Have you made your choice in the 2009 Jewish Choice Awards?
If not, there may still be time to let your voice be heard in the contest, sponsored by the Menlo Park–based GreatNonprofits.org, a Web site that showcases user-generated reviews of nonprofit organizations.
The site is like Yelp.com for nonprofits, providing a place for people to write testimonials about nonprofits that helps them gain exposure and leverage with potential donors.
The reviews are “a really good affirmation and encouragement for the work we’re doing,” said Julie Wolk, co-founding director of Wilderness Torah, a start-up that seeks to take Jewish ritual and learning outside in nature.
Wilderness Torah is one of two Bay Area organizations that were the top vote-getters for the West/Pacific Region as of press time. Jewish Gateways, an El Cerrito–based organization that reaches out and educates unaffiliated Jewish individuals and families, was in first place with 43 reviews.
Wilderness Torah was tied for second place with Ikar in Los Angeles. Both had 36 reviews written by members, participants, service recipients or volunteers.
The contest ends Friday, Nov. 13. Agencies with at least 10 positive reviews will receive exposure to potential donors via GreatNonprofits’ list of Top Rated Jewish Nonprofits and Guidestar, an online leader in philanthropic research.
Nonprofits with the most positive reviews in their region and budget sizes will receive additional promotion and a free posting on Jgooders.com.
Several organizations partnered with GreatNonprofits to present the Jewish Choice Awards. One of them is S.F.-based Upstart Bay Area, an incubator for early-stage, innovative Jewish nonprofits. Other partners include Noah’s Bagels, the Jewish Funders Network, the Slingshot Fund and Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants.
Since the contest began in early October, over 2,500 reviews of nearly 180 nonprofits have been written for the campaign.
Participating agencies predict that the contest will be a boon to their fundraising efforts and future growth.
As a fledgling organization, Wolk said the awards will help the currently volunteer-run Wilderness Torah raise money to make it a more professional nonprofit with paid staff — which in turn will help it plan more programs and engage more Bay Area Jews.
“People want more programming — they want to see Wilderness Torah be a sustainable organization, and people recognize we need resources to be able to grow and expand our programs,” Wolk said.
Because the in-depth reviews on GreatNonprofits are typically more thoughtfully written than a survey filled in after a program, they can be used to help shape programmatic content and prove to potential donors that the organization’s efforts are effective.
The Jewish Choice Awards are one of several campaigns GreatNonprofits has sponsored since its founding in 2007. The Web site has highlighted Indian, LGBT, youth-focused, environmental and cancer-prevention nonprofits.
In each contest, three overall winners are selected, one for each budget category (less than $250,000, less than $1 million and greater than $1 million).
Shari Ilsen, director of marketing and outreach for GreatNonprofits.org, said winning nonprofits have reported a jump in fundraising.
“Because of all of the stories on our Web site, the Oral Cancer Foundation was able to triple its budget for 2010,” Ilsen said. “Major potential supporters realized they could have an opportunity to be involved with an organization that was having a concerted impact on people.”
To vote in the Jewish Choice Awards by Friday, Nov. 13, or to view the results, go to www.greatnonprofits.org/jewish.