Rising health care costs have had a tremendous impact on Wisconsin's nonprofit organizations.
By working with nonprofits to develop creative solutions to these types of challenges, the Helen Bader Foundation was able to address this issue for Milwaukee-area synagogue Congregation Shalom. "In the past few years we've seen increases in the annual premium of 20 to 30 percent," said Marc Cohen, Executive Director of Congregation Shalom. "This has made it incredibly challenging to continue operations as well as attract and retain a stable workforce."
In 2005, the Helen Bader Foundation, a longtime funder of Jewish life and learning projects in Milwaukee, convened more than two dozen agencies serving the 22,000 people living in Milwaukee-area Jewish households. This coalition of synagogues, social agencies, schools and other nonprofits eager to rein in the costs of benefits, determined that forging a benefits group was the best way to gain some leverage. Using the name Wisconsin Jewish Group Benefits Plan, they organized under a federal law allowing "church groups" to link for group benefits. The Helen Bader Foundation committed more than $300,000 in grants for legal work and other support to launch the group, with a portion of the grant funds dedicated to easing any budget gaps the participating agencies might experience in meeting the first few years of premiums.
By working together, the Helen Bader Foundation has enabled organizations like Congregation Shalom to continue to offer benefits to their employees, thereby increasing the attractiveness of working for community-based organizations.
"Not only do benefits change the financial considerations, but it also says 'we value what you do'. That's an important message," said Tobey Libber, program officer for the Helen Bader Foundation.
After three years of operation, the Wisconsin Jewish Group Benefits Plan is looking to expand to other Jewish organizations across the state now that the plan offers the following: a structure to provide employees with additional benefits such as retirement planning; sophisticated information for employers on the overall wellness of group participants to encourage employees to make positive lifestyle choices; and, a model for other groups facing the same financial pressures.
