5 High Holiday Donor Engagement Tips

For synagogues, summer camps, federations, and other Jewish organizations, the High Holidays offer a time of thoughtful reflection and valuable opportunity to connectJewish life and networks.

The High Holidays are a time of reconnection and renewal for Jews worldwide. They allow communities to recommit to living out Jewish values, highlight the comfort that Jewish communal spaces offer, and encourage personal and collective rededicatation to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). With so many congregants and constituents turning to their communal organizations during this season, clergy, lay leaders, and professionals have a powerful opening to meaningfully engage donors and inspire greater generosity in the year to come.

1. Celebrate the Resilience of The Community and Surge of Engagement

As we enter 5786, the Jewish philanthropic landscape reflects both the profound trials and the extraordinary resilience Jewish communities have shown in the face of rising antisemitism and global challenges. In 2024, giving rose significantly across the Jewish community: 37% of organizations gained new donors and 27% received increased gifts from existing supporters. Recent data also show 30-35% of these new donors have subsequently remained engaged in 2025. A study by Jewish Federations of North America found a continued surge of engagement in communal spaces, both formal and informal. And while updated data shows a slight slowdown, there remains opportunities to connect over the High Holidays to deep relationships, a sense of communal belonging, and reinforcing long-term engagement.

Whether through personalized outreach, storytelling, or in-person engagement, Jewish organizations can use this season to reconnect with long-standing donors, welcome new supporters, acknowledge impact, and inspire continued investment in Jewish life and security. 

• Synagogues: Highlight this continued generosity in the congregation president’s High Holiday remarks, and how these additional resources have made an impact in the last year.
• Summer camps: Share a summer impact report with parents and alumni of your camp.
• All Organizations: Celebrate the day-to-day work of your professional staff and their commitment to the community in these challenging times.

2. Share New Year Wishes with Donors

This time of year offers a natural touchpoint for donor engagement: reach out to donors and wish them a sweet new year! Whether through a personalized video message from your leadership reaching a broad audience, or phone calls to individual donors, use this time to thank your community for all they have done to advance your shared mission and inspire them for the year ahead, 5785.

3. Engage Donors by Connecting In-Person at Synagogues or Campus-Based Organizations

At least 6 in 10 Jews will attend High Holiday services this fall. With so many donors and prospects entering our religious homes, clergy, lay, and professional leaders have an opportunity to prioritize personal connections with families during this sacred season.

• Synagogues: Identify a few loyal donors and relevant prospects and equip clergy and lay leaders to make personal contact with each of them before or after services, or in the days leading up to or following Rosh Hashanah.
• JCCs: Nurture connections by creating communal spaces for High Holidays celebrations, and personally follow up with attendees, especially those who joined for the first or second time.
• Campus-based organizations: Consider inviting donors to attend upcoming holiday-related programming so they can experience first-hand the impact of their giving.

4. Create Custom Appeal Plans for Renewed Annual Giving

Leverage your existing donor data to identify those who often give or pledge their annual commitments this time of year and invite them to do so again through a customized appeal sequence. Renew expiring payment plans and invite increased giving in the year ahead to meet the growing and evolving needs across the community.

• All organizations: Invite newly connected constituents to make their first annual commitment and explore multi-year opportunities that cultivate long-term impact and lasting relationships.
• Federations and synagogues: Highlight stories of impact from the past year in your appeal materials to remind donors how their giving sustains the community and inspires increased commitments.

5. Carry These High Holiday Donor Engagement Efforts Into the New Year

Capturing the energy and connection following the High Holidays helps keep the sweetness of the new year present and smoothly transition into fall fundraising. Track each interaction during the High Holidays. In the weeks and months that follow, find time to sit down with donors to personally share your outlook for the year ahead. Emphasize how their continued generosity will lead to greater impact. As you make plans for the fall, find ways to align donor cultivation, donor engagement, and other constituency events with upcoming holidays and festivals like Sukkot and Simchat Torah to deepen connections with your mission and shared Jewish identity.

CCS Fundraising is proud to partner with Jewish organizations across the sector to advance their important missions. We wish all who celebrate a sweet, meaningful new year. Shana Tova!