Gifts of the Heart FAQ's
(Click on any of the questions below to take you directly to the answer to that question)
How did Gifts of the Heart do in 2023?
How important is my Gift of the Heart to B’nai Havurah financially?
What does B’nai suggest for financial support for 2024?
How do I see what I gave in 2023?
How do I submit my pledge to B’nai Havurah? Do I have to pay 100% of my pledge today?
Why does a volunteer sign up form pop up when I renew my membership?
What are the benefits of membership?
What is Gifts of the Heart?
B’nai Havurah holds a long tradition of valuing the time, talents, and financial contributions of all members. In all things, we wish to be transparent and honest and to encourage individual choice and commitment to community. We are committed to providing our community with information about B’nai Havurah’s needs and budget and invite you to choose an annual gift that is based on your unique circumstances as well as a real understanding of your impact on our community, based on the guidelines provided.
How did Gifts of the Heart do in 2023?
While we met our overall budget for 2023, we did not raise the amount we had projected for Gifts of the Heart membership revenue. The good news is that we achieved our budgetary goals overall for 2023 because members were generous in other areas and we were fortunate to receive a one-time grant.
How important is my Gift of the Heart to B’nai Havurah financially?
Gifts of the Heart financial income constitutes roughly 60% of our total operating budget each year. In other words - it’s REALLY important.
What does B’nai suggest for financial support for 2024?
Each congregant's commitment is essential to sustain our Kehillah K'doshah - our sacred community - for this year and years ahead. These suggestions of funding are based on partnership, covenant, and commitment. The Gifts of the Heart financial model strives to be TRANSPARENT, RESPECTFUL, INSPIRING, PARTICIPATORY, and UNIQUE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL.
We ask for your help in achieving this year’s goal of $400,000.00 by increasing your 2023 gift by at least 10%, or rounding up to the next suggested giving level.
Here are the suggested levels for 2024:
- Kehillah / קהילה (Gift of the Community): $5,000-$10,000+ - Based on the average annual gift by the top tier of existing donors.
- Bayit / בית (Gift of the Home: $2,500) - Approximate result from dividing the total Gifts of the Heart budget by the total number of households.
- Adama / אדמה (Gift of the Earth): $1,600 - Approximate result from dividing the total Gifts of the Heart budget by the total number of individual members.
How do I see what I gave in 2023?
There are two ways to view your 2023 gift. You can call or email the B’nai office at 303-388-441-41 or office@bnaihavurah.org and ask Hannah or Laura to help you or you can follow these instructions: log onto your ShulCloud account, find the "My Recent Transactions" button under the "Financial Management" heading and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "View All Transactions". The administrative staff can also help you get new sign-on information for ShulCloud if that is needed.
How do I submit my pledge to B’nai Havurah? Do I have to pay 100% of my pledge today?
Simply log on to your ShulCloud account, and under the heading of Membership, click on Gifts of the Heart 2024 from the drop-down menu. The renewal form will automatically populate with information in our database which you have already provided as well as some B’nai Havurah community volunteer opportunities. Please update as needed. If you need your ShulCloud account login information, please reach out to the B’nai office by phone or email. Next, select a payment option that works best for you. We are pleased to be able to offer a wide variety of payment options and schedules. If possible, please use one of our automated payment processes (ACH or credit card) which eliminates the need to remember to make payments.
*Automated payments MUST be renewed each year so please double-check that all requested information is provided.
If you have any questions or concerns with the form or any aspect of membership renewal please contact Laura, either by phone at 303-388-4441 or by email at director@bnaihavurah.org.
Thank you for your continued support, your partnership, for valuing all that B’nai Havurah is, and most importantly, for being a part of our community.
Why does a volunteer request form pop up when I renew my membership?
Since B’nai Havurah’s inception in the 1960’s we have been a Jewish Community in which the deep involvement of membership is a critical element of who we are, how we function, and how we govern ourselves. Growing a community requires rolling up one’s sleeves every bit as much as opening one’s wallet. So, we ask you to help B’nai Havurah – and enhance your experience of our community – through service if you are able. There are needs for volunteers in the areas of welcoming, leadership, programming support, finances, committee work, safety and security, and social action. Pick your volunteer passion and say “yes” to B’nai Havurah. Someone will follow up with you to say “thank you” and get you connected.
What are the benefits of membership?
- You join our Kehillah Kedosha – our sacred community of congregants, clergy, and staff who enrich each other’s lives and who can be there to share life’s joys and ease life’s sorrows.
- Our clergy and staff are there for you through important life cycle events and every day for counseling, teaching, and caring.
- Programming that strives to be inclusive to everyone.
- A varied and rich offering of events, programming, and classes to enrich, educate, entertain, and connect you.
- To join with a community of people who share your “Tikkun Olam” /social action values.
- Meet and build meaningful connections with other members, families, and new friends at events and programs throughout the year.
- Join our mailing list so that you are kept up-to-date on all B’nai events, classes, and announcements.
- The opportunity to engage in a wide range of task forces, committees, and action groups, from leadership to greeting and welcoming to social action
Make my 2024 Annual Gifts of the Heart Pledge
