The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh (JCC) are pleased to announce that South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh will transition from the Jewish Federation to the JCC.
South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh (SHJP) launched in July 2014. Private donors funded SHJP with the help of the Jewish Federation to strengthen the South Hills Jewish community through grants, innovative programming, social media and other communication platforms. SHJP works in collaboration with their South Hills Jewish partners and Jewish agencies in Pittsburgh.
Over its more than three years, SHJP has increased South Hills residents’ engagement in Jewish life. In fiscal year 2016-17 alone, the 21-member SHJP Community Council approved more than $51,000 in grant and programming allocations, resulting in more than 6,800 attendees at 60 events and programs. Since its start, attendance at SHJP-facilitated programs increased by double-digit percentages. The South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh Community Engagement Survey also quantified major improvements in a many key measures.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh chiefly holds three roles: increasing the impact of private giving; bringing people together to solve complex problems; and identifying the most important emerging needs today and into the future. Creating and developing South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh was consistent with all of these roles. At this point, the Jewish Federation has solidified SHJP’s goals and staff structure. To support a transition from “startup” to an ongoing, sustainable program, it made sense to transition the program to an established agency. The Jewish Federation sought an agency with a record of success in community engagement and direct experience working in the Jewish suburbs.
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh (JCC) wholly fits the description. This agency has worked directly in the South Hills for more than a quarter century. The JCC has a track record of success in program management, collaboration and growth as well as a successful focus on community engagement. The South Hills Engagement Survey also noted that the JCC serves a prominent physical resource in South Hills community activities. SHJP fits within the JCC’s core community-building mission, aligns well with regular JCC programs, and builds on the foundation of collaboration that SHJP has built during its early years.
Important components of the transition plan over the coming months include:the retention of experienced South Hills Jewish Pittsburgh staff,continuation of the grant program that has fostered increased attendance and audience growth, andincreased programming that leverages both JCC facilities and continued partnerships with all South Hills Jewish institutions.
The Jewish Federation and the JCC will work together to determine the dates and key milestones for this transition starting immediately. The transition plan will include a future physical relocation of SHJP administrative offices to the JCC South Hills.