Shul dedications - how much to give?

[LAX_Esq]

We're part of a new shul that's starting up, and I know they're happy to have dedications. We're not huge machers but want to be a part of the shul and dedicate something meaningful to us. Spoke to the rav and there's no specific list of things available to dedicate and no specific amounts for anything. So we literally have no idea how to proceed. Not really sure what we'd want to dedicate, and have no clue what we can afford to dedicate. Any ideas? Thank you.

[jj1000]

Way too many unknowns.

[CountValentine]

...and have no clue what we can afford to dedicate. Any ideas? Thank you.

Figure this out first then proceed.

[lcm]

Talk to the people setting up the shul, find out what they need or want to purchase for the shul, and see if that works with you?

[WayBackMachine]

I think you should dedicate some time with the shul administrator and make a sensible list,
1st try to figure out how much money they need, bump it up a bit, make a few highly priced items and many other affordable/recuring dedications so everyone can find a level where they can participate.

there are a lot of ideas,
I saw one shul that sells every day of the year for 5k for life, there is a big calendar in the hallway and a digital board in the center and every day has a picture of the sponsor or ad of that day.
so 5kx365= $1,825,000  if collected would this amount cover? do you have enough members that can afford either by themselves or by collecting from others?

[HudZ]

Does the Shul have its own Sefer Torah?
If not, try arranging a campaign for one.

[ckmk47]

I did a search and found these 4 shul's dedication opportunities.
gives you place to start.
good luck.
https://www.chabadcv.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/4517051/jewish/Dedication-Opportunities.htm
https://www.arzeidarom.org/dedications-and-honorariums.html
https://images.shulcloud.com/687/uploads/Documents/dedicationopportunities2023.pdf
https://www.gotchabad.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/1914204/jewish/Dedication-Opportunities.htm

[justaregularguy]

You can have literally anything donated/dedicated by someone along w plaques and everything
Each mezuza
Tables
each seforim shrank column can have a plaque
Entrance to the bais medrash
Coffee room dedication (call it the Reb shayele room or something)
Water fountain
Sinks
If there’s a separate birchas kohanim washing section
Each window in the BM (make 12)
Every tile on the floor (that was a joke)
The Rav’s chair
The oil for the ner tamid
Library dedication
Children’s room dedication
Regarding Sefer Torah dedication: you can sell each parsha individually, and each Sefer individually, and also select parshiyos within (parshas hamon, asesres hadibros, etc)

[LAX_Esq]

Thanks for all the great responses. The lists provided give good ideas on the kinds of items to dedicate. Prices in those links seem to vary quite a bit.

I don't this is going to be the kind of shul that's going to publish a list of items to dedicate and exact prices. We have some idea how much we want to donate, but don't want to insult the shul by saying we're interested in X at $N price and insult the shul if what we had in mind doesn't correspond to what they'd want to get for that.

Also, are these donations usually all up-front, or pledges over time?

[yeshivabucher]

Thanks for all the great responses. The lists provided give good ideas on the kinds of items to dedicate. Prices in those links seem to vary quite a bit.

I don't this is going to be the kind of shul that's going to publish a list of items to dedicate and exact prices. We have some idea how much we want to donate, but don't want to insult the shul by saying we're interested in X at $N price and insult the shul if what we had in mind doesn't correspond to what they'd want to get for that.

Also, are these donations usually all up-front, or pledges over time?

most places allow for 12 months installment. I would go over to whoever manages the shoe and say we're looking to get x amount of money for a dedication what would be available? I don't see why the shul would get insulted when somebody is trying to make a donation.

[Yehudaa]

Also, are these donations usually all up-front, or pledges over time?

I don't know if you're talking about $5k or $5m, but for very large donations I'm pretty sure it's relatively standard to split it over a bunch of years. For example, I know of mosdos where people committed something like $50k/year for 5 years, for example.

As long as the organization can finance it in the interim, obviously they'd take a long-term commitment over nothing.

[AsherO]

We're part of a new shul that's starting up, and I know they're happy to have dedications. We're not huge machers but want to be a part of the shul and dedicate something meaningful to us. Spoke to the rav and there's no specific list of things available to dedicate and no specific amounts for anything. So we literally have no idea how to proceed. Not really sure what we'd want to dedicate, and have no clue what we can afford to dedicate. Any ideas? Thank you.

Doesn’t the shul have a board that should figure this out on the ask side?

[whacked1]

Doesn’t the shul have a board that should figure this out on the ask side?

I dont think you should get OP started on the board....

[AsherO]

I dont think you should get OP started on the board....

If he’s got trouble with the board, might be cautious going overboard (no pun intended) with the dedications…

[Moshe Green]

Depends also on what your shul does and if there is upkeep on the services it provides.

Meaning, will they have people learning there every day? Will there be a humongous kiddush every week? Is there a fully stocked coffee room? Sunday kollel with breakfast? Kimcha D'Pischa?

Will the shul eventually want to expand its services/building?

If the answer to all these things are no then you are just looking to sponsor the building and thats all. The monthly member fees will cover the rest.
But if you want to do something else with your Shul it might be better to get more monthly donations be dedications and the like.