This is all above board. It's public, but, in principle, it's not really any different than everything else. We're just selling favor, connection, opportunity, and access in exchange for some kind of remuneration. In the Federation, you can go to Israel, and, because it is a certain level of mission, have a private dinner meeting with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel. No, because you donated X amount of money to the Federation, i.e. The State of Israel, and this is your payback.
Money buys access.
In the mail this week I received a notice from Florida Atlantic University. They are raising a lot of money for the Jewish Studies Program. They are building it around a series of talks and lectures by Mrs. Leah Rabin who will be talking on perspectives on peace and the future in the Middle East. What a shock - the more money you are prepared to spend, the closer and more private your audience with Mrs. Rabin. Of course, you and the other 1000 people from that distance will get to hear, but not interact.