2016 Investor Report: Growing Jewish Leaders for the Future

Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

2016 RAMAH IN THE ROCKIES

Growing Jewish Leaders for the Future

Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

A NOTE FROM RABBI ELIAV BOCK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Now that we are in our seventh summer with campers on our ranch, it is hard to believe how far we have come since our first season in 2010. Back then, we had portable toilets that barely flushed, we ate in a dining hall that had to be cleared of mouse droppings each morning, and we regularly had to make last minute runs to the supermarket because we had run out of food. This summer, we have our second bathhouse with running water, two beautiful and clean eating areas, and a robust food program with regular deliveries! We have undergone our share of growing pains, and have learned important lessons along the way. And most importantly, in our first few years we have impacted the lives of over 1,300 unique young Jews, many of whom have returned for multiple summers. Some are now making career and life choices, and it warms my heart to know that their experiences at Ramah in the Rockies had a direct impact on their college experiences and the communities they join afterwards.

This summer we are welcoming our largest cohort ever to Ramah in the Rockies with over 575 young people passing through our gates. While we do not plan to grow our summer camp much beyond this summer’s numbers, we must continue to nurture our camp by ensuring that our summer program remains one of the finest and most impactful in the country and that we continue to develop our site so that we can sustain our community in a healthy atmosphere for years to come. Concurrently we are working on our off-season program including creating more retreat based programs and also creating the country’s first Jewish Wilderness Treatment Program for emerging adults.

Our incredible growth and ongoing success is only possible because of generous supporters and raving fans from our home community of Denver, Colorado and the numerous communities across North America and Israel from where we draw campers.

I would like to extend a personal “Thank You” to everyone who has helped turn the dream of a rustic Jewish summer camp in the Rocky Mountains into the reality it is today and sustaining our community into the future. Together, we are shaping the lives of hundreds of Jewish youth each summer.

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Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

A CAMPER’S TESTIMONIAL What is camp? Most people think of camp as a getaway from the real world, a break from all of the distractions and stress that can fill our minds during the rest of the year. People who think of camp as a break from the “real world” are missing out on its magic. Camp is the real world in its simplest and most beautiful form. At Ramah, building a holy community, a kehilah kedoshah, is one of our core values; kindness and kavod flow through every wall of every tent.

Ramah is a place where no one is judgmental and everyone is inclusive. Love for Judaism and appreciation of nature lie within the hearts of each and every unique and beautiful person. For me, Ramah is the real world.

It’s been really incredible to have the opportunity to spend four amazing years here. Personally it’s been really important for self-growth, for learning about Judaism, for learning and experiencing nature, for being around all of you incredible people. I just want to thank everyone for giving me this incredible opportunity. I hope that as our kehilah kedoshah returns back to our homes, that we can all bring a little bit of the magic of camp back to our own communities.

Ben Levitt, Canada

Ben shared this piece in front of camp at the last Havdallah of Summer 2015.

To see a video of this in its entirety, please visit our Youtube channel.

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Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

OUR MISSION The mission of Ramah in the Rockies is to nurture the character development of Jewish youth by providing them with the opportunity to challenge themselves physically, intellectually, and spiritually.

OUR VISION Ramah in the Rockies aspires to educate and inspire a new generation of young Jewish leaders who: • A re Jewishly and environmentally literate;

• Preserve and protect the earth’s natural gifts;

• A re committed to living meaningful Jewish lives;

• Inspire positive change in the global community through their example of environmental stewardship and the perpetuation of Jewish values.

• Actively strengthen the broader Jewish community;

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Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

OUR CORE VALUES K AVO D — Honor, dignity, and respect for ourselves and all of God’s creations.

“Who is honored? The one who honors others.”

(Pirke Avot 4:11)

At Ramah in the Rockies, we act with Kavod. We cultivate a culture of self-respect, inclusion, and acceptance. Our campers learn that we can only function as a true community when we show kavod to others, to the environment, and to ourselves.

S I M C HA — Finding joyful Jewish meaning in every aspect of our lives.

Happiness is a state of mind of an individual. But Simcha — Joy — is a uniquely shared emotion central to our lives as Jews. At Ramah in the Rockies, our campers experience authentic Judaism every day — through the lenses of friendship, teamwork, and learning, and through the simcha of Jewish community and spiritual growth.

G R OW TH — Accepting the challenges of personal transformation in every important way.

Every summer our campers grow in remarkable ways: they gain confidence; they acquire leadership abilities; they learn Torah; and they master riding, climbing, hiking, and wilderness survival skills. As a result, our campers develop a life-altering habit: when they face new obstacles or difficult decisions, they will be able to reach back to their time at Ramah in the Rockies and say, “I have done this before; I can do it again.”

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C O N N ECTI O N — To God, Torah, the Jewish people, our communities, and the natural world.

While everyone wants their children to become independent, it is vital that our campers learn that we are also intended to be connected to the many facets of the world around us: strengthening our relationship with God; supporting Israel and the Jewish people; building and sustaining our communities and important institutions; embracing God’s natural gifts and becoming worthy caretakers of our environment. That is what connection means at Ramah in the Rockies.

Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

NAMING OPPORTUNITIES Ranch $3,700,000 Facilitate the long-term sustainability of Ramah in the Rockies. Invest in the purchase of our currently mortgaged 360-acre ranch.

Health & Wellness Center $1,000,000 New state-of-the art health facility to meet changing regulatory requirements for triage, isolation, sick care, and workspace / residence for wellness personnel.

Medical Staff Suite $275,000 Dedicate a room or rooms in the new health center for our medical staff throughout their summer residence.

Mountain Trails $50,000 – $200,000 Dedicate a trail with personalized signposts, inspiring campers to make it to the top.

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Clean Water System $175,000 It’s not sexy, but it’s vitally important for us to ensure clean drinking water on our ranch year round!

Basketball Court $100,000 We built our court in 2012 and it is one of the most popular places in camp. We want to name it after a passionate supporter of our community!

Dining & Kitchen $80,000 Help us improve our kitchen to meet the needs of our unique food program.

Beit Kesher Meeting Room $50,000 ONE REMAINING!

Name our beautiful new meeting room in honor of / in memory of / in celebration of a loved one.

Beit Kesher Guest Room $18,000 Choose your favorite mountain peak, ideally one from your home area. Campers and staff come from all over the world.

Camper Tent $15,000 – $25,000 Choose an inspirational quote or phrase to enrich the lives of our campers for generations to come.

Other Naming Opportunities Mezuzah $1,800 Pathway $5,000 Gaga Pit $10,000

Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

DEVELOPMENT PLAN SPRING/SUMMER 2016 • Continue strategic planning process with board and stakeholders • Design new health center with plan for securing funds to begin building in off-season • Welcome stakeholders to camp throughout summer • Finish funding of Phase I of capital campaign, including naming of final three tents • Continue excellent communication with parents and stakeholders • Continue to refine plans and engage investors to launch off-season program • Identify and cultivate new board members to join team at August meeting

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FALL / WINTER 2016/2017 • Actively engage donors who have given previously, but not in 2016 • Continue to live our culture of gratitude • Conclude five-year strategic plan with active board involvement • Break ground on new infirmary • Implement two online fundraising campaigns • Continue to expand donor base at all levels

OUTCOMES • Provide a stellar model for integrity, gratitude and transparency in the non-profit sector • Realize an engaged board and fully functioning committee structure • 80% donor retention year over year • Meet and exceed all available fundraising matches • No child turned away from camp due to inability to pay • Have a definite opening date and personnel in place for successful year round programming • Construction underway for winterized health facility, the final piece of our retreat center 7

Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

Jan 1, 2015 - July 11, 2016

We rely on your gifts—of ALL SIZES—to keep the MAGIC OF CAMP happening.

We especially want to celebrate the new gifts received over the past 18 months.

475 UNIQUE DONORS $100,000+ gifts $10,000+ gifts

24 gifts totaling $698,967

$1,000+ gifts

66 gifts totaling $206,953

$18+ gifts ••••

THANK

6 gifts totaling $1,053,239

143 gifts totaling $71,275 246 FIRST TIME GIVERS

••••

We grew our donor base by over 30%.

And OUR JOB CONTINUES... to safely serve 550+ campers and staff each summer, we must invest in our community: NEW HEALTH CENTER

2016 NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

2017 NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

$1 million total to raise

$110,000

THREE NEW TENTS

$120,000

$75,000

$100,000 funded

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INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENTS $125,000 annually

$100,000 funded

$0 funded

$28,600 funded

$41,000 funded

Paying off our mortgage & naming the camp . . . $3.7 million

YOU for helping us keep young Jews engaged in meaningful Jewish experiences!

Ramah

‫ברמה‬

NET OPERATING PROFIT 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

(projected)

$17,000

($5,000)

($1,500)*

($35,249)

($86,465)

($140,614)

CAMPER AND STAFF ENROLLMENT 700 Staff 600 Campers 105 95

* first year of combined RR/ROA budget

($268,057)

400

85 60

300 40

200 25

100

203

281

343

395

459

482

118

2010

2011

OUR CAMPERS COME FROM 31 STATES AND 7 COUNTRIES

Canada Dominican Republic Great Britian Israel China Mexico Netherlands

represented states

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110

500

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

Ramah

‫ברמה‬

IN THE

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

OUR CASE STATEMENT Since opening in 2010 with 117 campers, Ramah in the Rockies has grown by 400%. Over the past six years, our camper population has expanded to more than 450 eight to seventeen year-olds. Our campers come from 31 states and 7 countries (United States, Canada, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, China, and Great Britain) and represent a wide range of Jewish backgrounds. Our goal is to accommodate close to 500 campers each summer,

meeting the growing demand for its program and achieving financial sustainability.

Each year, Ramah in the Rockies has introduced new program initiatives that expand the experiences available at camp. From our chuggim — archery, farming, rafting, backpacking, horseback riding — to our educational projects which focus on environmental stewardship and healthy lifestyle choices, to our youth leadership enterprises that combine hands-on team management and wilderness survival skills, we seek to empower the next generation of Jewish young adults. In 2012, Ramah in the Rockies established a Tikvah program for children with disabilities, which promotes full integration of Tikvah campers into the camp’s inclusive community. This program served 30+ campers in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. This summer, we are piloting a Vocational Education program, which we hope to grow in the coming years.

Over the past seven years, the camp leadership has raised more than $5 million in capital support from generous regional and national funders, and has directed those funds to improving the camp’s site to accommodate our rapid growth in camper population. There is no other example of a Jewish camp growing from 0 to 450+ campers with similar capital investments on such a primitive site. We are proud of our stewardship of donor dollars.

We have used philanthropic funds for key capital projects, including installing a large required wastewater treatment facility and expanding the camp’s physical facilities beyond what existed in 2009.

In order to nurture and sustain our camp community, we need to invest an additional $1.5 million in our facilities over the next two years. The bulk of these funds will go towards constructing a new wellness center, updating our clean drinking water system and constructing a new arts pavilion.

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Our overwhelming success over the last seven years and the exciting growth in enrollment underscores the enormous potential our camp offers in educating and inspiring young Jews in their formative years. With the help of our generous supporters, Ramah in the Rockies

will be able to train, inspire and motivate the next generation of Jewish leaders.

Ramah

PARENT AND STAFF TESTIMONIALS If you ask me why Ramah in the Rockies, and not any other camp — the answer is simple! Where else will you find a camp that combines unconditional love, respect, honor, helping others, leadership, Judaism, and love of Israel with horseback riding, biking, archery and many other activities? Where else will you find a variety of children of different ages who are working together for one common goal?

Only at Ramah in the Rockies — an experience that changed our lives!

Yuval, Horse Staff, Israel

‫ברמה‬

Rockies

‫א ת ג ר‬

Last night at Ramah, enjoy! I look forward to seeing my little man Aidan when he returns, and hearing all about his summer at Ramah. They say nothing reinforces Jewish identity like the Jewish camp experience. A big thank you to the entire Ramah Outdoors staff for turning my young man into a Jewish outdoor adventurer!

Brant, Parent, California

Camp is truly my second home; it’s a place I love and feel comfortable in. It has given me a place to grow and learn and make mistakes. Camp has given me a community and friendships that I will always take with me. Ramah in the Rockies has shaped me into who I am, and I wouldn’t be the person I am without it.

Dave, Unit Head , New York

Shaya still gets a dreamy look in his eye when he talks about camp... It obviously made a powerful impression!

Jennifer, Parent, Illinois 11

IN THE

Our daughter, Deedee, just arrived home from two weeks at camp. “Wow,” is all I can say! She had an amazing, amazing experience. It is obvious, to both my husband and me, that she was challenged both physically and mentally.

Thank you to all of you for creating such an excellent, memorable, and meaningful experience for her. [...] it is clear that her time spent in the Rockies with you all was exceptional. Thank you for taking such great emotional, physical, and spiritual care of our daughter!

Dina and Douglas, Parents, New Mexico

Jamie absolutely loved her time with you in Colorado: We’ve heard about her horseback riding countless times.

We have also been impressed that she did hiking, biking and a number of other activities that frankly, we wouldn’t have been able to get her to participate in on our own!

Mike, Parent, New York Hi, I just wanted to let you know that Gen had the greatest time at camp. I think this was a game changer for him. [...] Thank you so much for this wonderful experience. He talks about camp life every day.

Noriko, Parent, Colorado

I want to share that the friendships formed at the Rockies span across the states and I am grateful for modern technology. My daughter Rebeka feels close and maintains continuous contact with her Ramah friends even though they live in many states. Rebeka will be traveling to Colorado this spring break to spend time with a Ramah Rockies friend. I am blessed that my kids feel so connected to Ramah.

Monica, Parent, California

Thank you for the most exhausting, rewarding, and spiritual summer I have ever had. I have never been amongst a group of such loving and accepting people and I was still reeling from the experience when I came back home. It was a jarring adjustment and the openmindedness and love that I learned in camp is still with me. [...] I left a little bit of my heart in Colorado.

Amalya, Counselor, New Jersey