The Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Create a sustainable environment where ALL Jews can come, feel comfortable, meet family needs and socialize. This may be in one of our buildings or out in the community. Reaching people where they are while promoting Jewish values is at the core.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Early Childhood (3 sites)
3 sites serve about 475 children age 6 weeks to prekindergarten. We offer full daycare and half-day preschool options. Voted Columbus' best preschool in 2016.
Recreation and Sports
Fitness, exercise and wellness classes, personal training, and recreation leagues, for members of all ages. Jewish youth may compete in annual JCC Asssociation Maccabi games. State of the art full service fitness facility, ball fields, award winning Black Diamond obstacle course and 2 swimming pools are among services available. Also serve Silver Sneakers members.
Summer Camp
Summer day camp program over 8 weeks at 3 sites. Serves children ages 3 to 8th grade. Also have a special needs camp for children ages 4-19. Ages 4th-8th grade camp site is at Hoover Reservoir in a rustic outdoors setting.
Senior adults
Program serves adults age 60+. Features a hot kosher lunch Monday-Friday each week. Also serves Silver Sneakers members. Transportation from ~ 5 mile radius provided. Participants also enjoy regular local area trips and programs, and periodic Shabbat dinners.
Children's services
Serves school aged children with after-school care and school's out days at two sites. Transportation provided from Bexley-area schools. New Albany site program open to non-members.
Cultural Arts
Providing Jewish themed or created arts, such as Columbus' longest continually running regional theater, Jewish Film Festival, Jewish Bookfair, arts exhibits and more for the greater Columbus, OH area.
Where we work
Awards
4 star agency 2023
CharityNavigator
Affiliations & memberships
American Camp Association - Member 2023
Jewish Community Center Association - Affiliate 2023
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 2023
Society for Human Resource Management 2023
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of organization members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Recreation and Sports
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of individuals attending community events or trainings
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Cultural Arts
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of families served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Recreation and Sports
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Member Units plus Medicare eligible members
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of clients participating in educational programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Cultural Arts
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of participants engaged in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Summer Camp
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
1. Establish a Culture of Giving at the JCC where the JCC is known as an excellent option for philanthropic donations.
2. Continue growth in our JCC North West Early Childhood program now located in a new home.
3. Complete an in-depth examination of the JCC membership model making it easier and more accessible to join the JCC.
4. Explore the possibility of a Hebrew Immersion program for summer camp
5. Plan the JCC's Gallery Players 70th Anniversary year and celebration
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Create a JCC Development program for long term giving. This includes the establishment of a Development Committee, creation of a Development Plan for the agency and beginning a donor stewardship program.
2. Through outreach programming, bring new families into the North West Early Childhood program. This will include events and activities outside the JCC walls with low barriers to entry.
3. Identify national JCC membership models to consider; look at financial impact; determine why members join and why they stay members.
4. Contact potential participant families to determine if there is sufficient interest.
5. A 70th Anniversary committee has been established. They will set fundraising and program goals for 2018.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
1. Hired a Development Officer who is beginning work on a Development Plan for the JCC. This will also drive the need for staff education and awareness which will increase the JCC's ability to connect with more donors.
2. A new outreach director has been hired. Efforts toward activities in the North West that connect families with each other and with the JCC will be enhanced. Partnerships with other Jewish and general organizations to raise awareness of the JCC's recognized as Columbus's #1 Early Childhood program.
3. Convene a task force to review models. Make a decision on what is best for our JCC and present to the Board of Trustees. The task force has met and is reviewing its options.
4. The Camp Director has identified two possible staff who are fluent Hebrew speakers and understand that camp needs to be fun.
5. Staff is capable in the theater department. Will include fundraising and special events staff and volunteers as well.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
1. Development Officer has had over 25 meetings with current and prospective donors. Stewardship is beginning. A Development Plan has been created & is a working document.
2. Hired a new JCC North West Site Director. Started an online giving campaign to raise awareness of the quality of the program. Increasing publicity about the new school location. Will continue the excellent word of mouth by parents.
3. In February the JCC recognized 25 plus year members at our annual Gala and shared stories of the impact the JCC has had on our long time members. We began a new membership model, making it easier than ever to become a member of the JCC.
4. Met with representative of the Steinhardt Foundation to determine feasibility. Began Hebrew Immersion Camp in June 2018.
5. Events and season's shows have all been selected to celebrate 70 years of Jewish theater in Columbus.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus
Board of directorsas of 10/18/2023
Ms. Karen Shore-Meyer
See list with Form 990
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 08/12/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.