BBB Wise Giving Report for
American Jewish World Service

BBB Wise Giving Report issued April 2008
BBB Wise Giving Report expires April 2010


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: American Jewish World Service
Address: 45 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
  New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-792-2900
800-889-7146
Web Address: www.ajws.org
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BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1985, New York
Affiliates: None

Stated Purpose: "to alleviate poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS foster civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community."

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Evaluation Conclusions

               

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

               

AJWS operates a grants program that provides financial assistance to non-governmental organizations in different countries. According to AJWS, it offers volunteer service opportunities to about 500 students and professionals annually, plus additional activities for alumni of its various service programs. The organization also creates educational materials that link Jewish texts, values and traditions to contemporary global needs. AJWS also tries to mobilize the Jewish community to advocate for issues in the region it works in, such as HIV/AID, debt relief, fair trade, the genocide in Darfur and universal access to education.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, AJWS's program expenses were:

  
Grants 14,060,409
Service 3,395,380
Advocacy 2,436,477
Education 1,621,955
Total Program Expenses: $21,514,221
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Governance

               

Chief Executive : Ruth Messinger, President
Compensation*:
 $217,480

Chair of the Board: Jim Meier
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President of Arete Corporation

Board Size: 36

Paid Staff Size: 84

*2006 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, special events, print advertisements, grant proposals, Internet appeals, and planned giving arrangements
Fund raising costs were 8% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $23,450,183, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
AJWS incurred joint costs of $199,597 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $131,930 was allocated to program expenses, $28,078 was allocated to fund raising expenses, and $39,589 was allocated to administrative expenses.
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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 AJWS's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006:

Source of Funds  
Individual 19,772,992
Foundations and corporations 2,503,398
Investment income 1,076,854
Donated materials and services 966,305
Study tours and miscellaneous revenue 145,349
Bequest 62,139
Total Income $24,527,037


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 85%  Fund Raising: 8%  Administrative: 7% 

Total income   $24,527,037
  Program expenses $21,514,221
  Fund raising expenses 1,898,196
  Administrative expenses 1,726,634
 
Total expenses   $25,139,051
Expenses in Excess of Income   (612,014)
Beginning net assets   15,519,632
Ending net assets   14,907,618
Total liabilities   6,765,550
Total assets   $21,673,168

Note: According to AJWS's 2006 audited financial statements, the organization received $966,305 in donated services for volunteers work.

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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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