2008 Woodie Awards
President's Circle Awards Grants
Moshe Goldfeder
Issue date: 3/8/05 Section: News
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The Yeshiva University President's Circle, the institution's only self-directed alumni fund, recently announced its annual allocation of grants for student activities, among them a nice-sized donation to The Commentator for a much needed equipment upgrade. Founded in 1989, the President's Circle seeks to improve student life on campus through its financial endorsements and support.
Former co-chairman of the Circle, Louis Tuchman spoke with The Commentator about his involvement and the motivation for establishing the fund. "We wanted to provide amenities to the students that weren't available when we were at Yeshiva, during the dark ages of no funding," said Mr. Tuchman.
Frustrated after watching their ideas for innovation fade into nothingness due to budgetary concerns and more pressing problems, the newly graduated alliance vowed to help the dreams of those behind them come to fruition. The 30 or so dedicated and passionate members each contribute a significant amount of money to the fund on an annual basis, and each has an equal say about how the money is distributed.
The Circle is very specific about what it provides funding for. The foremost requirement is that the project must focus on Yeshiva's students and campus, and serve a large percentage of the student body. As current co-chair Daniel Gibber puts it, "the motto of the President's Circle is that we want to contribute seed money to 'jump start' important student programs and initiatives that will improve student life on campus, or that will benefit the greatest amount of students."
The group's mission is not to fund general tzedakah projects at Yeshiva or in the greater Jewish Community. It is for this reason that some causes deemed "quite commendable" are still likely to be turned down.
The President's Circle also doesn't look to fund programs or projects in their entirety. The group sees itself as providing one time seed money, and/or funds to cover one-time expenses, as opposed to ongoing sponsorships. Worthwhile projects that raise most of their own money, and just need a little help, are far more likely to receive attention than proposals that don't include plans for students to raise capital on by themselves. The President's Circle does not give money to projects deemed capable of either providing their own funding or of obtaining financial backing from other sources.
Former co-chairman of the Circle, Louis Tuchman spoke with The Commentator about his involvement and the motivation for establishing the fund. "We wanted to provide amenities to the students that weren't available when we were at Yeshiva, during the dark ages of no funding," said Mr. Tuchman.
Frustrated after watching their ideas for innovation fade into nothingness due to budgetary concerns and more pressing problems, the newly graduated alliance vowed to help the dreams of those behind them come to fruition. The 30 or so dedicated and passionate members each contribute a significant amount of money to the fund on an annual basis, and each has an equal say about how the money is distributed.
The Circle is very specific about what it provides funding for. The foremost requirement is that the project must focus on Yeshiva's students and campus, and serve a large percentage of the student body. As current co-chair Daniel Gibber puts it, "the motto of the President's Circle is that we want to contribute seed money to 'jump start' important student programs and initiatives that will improve student life on campus, or that will benefit the greatest amount of students."
The group's mission is not to fund general tzedakah projects at Yeshiva or in the greater Jewish Community. It is for this reason that some causes deemed "quite commendable" are still likely to be turned down.
The President's Circle also doesn't look to fund programs or projects in their entirety. The group sees itself as providing one time seed money, and/or funds to cover one-time expenses, as opposed to ongoing sponsorships. Worthwhile projects that raise most of their own money, and just need a little help, are far more likely to receive attention than proposals that don't include plans for students to raise capital on by themselves. The President's Circle does not give money to projects deemed capable of either providing their own funding or of obtaining financial backing from other sources.