[Editor's note: Here's the contents of a letter to donors that the Federation sent out recently. There's been some talk of this happening for a while-so there's no big surprise here]
"Winnipeg's Jewish community is unique in many respects, and our CJA campaign is no different. Winnipeg is the only community in North America which distinguished annual campaign gifts between local and national/overseas needs. This distinction goes back to 1974, when the United Israel Appeal and the Jewish Welfare Fund combined forces to better meet the needs of the Jewish community at home and away.
"Our allocation of funds raised has been based on community needs since day one. Each of our local beneficiaries makes a presentation to the Allocations Committee. The Committee members are representatives from all walks of Winnipeg Jewish life, and they take their responsibilities very seriously.
"This year's committee will be the last to deal only with local needs. Effective with the 2012 campaign, our community's donors will make a single gift to the annual campaign, and in 2013 the Allocations Committee will distribute funding for local, national and overseas needs. The process will be expanded to include a presentation from Jewish Federations of Canada - UIA on behalf of national and overseas beneficiaries. ln effect, the number of beneficiary presentations will go from 11 to 12.
"The allocations process is rigorous, and designed to provide donors with confidence that their annual gift is being well spent. Each beneficiary must prove appropriate fiscal responsibility and effective stewardship of the community's money. Donors can now expect that level of confidence to extend to agencies supporting Jews in need around the world.
"The Federation Board has confirmed local needs as its priority, and will not decrease local funding."