Carob Tree Endowment

One day, a traveler saw a man planting a carob tree and asked: “This tree, after how many years will it bear fruit?” The man said to him, “It will not produce fruit until seventy years have passed.” The traveler said, “Is it obvious to you that you will live seventy years, that you expect to benefit from this tree?” The man replied, “Just as my ancestors planted for me, I too am planting for my descendants.”

-Taanit 23a:15

THE NEED

As a modest-sized congregation, we have historically reached beyond our means to offer the excellence and experiences members seek. While Beth Am leaders have steadily addressed an aging building and a structural budget deficit and made significant progress, challenges remain. The Carob Tree Endowment offers a way to ensure the Beth Am we love will thrive for generations to come.

A dozen years ago, a fundraising study identified the need to raise $18M to improve both our facilities and our financial position. Thanks to the support of hundreds of congregants, The Tradition and Transformation Campaign raised $12.8M over a five-year period to support restoration and renovation of our building and start a modest endowment fund. Investment income from these funds is now accelerating progress toward a balanced operating budget, yet securing our financial footing for the future requires more.

At 50, Beth Am is in the midst of generational change. Social, economic, and political trends are affecting membership dues and philanthropy in Conservative synagogues everywhere, and congregations are being advised to establish endowments that will ultimately provide annual income equal to one-third of their operating budgets.

Our initial goal is to increase our current invested assets from $2.8M to at least $8M. This will generate an additional $300,000 in operating revenue going forward, based on an average 4% annual return on invested principal.

At this moment, when connection to Jewish community is more important to our collective wellbeing than ever before, we aim to raise at least $5M in pledges for The Carob Tree Endowment. The endowment will provide the annual spendable funds necessary to sustain the outstanding Rabbinic leadership and robust programming that enable Beth Am to be anchored in its roots while growing into its future. READ FULL CASE FOR SUPPORT HERE.

WAYS TO GIVE

All congregants and friends of Beth Am are invited to seed the The Carob Tree Endowment by making a commitment between October 2025 and October 2026.

There are many ways to give, including:

• An endowment pledge payable over five years, in addition to your current Open Doors Annual Fund contribution.
• An endowment gift that would produce income equivalent to your current annual fund contribution in perpetuity. For members older than 70, outright gifts or multi-year pledges can be complemented with a bequest or other planned gift made through the Deborah and Efrem Potts Legacy Society.
• A named giving opportunity for major contributions to endowment if desired.