UJA-Federation of New York

Legal name: United Jewish Appeal-federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc

Overview

Mission

At UJA, we care for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, respond to crises close to home and far away, and shape our Jewish future. UJA advances its mission through **three core strategic priorities. We care for people in need and strengthen Jewish life by **investing in organizations and initiatives** that address poverty, employment, mental health, safety, Jewish identity, and community building. Advocacy is a critical part of this work, helping secure the policies and resources our community needs. We **respond to crises near and far** by directing emergency resources where they’re needed most — supporting both immediate relief and long-term recovery. And we strengthen the entire ecosystem by providing general operating support, oversight, and guidance to a network of core partners, alongside many other nonprofits of.

What it reported doing in 2024

Deepening jewish engagement and strengthening jewish communities ("jewish life")uja supports innovative initiatives that encourage jews of all ages to explore their jewish identity and funds a variety of programs across the spectrum of the jewish community. These programs strengthen synagogues, support college students by promoting jewish life on campus, connect young jews to israel, and create an inclusive and welcoming community for all jews. As part of its commitment to education and lifelong learning, uja supports both informal and formal jewish educational programs for children and adults. Uja also provides scholarships and teacher benefits at jewish day schools, as well as (continued on schedule o)scholarships for israel experience programs and jewish summer day and overnight camps, all of which are important platforms for positive jewish experiences and engagement. In response to the outpouring of jewish expression following october 7, uja has invested an additional $25 million over three years to support opportunities that will further inspire and connect the jewish community. Uja maintains an unwavering commitment to the people of israel, helping to ensure that israel is a safe, vibrant, jewish and democratic country. Uja invests in the social service needs of israel's most vulnerable and helps to strengthen israeli civil society. Uja remains deeply involved in the rebuilding process since october 7, particularly in restoring the social fabric and the emotional and mental resilience of historically and newly vulnerable communities.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 78% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 90% of its reported program spending out as grants.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
510172429
IRS 990 coverage
2009–2024
Official website data refreshed
Sep 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-T 2024
Headquarters
New York, NY, USA
Phone
2128361730
Rating
87
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
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 fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 87
  • Transparency & Controls: 82
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 46
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 81.8%; rating input score 82
  • Fundraising efficiency: $7.19 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 95.2%; rating input score 95; 35th 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: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th 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: -6.7%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.03; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 2.1%; rating input score 54; 54th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 4.8% per year; rating input score 100; 38th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 3% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 3 programs and campaigns described on the official site
  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 81.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 161 of 161 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $305.8M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $1M · 174 people listed · 6 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 5 contractors listed · $5.6M reported
  • Consistency: 45 of 46 current checks pass · 1 finding to review
  • Schedules: 12 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: 332 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: 347 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.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Leadership & pay

174 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • DEVANA COHEN (CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER): $1,027,526 total reported compensation
  • ERIC S GOLDSTEIN (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER): $1,022,711 total reported compensation
  • MARK MEDIN (EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, FRD): $914,306 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.