BBB Wise Giving Report for
Birthright Israel Foundation

BBB Wise Giving Report issued January 2012
BBB Wise Giving Report expires September 2012


Does not meet one or more standards
This charity does not meet one or more of the 20 standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Birthright Israel Foundation
Address: 33 East 33rd Street,
7th Floor
  New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-457-0036
Web Address: www.birthrightisrael.com
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1999, New York
Affiliates: Birthright Israel NEXT

Stated Purpose: “to support the education of members of the Jewish community outside of Israel about Judaism, to strengthen the understanding of their heritage and to foster stronger bonds between the Jews of the Diaspora and the state of Israel.”

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

Birthright Israel Foundation (BIF) does not meet the following Standard for Charity Accountability.

Standard 14: Budget - Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

BIF does not meet this Standard because, when the organization provided budget information, it did not include:

  • Projected expenses for each major program (i.e. TAGLIT and NEXT.)
BIF meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

BIF provides funding to enable individuals aged 18-26 to participate in educational peer group trips to Israel. Additionally, the organization has developed educational programs that target participants who have returned from Israel with the aim of enhancing their Israel experience and strengthening their bond with the Jewish community both in North America and Israel. BIF reports that it had about 30,000 participants in its educational program in 2008.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, BIF's program expenses were:

  
Taglit-Birthright Israel 60,839,344
NEXT-Post programming 6,515,517
Total Program Expenses: $67,354,861
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Robert Aronson, President
Compensation*:
 $295,495

Chair of the Board: Daniel S. Och
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Och-Ziff Capital Management Group

Board Size: 29

Paid Staff Size: 25

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. Prior to Mr. Aronson's appointment, Mr. Jay Golan was the CEO and was compensated $387,937 in 2008.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving.
Fund raising costs were 3% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $71,369,840, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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Tax Status

               

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.
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Financial

               

The following information is based on BIF's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Contributions 71,369,840
Interest 95,311
Realized gain on investments 4,891
Total Income $71,470,042


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Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 94%  Fund Raising: 3%  Administrative: 3% 

Total income   $71,470,042
  Program expenses $67,354,861
  Fund raising expenses 2,429,388
  Administrative expenses 1,822,409
 
Total expenses   $71,606,658
Expenses in Excess of Income   (136,616)
Beginning net assets   41,281,271
Ending net assets   41,144,655
Total liabilities   629,887
Total assets   $41,774,542


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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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