BBB Wise Giving Report for
North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry

BBB Wise Giving Report issued July 2011
BBB Wise Giving Report expires July 2013


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...


Find out more about this charity:

Back To Top

Charity Contact Information

Name: North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry
Address: 255 West 36th Street, Suite 701
  New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-233-5200
Web Address: www.nacoej.org
Back To Top

BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1982, Delaware
Affiliates: NACOEJ Israel, NACOEJ Ethiopia, British Friends of NACOEJ, NACOEJ USA
Stated Purpose: "to help Ethiopian Jews survive in Ethiopia; to assist them in reaching Israel; to aid in their absorption in Israel; and to help preserve their unique and ancient culture."

Back To Top

Evaluation Conclusions

               

North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) 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.

NACOEJ does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two meetings in the past year.

In response to the Alliance's finding, the charity stated that:

"Due to NACOEJ's large, bi-coastal board, a majority of members are unable to physically meet more than once per year.  However, for the first time, a second (telephonic) meeting was added in 2010, and the organization is considering moving forward with one in-person and two telephonic meetings annually.  In addition, smaller meetings take place frequently throughout the year, and board members - and the various board committees - stay well- connected via the phone, internet and regular mail."
North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Back To Top

Programs

               

NACOEJ provides daily meals for Jewish children through age six and for pregnant and nursing women living in poverty in Ethiopia while they wait to immigrate to Israel. The organization also operates an elementary Jewish Day School with a school lunch program, as well as religious facilities. In Israel, NACOEJ's work includes the Limudiah programs -- after-school programs of education assistance for between 800 and 1000 Ethiopian elementary school children a year; the NACOEJ/Edward G. Victor High School Sponsorship Program helps about 1000 Ethiopian teens attain high school education, and a college sponsorship program that enables over 300 Ethiopian-Israeli students to pursue university degrees. In addition, the organization operates a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning and Mitzvah program, as well as a school supplies collection program to provide learning materials to underprivileged Ethiopian children.

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

  
Assistance in Israel 1,858,499
Relief in Ethiopia 655,576
Information and education - USA 317,777
Total Program Expenses: $2,831,852
Back To Top

Governance

               

Chief Executive : Barbara Ribakove Gordon, Executive Director
Compensation*:
 $72,796

Chair of the Board: Evely Laser Shlensky
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Jewish community activist, writer

Board Size: 31

Paid Staff Size: 7

*2009 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Back To Top

Fund Raising

               

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, grant proposals, and Internet appeals.
Fund raising costs were 13% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $2,975,128, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
NACOEJ incurred joint costs of $164,275 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs, $93,643 was allocated to program expenses and $70,632 was allocated to fund raising expenses.
Back To Top

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.
Back To Top

Financial

               

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

Source of Funds  
Public support 2,975,128
Net realized and unrealized gain on securities 179,326
Other income 36,638
Sales, net 30,614
Dividend income 12,406
Interest income 8,501
Total Income $3,242,613


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 11%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $3,242,613
  Program expenses $2,831,852
  Fund raising expenses 372,885
  Administrative expenses 187,149
 
Total expenses   $3,391,886
Expenses in Excess of Income   (149,273)
Beginning net assets   1,269,888
Ending net assets   1,120,615
Total liabilities   714,093
Total assets   $1,834,708


Back To Top

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.

Send to:



What is an Accredited Charity