One-on-one connections with donors help The Friendship Circle take the ask out of fundraising.

By Abny Santicola

FundRaising Success: What is your major source of funding?
Rabbi Levi Shemtov: The major source of our funding is large contributions from a founding group of supporters.

FS: How do you typically fundraise?
RLS: It’s one on one, introducing people to the organization. I don’t even ask for a specific amount when I ask people to contribute. I expose people to the organization. I bring them to a wonderful new building that we have and we ask people to support the organization. Our goal is to spread the word, bring people in on tours of the building, and then usually they initiate the idea that they want to contribute, and I follow up with them. That’s how most of the money comes in.