BBB Wise Giving Report for
American Jewish World Service

BBB Wise Giving Report issued March 2010
BBB Wise Giving Report expires March 2012


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Charity Contact Information

Name: American Jewish World Service
Address: 45 West 36th Street
  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 fosters 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

              

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Programs

              

AJWS operates a grants program that provides financial assistance to non-governmental organizations in different countries. AJWS also tries to mobilize the Jewish community to advocate for issues in the region it works in, such as HIV/AIDs, debt relief, fair trade, the genocide in Darfur and universal access to education. The organization also advocates for strategies that identify and prevent conflicts and humanitarian crises before they escalate, and that reduce the vulnerability of people living in areas prone to natural disasters. Through its education program, AJWS develops curricula and programs that encourage critical thinking about global issues and promote meaningful and active engagement by American Jews. AJWS’ educational programs illustrate how Jewish texts and traditions can offer wisdom and inspire people to act in the face of terrible poverty and injustice. AJWS produces several original publications, including "Dvar Tzedek"—an ongoing weekly Torah commentary, "From the Sources"—social justice guides to Jewish holidays, articles and book chapters on Jewish global citizenship and related topics.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, AJWS' program expenses were:

  
Grants 15,562,007
Service 5,470,146
Education 3,046,865
Advocacy 1,444,400
Total Program Expenses: $25,523,418
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Ruth W. Messinger, President
Compensation*:
$274,688

Chair of the Board: Barbara Dobkin
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Philanthropist

Board Size: 29

Paid Staff Size: 105

*2008 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.
Fund raising costs were 10% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $31,860,846, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
AJWS incurred joint costs of $352,532 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $195,646 was allocated to program expenses, $111,760 was allocated to fund raising expenses, and $45,126 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' audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Source of Funds  
Individual 25,305,001
Foundations and corporations 4,798,441
Donated services 1,630,780
Study tours and miscellaneous revenue 392,982
Special event, net 92,328
Bequest 34,296
Investment income -3,392,516
Total Income $28,861,312


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 82%  Fund Raising: 10%  Administrative: 8% 

Total income   $28,861,312
  Program expenses $25,523,418
  Fund raising expenses 3,126,544
  Administrative expenses 2,663,666
 
Total expenses   $31,313,628
Expenses in Excess of Income   (2,452,316)
Beginning net assets   15,957,924
Ending net assets   13,505,608
Total liabilities   8,027,664
Total assets   $21,533,272

Note: According to AJWS' 2008 audited financial statements, the organization received $1,630,780 in in-kind donations including volunteers in field ($1,415,780) and legal services ($215,000).

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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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