5 High Holiday Donor Engagement Tips

Whether you’re a synagogue, summer camp, federation, or other Jewish organization, the High Holidays offer a time of thoughtful reflection and ripe opportunity for connection across the Jewish community.

The High Holidays bring a time of reconnection and renewal for Jews worldwide. It allows us to recommit to living out our Jewish values, reminds us of the comfort that our Jewish communal spaces offer, and gives us an opportunity to rededicate our practice of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). With so many congregants and constituents turning to their communal organizations this time of year, clergy, lay leaders, and professionals have a ripe landscape to meaningfully engage donors to 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 continues to echo the profound impact of the October 7 attacks and ensuing rise of antisemitism. The past year has tested the resilience of Jewish communities worldwide, while continuing to reveal extraordinary strength and solidarity. In 2024, giving rose significantly across the Jewish community: 37% of organizations gained new donors and 27% received increased gifts from existing supporters. Now, recent data shows 30-35% of these new donors have subsequently remained engaged in 2025. A recent study by Jewish Federations of North America found a continued surge of engagement in communal spaces, both formal and informal. While we have yet to see the full impact of this period on Jewish philanthropy, these initial results offer a promising foundation for long-term stewardship and engagement opportunities.

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

• Synagogues: Highlight this continued generosity in the congregation president’s High Holiday remarks, and the impact that these additional resources have made in the last year.
• Summer camps: Share a summer impact report with parents and alumni of your camp.

2. Share New Year Wishes with Donors

This time of year gives us an easy touchpoint for donor engagement: Reach out to donors and wish them a sweet new year! Be it with 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 toward what’s ahead in 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 over the High Holidays.

• 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 to celebrate the High Holidays and personally follow up with attendees, especially with those who joined for the first or second time.
• Campus-based organizations: Consider inviting donors to attend upcoming holiday-related programming to allow them to experience the impact of their giving first-hand.

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 given 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 to cultivate long-term impact and lasting relationships.

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

Capturing the energy and connection following the High Holidays will keep the sweetness of the new year present and be a smooth transition into fall fundraising. Track each interaction over the High Holidays and find time in the upcoming weeks and months to sit down with donors to personally share your outlook for the year ahead, emphasizing 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 forge closer connections with both 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!