PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Membership Information Areas to Celebrate - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW • Membership Information • Areas to Celebrate • Opportunities for Improvement • Members - Leaders • Q & A

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ANSCHE CHESED IS A HEALTHY AND GROWING CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE. From 2003 to 2017 Ansche Chesed membership increased 27%. 591 569 568 568 566 553 552 540 535 532 533 521 450 431

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION ANSCHE CHESED’S MEMBERSHIP HAS INCREASED DESPITE AN OVERALL DECREASE IN SYNAGOGUE MEMBERSHIP AMONG U.S. CONSERVATIVE JEWS +27% U.S. Synagogue Belonging Conservative Jews: 1990-2013 Ansche Chesed Membership: 2003-2017 -21%

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION THERE HAS BEEN AN INFUSION OF NEW MEMBERS TO ANSCHE CHESED DURING THE PAST DECADE. Nearly 40% of the synagogue’s membership units have joined during the past 9 years. 32% 29% 24% 15% Less than 4 years 5-9 years 10-19 years 20+ years

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION THE MEMBERSHIP IS CHARACTERIZED BY OVERALL GENDER BALANCE. However, as in many non-Orthodox institutions, there are somewhat more females (55%) then males (45%). 45% Female 55% Male

AREAS TO CELEBRATE

AREAS TO CELEBRATE STRONGLY COMMITTED AND PROUD TO BE SYNAGOGUE MEMBERS Survey respondents feel a strong sense of belonging to Ansche Chesed. 93% 85% 82% 80% Consider Synagogue Proud Member & Intend to Stay in Believe Synagogue is Dues & Contributions Would Recommend Synagogue Well-Regarded in Well Invested Synagogue Community

AREAS TO CELEBRATE HIGHLY POSITIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT CLERGY AND STAFF 97% of respondents report that 89% of respondents report that the the clergy knows them by name. staff are friendly. 97% 89%

AREAS TO CELEBRATE JEWISH VALUES DRIVEN INSTITUTION 85% believe that Ansche Chesed’s management and operations are grounded in Jewish values. 2% 12% Disagree Neutral Agree 85%

PROGRAMMING APPROXIMATELY 4,800 PEOPLE ATTENDED 157 ANSCHE CHESED EVENTS THIS PAST YEAR. However, only 39% of members report that “synagogue activities are very well attended.” Proportion of Members who 157 Events 4,800 Attendees Agree that “Synagogue Activities are Very Well Attended” 39%

PROGRAMMING 70% BELIEVE THAT ANSCHE CHESED PROGRAMS ARE “THE HIGHEST QUALITY.” Very active members are more likely than less active members to say that synagogue programs are “high quality.” 84% 71% 58% Less Active Members Moderately Active Very Active Members Members

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

INSUFFICIENT SENSE OF WELCOMING Only 28% believe that the synagogue is “welcoming.” Disagree Agree Neutral 28% 43% 29% The “welcoming” category is based on the following survey items. It’s easy to become part of the synagogue community. • The synagogue community is cliquish. • At synagogue activities, people socialize only with people they know. •

MORE ON WELCOMING A MINORITY OF SYNAGOGUE MEMBERS - REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN MEMBERS - BELIEVE ANSCHE CHESED IS ‘WELCOMING,’ However, members who joined within past 4 years are somewhat more likely to say that the synagogue is “welcoming.” 35% 27% 26% 25% 1 to 4 Years 5 to 9 Years 10 to 19 Years 20+

INSUFFICIENT SENSE OF COMMUNITY Only 43% report that they feel part of synagogue community. Agree Neutral Disagree 43% 28% 30% The “community” category is based on the following survey items. I have many close friends at the synagogue. • I have found a group at the synagogue that feels like my community. • I have little contact with members of the synagogue outside of synagogue • services, activities, and events.

ENGAGING MEMBERS A MINORITY OF SYNAGOGUE MEMBERS BELIEVE THEIR SKILLS ARE “WELL USED.” Fewer than 40% of both newer members and longer-time members believe their skills are “well used.” Newer members are somewhat less likely to say their skills are “well used” than longer-time members. 39% 37% 30% 26% Less than 4 years 5-9 years 10-19 years 20+ years

COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES MOST MEMBERS REPORT BEING WELL INFORMED ABOUT SYNAGOGUE-RELATED DECISIONS. However, fewer than one-half report understanding the reasons behind the decisions . 84% 41% People are Informed Decisions are Understood

COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES In reality, Ansche Chesed is ONLY 16% believe that the synagogue is GROWING in membership and gaining members and is in SOUND financial condition. ONLY 45% believe that the synagogue’s financial situation is good. 45% 16% Synagogue is gaining Synagogue finances members are sound

THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE ANSCHE CHESED IS AN AGING CONGREGATION. Nearly 50% of the synagogue’s members are 60+ years old and only 12% are under age 45. 41% 37% 11% 10% 1% 18-29 30-44 45-59 60-74 75+

LEADERS – MEMBERS MEMBERS’ AND LEADERS’ DIFFER SUBSTANTIALLY IN THEIR SYNAGOGUE- RELATED ATTITUDES AND EXPERIENCES Synagogue leaders are much more likely than congregants to believe that lay leaders are performing well, have sufficient contact with the congregants, and that there is a healthy flow of new members on a yearly basis. 95% Leaders 82% 65% 58% Congregants 40% 29% Satisfaction with Sufficient personal Believe there is on- Leadership contact with going healthy flow of leadership new leaders

Q & A

ROUNDABLES • Becoming a more welcoming community • Attracting new and retaining current members • Strengthening programming and program participation • Accessing & Utilizing members' skills • Improving communications with members