Facing a continued substantial deficit and dwindling financial reserves, officials at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life released plans Thursday to restructure the center's staff, in particular by hiring a full-time fundraiser as a new director. Current director Roger Kaplan will continue in his position until the end of the semester.
The center, completed in 1999 with non-University funds, has thus far remained self-sufficient by dipping into its reserves each year. But now the FCJL may run $200,000 short of its $500,000 budget, said Dr. Harold Kudler, chair of the center's board of directors. As a result, the board decided Wednesday to restructure the center's staff completely. And despite fears last fall that the center's kosher kitchen might close, the facility will remain open at least until the end of the academic year, Kudler said.
"Endowment building has been slow and difficult," he said, adding that he hopes to have a reorganized staff in place by the end of the summer. "The history of Jews at Duke isn't long. We don't have an awful lot of Jewish alums who are prepared to become philanthropists in that sense."
Kudler said Kaplan has been doing a wonderful job since he arrived in 1998, but that the board recognized the need for a full-time fundraiser in order for the center to continue providing services. Kaplan, who said he is unsure of his plans for next year, added that he spends about 25 to 50 percent of his time raising money and that the center has lost a couple of major donors this year.
"There's a number of reasons [fundraising is down]--having to do with leadership, having to do with the economic downturn, having to do with Sept. 11, having to do with [the fact that] fundraising requires a full-hearted effort," Kaplan said.
The FCJL does not take funds directly from Duke, but Kudler said the Office of University Development will work closely with the center to develop a solid base of donors and marketing methods, including letter-writing campaigns and phonathons.
Larry Moneta, who serves on the board in his position as vice president for student affairs, said no religious communities are directly supported by the University but that his division does give indirect, non-financial support to the center.
Kudler added that the board will structure the center such that necessary duties, which include programming, business management and outreach efforts, are fulfilled at minimal cost. He said a majority of the center's budget covers staff salaries and building maintenance. Currently, the FCJL has four full-time administrative staff members--a rabbi, a director, an assistant director and a fellow--and one unfilled administrative secretary position.
Also at its meeting Wednesday night, the board dispelled concern that the FCJL's kosher kitchen, which loses about $40,000 annually, would close soon.
"We feel it's important to provide for the needs of Jewish students," Kaplan said. "The kosher kitchen is not only a place for students to eat kosher. It has also become a place for communal gathering."
Although the facility will remain open, Kaplan said there will be no kosher meals available on West Campus due to low demand, and that there will be one less full-time chef at the kitchen, since FOCUS participants will not dine there this semester.
A committee headed by Deborah Wahl, former board head and associate director of undergraduate research for Trinity College, will explore the kitchen's options for next year.
Wahl said committee members had not yet been named.
"We are going to be exploring ways we can improve the environment, atmosphere and whole dining experience so we can increase the volume," Kaplan said. He said the center will work with ARAMARK Corp. to better publicize the kitchen's services.
Vice Provost for Academic and Administrative Services Judith Ruderman, a member of the FCJL board, said many kosher kitchens on college campuses lose money but that she felt the kitchen was important to keep open.
"We made the promise [to Jewish students] that we would provide them the opportunity to lead their Jewish life at Duke University," Ruderman said.
"It's for the students we've already attracted here and the students we want to come and for the general enrichment of Duke as a whole."
Dave Ingram contributed to this story.
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