The Jewish Federations of North America

Legal name: The Jewish Federations of North America Inc

Overview

Mission

The Jewish Federations of North America works to protect and enhance Jewish well-being by mobilizing community resources and support for Jewish life worldwide (including through connected, caring, and advocacy efforts). Raised over $900 million to support Israel’s recovery and revitalization following the devastating terrorist attacks of October 7th. Get involved and stay connected with the national Federation and your local community’s news, events, and more. distributed annually to support Jewish life worldwide 6,000+ professional leaders across Jewish Federations. She has held several leadership positions for other Jewish organizations within the metro Detroit community, including Hebrew Free Loan, the University of Michigan Hillel and the Maccabi Games. For her work, Sherri was awarded the Association of Fundraising Professionals 2019 AFP Distinguished Volunteer Award....

What it reported doing in 2024

Israel emergency crisis: immediately following the brutal attack by hamas on israel on october 7, 2024, jfna launched an israel emergency campaign to support immediate needs of the victims of terror and evacuees, and provide trauma support, psychosocial care, and emergency medical equipment. Programs have also been developed focusing on economic recovery, community resilience, and ongoing support for impacted youth and families. The jewish federations were able to mobilize quickly to address the needs of evacuees and victims. The campaign has touched people far and wide, providing approximately 14,000 loans to individuals and small businesses, training 5,480 mental health professionals, and distributing over 510,000 food packages. The jewish federations community's philanthrophy has helped shelter over 115,000 israeli evacuees and provided equipment and supplies to 44 hospitals.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 94% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 89% of its reported program spending out as grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
131624240
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Official website data refreshed
Aug 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
New York, NY, USA
Phone
+1 212-284-6500
Rating
89
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
Federated Giving Programs
Affiliation
Judaism

Official website

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and expenses are high relative to revenue.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 99
  • Transparency & Controls: 77
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 25
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 97.7%; rating input score 98
  • Fundraising efficiency: $609.87 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 88.9%; rating input score 89; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Pass
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Pass
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
    • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
    • Requires narrative reports: Fail
    • Conducts field audits: Fail
    • May suspend future funding: Fail
    • Requires financial reports: Fail
    • Conducts site visits: Pass
    • Requires grant agreements: Fail
    • May require repayment: Fail
  • Grant itemization coverage: 52.6%; rating input score 53; 10th percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -17.4%; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.84; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.49; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0.9%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 8.1% per year; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 11.5% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 5.9% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 1 programs and campaigns described on the official site · 2 operating locations identified
  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 97.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 141 of 141 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 9 filed program accomplishments · $499.4M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $853K · 155 people listed · 6 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $5.3M reported
  • Consistency: 39 of 43 current checks pass · 4 findings to review
  • Schedules: 10 filed schedules · includes major donors, foreign activity, grants, executive pay, and related organizations
  • Filing history: 16 annual filings from 2009 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 217 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 206 filed related-organization links
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

155 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • ERIC FINGERHUT (PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER): $852,662 total reported compensation
  • SHIRA HUTT (EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT): $440,842 total reported compensation
  • MICHELLE KRAVETZ (CHIEF IMPACT AND GROWTH OFFICER): $393,220 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.