let them drift away, or is there a way to utilize them?”
In answering a question with a question, Carr may be giving us his answer. He cares too much to drift away.
Annual meeting planned Sept. 7
The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City will hold its 78th Annual Meeting at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at Oakwood Country Club, 9800 Grandview Road. Cost is $15 per person and it includes a Vaad supervised dessert reception.
Miriam Scharf will become Federation president that evening. The outgoing officers, directors and committee chairs will also be honored as well as the program of the year winners: KU Hillel and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. Neal Schwartz will be recognized as the Dan Fingersh Young Leadership Award Winner as will Dayna Gershon as the CAJE Teacher of the Year.
Reservations are required by Aug. 31. RSVP at www.jewishkansascity.org, or call (913) 327-8103.