The Brooklyn Ink, a blog which is affiliated with the Columbia School of Journalism, has an article about Congregation Beth Elohim and their use of social media and crowd sourcing to raise funds for the preservation of their synagogue.

“Last spring, several leaders at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope heard about a competition for a $250,000 grant being offered by Partners in Preservation, the first-ever citywide conservation campaign determined by online voting. The Reform temple indeed needed money to refurbish its 103-year-old stained glass windows.  The chance of a congregation made up of 800 families winning seemed to be a long shot.

“But, following the example of their tech-savvy rabbi, Andy Bachman, the congregants launched a social-media campaign. One vote per person was allowed daily, leading the members to use Facebook to reach family in Florida or Twitter to remind their followers to vote for the synagogue. And in May, Beth Elohim was awarded the $250,000 grant, after gaining eight percent of the popular vote.”