Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston

What it reported doing in 2024

CJP's mission is to inspire and mobilize the diverse Boston Jewish community to engage in building communities of learning and action that strengthen Jewish life and improve the world. CJP works to achieve this mission through its three focus areas, which are: helping to provide compassionate care to our most vulnerable and enhancing community security through our Strong, Safe, Caring Community work; engaging, educating, and inspiring - especially our next generation - with compelling, dynamic Jewish Life and Learning; and investing in our homeland, its people, and Israel education and travel experiences with Israel Connection and Rebuilding. Strong, Safe, Caring Community: In times of crisis and in everyday moments of need, our Strong, Safe, Caring Community work ensures that no member of our Jewish community faces challenges alone. Through strategic grants to organizations serving vulnerable populations, we provide a safety net for families struggling with poverty, mental health challenges, and life transitions, while our Center for Combating Antisemitism and Communal Security Initiative protect our community from rising threats and hatred. This dual approach recognizes that true community strength requires both compassionate support for those in need and proactive protection for all who call Greater Boston's Jewish community home. Jewish Life and Learning: Our Jewish Life and Learning work creates pathways for connection, growth, and belonging across every stage of Jewish life. Whether we're supporting the professionals who lead our Jewish day schools and community organizations, nurturing the next generation of Jewish leaders, fostering early education and arts and culture, or ensuring every child can experience the transformative power of Jewish summer camp, our work builds and supports the infrastructure that makes vibrant Jewish life possible. Israel Connection and Rebuilding: We support the safety, security, and well-being of Israeli society through strategic grantmaking, Israel education and connection, and emergency response. Our Israel-focused initiatives include: emergency relief funding, providing humanitarian assistance for relocation, mental health services, trauma, displacement, and rebuilding efforts; strategic investments in Israeli civil society organizations that strengthen democratic institutions and social cohesion; and educational and engagement programming that connects Boston's Jewish community to Israel through travel experiences, meaningful dialogue, and relationship-building.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 94.8%; rating input score 95
• Fundraising efficiency: $23.2 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 95.2%; rating input score 95; 35th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 1 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 12
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Limited
  • Conducts field audits: Limited
  • May suspend future funding: Limited
  • Requires financial reports: Limited
  • Conducts site visits: Limited
  • Requires grant agreements: Limited
  • May require repayment: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.4%; rating input score 99; 40th 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; 77th 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: 12.7%; rating input score 78; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 8.27; rating input score 90; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.2%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 7.2% per year; rating input score 100; 59th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.5% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9.8% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings