Blog & Announcements

The 2019 JCamp 180 Annual Conference will be held from Sunday, October 27 through October 29 at the Sheraton Springfield. Save the date to join 400+ leaders in #jewishcamp in Springfield, MA in October.

The American Camp Association offers a number of resources to help Board Members learn about trends and issues impacting camp.

Why Christmas Day? Because workplaces and everyplace fun is closed, so Jews spend more time online on this day than any other day of the year.

November is an ideal month for expressing gratitude. Here are 5 fantastic ideas to express authentic gratitude to your Jewish Camp volunteers and donors who help your camp thrive.

We are committed to supporting our affiliated camps in continuing to provide unparalleled Jewish experiences for the summer of 2019 and beyond.

Find out who won this year's JCamp 180 Awards and what people are saying about this year's conference.

How can you be sure to put the learning and ideas from #JCampConf into practice when you get back to work? Try these 5 steps.

The 2018 JCamp 180 Annual Conference will be held from Sunday, November 4 through November 6 at the Sheraton Springfield. Save the date to join 400+ leaders in #jewishcamp in Springfield, MA in November.

Could your camp utilize its physical space to allow campers, families, donors, alumni, and other stakeholders to provide feedback or engage with you and your work?

How can you run a #givingtuesday campaign at your camp that helps your overall fundraising efforts?

How can you get the most benefit from your time at #JCampConf?

JCamp 180's latest professional development opportunity was developed specifically for Board Chairs and Vice Chairs.

A Culture of Philanthropy is when everyone including the board, the executive director and the staff are all part of connecting the agency to individuals in the community who want to support the cause. What can board members do to develop this culture at their camp?

Imagine if the automated emails you send to families, donors, alumni, and other stakeholders were memorable. Could they make a difference?

These 6 Do's (and parallel Don'ts) from BoardSource can help you become a truly effective board member.

Your budget, financial sustainability, and growth depend on recruitment and retention. The JCamp 180 Enrollment Program is here to help.

A communications plan ensures your whole team works together to reach your various goals. The JTEC program can help your camp develop an effective plan.

Registration for the #JCampConf is now open!

Check out the six webinars we've already recorded in 2018 focusing on helping you and your camp recommit to your Legacy program.

How can you make your Board Committees and their meetings run most effectively? Here are 10 tips to help.

Emma Kaufmann Camp leveraged the Data2Donors program and Crowdfunding to reconnect with alumni and reach their fundraising goal.

Are you collecting and sharing the stories of impact at your camp?

What can your camp learn from BB Camp's experience studying and implementing policies re: inclusion of transgender campers?

What will you do when the unexpected happens? Here are six lessons learned for preparing for and responding to emergencies at camp.

Every fundraiser should listen to this podcast from Seth Godin.

The Board's Executive Committee plays an important role. But what limits should be in place to ensure the effectiveness of the full Board?

Is your nonprofit in compliance with the Financial Accounting Standards Bureau’s (FASB) new standards for financial statements? Can you use your financials to tell your camp's story?

Does your camp make it easy for your campers and other constituents to ask for gifts in honor of special celebrations? Learn how the Cohen Camps have done just that.

Effective committees ease the burden on the Board. And happy committee members are the best pipeline for future Board members. So how can you make your Board Committees more productive?

Defining roles and responsibilities across staff and board members at your organization will help you do your work more effectively. This exercise may help.

3 lessons learned from re-reading your old strategic plan.

We often talk about cultivating a “culture of philanthropy” within organizations, but this research shows you can develop a culture of philanthropy in families, too.

Your loyal donors are an important part of your camp’s support network. Are you showing them the gratitude they deserve?

This 3-part webinar series on Financial Literacy could help you and your fellow board members be more involved in the financial oversight of your camp.

Looking for upbeat, kid-friendly, Jewish music perfect for camp programming? Here are 5 ways you can use PJ Library Radio at your camp.

This final webinar in the Financial Literacy series, to be held on May 1, 2018 at 1 PM EST, will explore the board’s role in financial oversight; policies and procedures that are key to maintaining effective internal controls; considerations in managing financial risk for camps; and roles and responsibilities of your Audit and/or Finance committees.

Camp Livingston completed a recent study about the benefits of screen bans at camp and used it to help their enrollment. Are there new ways your camp can promote its benefits and increase enrollment or retention?

Listening is important for both design thinking and fundraising. Here are some tips and resources to help you listen better and be more empathetic.

Learn more about our new Board to Board Summer Visit program, and read about how a similar effort helped Herzl Camp.

In this webinar, to be held on April 10, 2018 at 1 PM EST, we will focus on best practices in budgeting for camps, incorporating practical tips and tools to facilitate the financial planning process.

At the Master's Golf Tournament, even the napkins are green. That way a stray napkin won't mar the beautiful green golf course on TV. Read on to find out what this has to do with your camp and your fundraising work.

Impact Reports share the successes of your camp and the important role of your donors in that success. Here are tips to help you write a great Impact Report now.

How can you build a culture of philanthropy at your camp? Here are some steps to help you get started.

A supporter of your camp has submitted their Legacy Letter of Intent (LOI) – that’s great! So…what’s next? This webinar on March 22, 2018 will cover successful strategies to guide your Legacy members to make a specific commitment to leave an after-life gift to your organization…and communicate the details to you and your camp.

In this webinar, to be held March 20, 2018 at 1 PM EST, we will explore how to understand financial reports and build a shared vocabulary around financial management topics between board members and an organization’s leadership.

Looking for ways to improve your productivity? Check out the ideas shared in the "Productivity Hacks Free-for-All" session at #JCampConf.

Succeeding a legendary leader can be an impossible task. It’s not unusual for an executive director hired after the departure of a legendary longtime ED to last two years or less. One potential solution is temporary...by design.

Retention is on balance more valuable than recruitment, but make sure you have the data to be able to target your efforts.

Qualifying prospects is an important step for any Major Gifts Program. This February 26, 2018 webinar helped participants learn how to set up and lead effective qualifying meetings.

This webinar shared the secrets you need to know to confidently engage in meaningful conversations about making after-life gifts to camp, and how to invite people to join your camp’s Legacy Program.

Having a clear conflict of interest policy that is routinely reviewed by the board and includes annual disclosures will help prevent potential issues that can negatively impact your camp.

Do you think your camp enjoys the "unfair advantage" of caring more? Do your customers – campers, families, staff, donors, volunteers, partners – agree?

Now is the time to ensure your donors and prospects have an incredible experience at camp this summer.

Now is the time to recommit to your camp’s Legacy Program and reconnect with your Legacy members.

This past summer, Ramah in the Rockies suffered a devastating fire at camp. What can YOUR camp learn from their experience?

HQ Trivia welcomes over 1 Million live viewers to their app nearly every day. What can your camp learn from their success?

Has your Camp Legacy program gone dormant over the past few years? Getting your Legacy program back on track is easier than you might realize.

The JCamp 180 Enrollment Program is based on a comprehensive and holistic interpretation of what drives camper enrollment, and how to increase it.

Do you know where to look to find your future major donors to camp?

Do you take the time to ask your donors about their experience as donors...and actually listen? It could improve your donor relationships and your development results.

Is it time in your camp’s evolution to build a Major Gifts Program? If so, this Webinar could be your first step.

Are you hoping to create a more engaged, effective board? Connecting board members with the right committee might be the answer.

The JCamp 180 team used elements of Design Thinking to rethink the annual conference this year. What is Design Thinking and what can it do for your camp?

Webinar about building a major gifts portfolio, focusing on defining your portfolio and qualifying members.

Do you know your brand promise and what makes you unique in the market place? When you are clear about what your camp is all about and what makes you different, you will attract and retain more campers.   

Did you know that 12% of all giving happens in the last 3 days of December? Here are 4 emails that could take advantage of this year-end generosity.

Yes, the Finance Committee plays an important role in a nonprofit's financial management. But EVERY Board member should be able to understand these 3 financial statements and what they mean for the organization.

Why create an Impact Report? If you take the time to let your donors experience the impact of their giving, they are more likely to give again.

Ever wonder why Harold Grinspoon and the team at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and JCamp 180 support #jewishcamp?

Whether you joined us in Springfield for #JCampConf or not, find out more about the conference and this year's JCamp 180 Award winners.

Thanks to the 400+ leaders in #jewishcamp who joined us in Springfield, MA October 22-24, 2017 for #JCampConf. See you next year!

Board members are important to the ongoing success of Jewish Camps. Here are 15 ways board members can support camp.

Does your camp have a Governance Committee? If so, is there a clear job description for the committee?

Are you having trouble finishing your camp's appeal letter? Worried nobody will respond...or even read it? Here are 8 tips that might help.

What do your friends with MBAs know that you can apply to your camp? Take a few minutes to learn these 4 lessons.

This year's Camp Census is now open. Please be sure your camp's data is entered - it can help your camp and the field of #jewishcamp.

If you are frustrated with the ability of your donor database to support your work, you might have a data problem. The solution just might be data standards.

What's it like to plan and execute a summer camp visit with Harold Grinspoon? And what should your camp expect when Harold arrives at YOUR camp?

You’ve been given a gift in support of your Jewish Camp. Now you must thank the donor in the most heartfelt and personal way possible. Here are some simple rules for every gift.

Few Jewish Camps invest the time and money needed to take advantage of wealth screening services. Is it worth it?

Are you considering a new donor database for your organization? Ask yourself these 6 questions first.

Adaptive Leadership is a framework to help individuals and organizations when there are no clear answers to problems because there isn’t agreement on the nature of the problems to begin with. Want to know more?

Are you underwhelmed by the number and amount of donations from your board members? What might be the reason for this result?

What makes your camp TRULY unique? Are your communications making that clear?

Camp Ramah in the Rockies tapped into a brand new market; this ROI tool highlights the impact this effort has on enrollment and revenue.

Do you want to be successful with your communications and technology? Start with your goals.

A capital campaign can be the start of some beautiful friendships - if you give them the time and attention they deserve.

Find out which four camps have become affiliated with JCamp 180!

Worried you won't take action on your strategic plan? This management protocol might help.

The summer can be the best time to take on some development tasks - especially for camp!

If during your camp visit you realize some of your camp facilities need improvements, what can you do? The answer might be a capital campaign.

Successful camp tours require advance planning.

Announcing our new JCamp 180 Blog!