Divine Integration

And then there's controversy, of course, in the very nature of the Christian/Jewish relationship and in the fact that IFCJ focuses its work in one of the world's most religiously, politically and physically volatile regions.

But it also reaches deep into its supporters' belief systems and relies heavily on their sense of moral and spiritual obligation.

"Yes, we do have a unique ministry. For the people who deeply believe in our work, there is deep appreciation and strong commitment to us," Cleghorn says. "But what we do can lead to criticism because some individuals and groups on both sides — Christian and Jewish — may disagree with part of what we do.

"But the fact is that people are motivated from their personal faith to support our work, and many do not give just generously but sacrificially," he adds. "Though not technically a religious organization, we view our work as a ministry that cares deeply not only about the people we help, but also about the people who donate — giving them information, nurturing their faith and showing we care in specialized ways. For example, we place telephone calls to follow up on donors who live in an area that has been struck by a natural disaster such as a flood or tornado. We call them on behalf of Rabbi Eckstein to see if they are alright and if we can pray for them."

Final takeaways

Finally, Cleghorn offers these important takeaway tips that nonprofit organizations can glean from IFCJ:

■ Really care for donors. Respect them and walk with them through times of generosity and times of difficulties.

■ Invest in stewardship, and 
communicate ongoing and sincere appreciation.

■ Cultivate a personal relationship between the leader and donors. "The outreach to donors is on behalf of the leader."