Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Simon Wiesenthal Center
Address:	1399 South Roxbury Drive
	Los Angeles, CA 90035
Phone:	310-553-9036 800-900-9036
Web Address:	www.wiesenthal.com

Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 3: Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings - An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities. SWC does not meet this Standard because: Average attendance at its board meetings in the past year was 39%.

Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

SWC is an international Jewish human rights organization that confronts anti-Semitism, hate and terrorism, promotes human rights and dignity, stands with Israel, defends the safety of Jews worldwide, and teaches the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations. The organization reports that their mission is acheived by working to foster tolerance and understanding through community involvement, educational outreach and social action through its Museum of Tolerance. The museum's Tools for Tolerance program explores issues of diversity and tolerance, as well as cooperation in the workplace and community. The program trains law enforcement officers, educators, firefighters, social workers, health care professionals, attorneys, and probation officers, among others. The Teaching Steps for Tolerance program is a national program for 5th and 6th grade educators and library media specialists to integrate the teaching of tolerance into their schools' curricula. The Task Force Against Hate seeks to confront extremism by developing strategies to combat Holocaust denial and to educate students about anti-Semitism and bigotry through conferences and training sessions held throughout the country. With US Government support, SWC's National Institute Against Hate Crimes trains criminal justice professionals. Moriah Films, the film division of SWC, produces theatrical documentaries to educate both national and international audiences about the Jewish experience as well as contemporary human rights and ethics issues. Some ($973,489, or 5%) of SWC's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, SWC's program expenses were:

Museum public programs	8,211,158
Outreach, social action, public information, education programs	7,271,549
New York Tolerance Center	2,369,686
Museum diversity training courses	1,732,514
Moriah documentary films	1,573,779
Total Program Expenses:	$21,158,686

Chief Executive : Rabbi Marvin Hier, President, CEO, Founder and Dean

Compensation*:

$759,026

Chair of the Board: Larry A. Mizel
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: CEO, MDC Holdings, Inc.

Co-Chair of the Board : Nelson Peltz

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: CEO and Founding Partner, Trian Partners

Co-Chair of the Board : Ed Snider

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Chairman, Comcast Spectacor

Board Size: 53

Paid Staff Size: 103

*July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and membership appeals.

Fund raising costs were 17% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $25,834,891, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

SWC incurred joint costs of $2,167,466 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $1,193,977 was allocated to fund raising expenses and $973,489 was allocated to program expenses.

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on SWC's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.

Source of Funds
Fundraising	25,834,891
Education	2,301,151
Investment income	150,870
Other	56,343
Royalty revenue	3,216
Net realized (unrealized) loss on investment	-6,032
Total Income	$28,340,439

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 74%  Fund Raising: 16%  Administrative: 10%

Total income				$28,340,439
	Program expenses			$21,158,686
	Fund raising expenses			4,394,804
	Administrative expenses			2,738,996
Total expenses				$28,292,486
Income in Excess of Expenses				47,953
Beginning net assets				66,775,996
Other Changes in Net Assets				96,146
Ending net assets				66,920,095
Total liabilities				8,273,469
Total assets				$75,193,564

Note: Other changes in net assets in the Financial section above includes cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment ($96,146).