Case Study:
Central Synagogue
Central Synagogue is one of the largest reform synagogues in the United States—a renowned place of worship and community with a centuries-old history.
The Challenge
Despite declining religious affiliation throughout the United States, Central Synagogue’s congregation has grown substantially in recent years, with over 3,000 member families and a long waitlist. Growth can present significant challenges to any community, and Central needed to uphold members’ sense of belonging while continuing to expand to serve a growing need.
The Approach
The CMJ team designed, implemented, and produced a research study to quantify and track belonging and its drivers, including…
QUANTITATIVE & QUALITATIVE COMMUNITY RESEARCH with an initial interview phase to understand which factors drove belonging followed by a custom survey to assess sense of belonging across the congregation.
CUSTOM BELONGING MEASUREMENT TOOL to test and establish a statistically reliable quantitative measure to keep a pulse check on the community. This tool was based on custom qualitative insights and an initial literature review incorporating lessons from 30+ years of social science research on the measurement of belonging.
HANDS-ON STRATEGIC ADVISORY to guide the team through crucial decision-making and strategy development, including presentations to strategic committees.
We then socialized the learnings across the organization in a series of workshops and working sessions to inform next steps and a large physical expansion into a new location.
Outcomes
OPERATIONAL CLARITY ON SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, including novel insights on which factors drive belonging and where to invest time and resources.
ACTIONABLE, CUSTOM METHODOLOGY to understand, track, and prioritize members’ sense of belonging over time.
RESEARCH-BACKED RETENTION STRATEGY to grow without sacrificing intimacy and to carry forth the Central legacy.
ALIGNMENT, CLARITY, AND TEAM-SPECIFIC PLANS so Central can continue its growth trajectory while preserving its special sauce, which already fosters a strong sense of belonging among members and the broader community.
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“CMJ has been an amazing business partner. They brought valuable expertise and deep experience to this high priority project. They developed a well thought out approach, kept us on track, but worked in a highly collaborative way so we learned together and adjusted our plans to best meet our goals. We were very happy with the outcome and are already talking about other ways we will engage CMJ in our work at Central Synagogue.”
— Marcia Caban, Executive Director
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“Working with CMJ has been an excellent experience for our organization. Their deep expertise in community building and tailored solutions addressed our unique challenges while respecting our unique culture. Their research provided clear, actionable insights into our members' experiences, forming a strong foundation for our growth strategy. CMJ’s professionalism, collaborative approach, and alignment with our goals have set us on a path to sustainable growth.”
— Elizabeth Brown, Assistant Executive Director