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Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston

EIN 04-2104347 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

REPRESENTATIVE VOICE OF THE ORGANIZED JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
16 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
14
Volunteers
140
Highest pay
$283,999, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $763,756 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THE COUNCIL WORKS TO ENGAGE MEMBERS OF BOSTON'S JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE WORK OF SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES AND A RANGE OF COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFITS. THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM AREAS ARE: THE GREATER BOSTON JEWISH COALITION FOR LITERACY, WHICH MOBILIZES HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE WEEKLY TUTORING TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN UNDER RESOURCED URBAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE COUNCIL ALSO PROVIDES HOLOCAUST PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW ENGLAND HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL.
  2. $318,902 spent. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS - WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH FEDERATIONS (MAJF), THE COUNCIL BRINGS TOGETHER BROAD COALITIONS OF JEWISH AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS, TO ADVOCATE FOR COMPASSIONATE PUBLIC POLICIES AND ADEQUATE FUNDING TO ASSIST THOSE MOST IN NEED AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. THROUGH SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATIONS WITH A VARIETY OF ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY, THE COUNCIL MULTIPLIES ITS IMPACT AND THE REACH OF ITS CONTACTS AND FOSTERS AND DEVELOPS RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE POLICY SUCCESSES IN THE BUDGETARY, ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE ARENAS.
  3. $53,098 spent. ISRAEL ENGAGEMENT - THE COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO FOSTER CIVIL DIALOGUE AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL, THE NATIONAL HOMELAND OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THE COUNCIL PURSUES THESE GOALS BY ENGAGING IN WORK SUCH AS COMMUNITY EDUCATION, CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT GREATER BOSTON, LEADING STUDY TOURS TO ISRAEL WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SUPPORTING NATIONAL EFFORTS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE JEWISH COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS. STUDY TOUR PARTICIPANTS ARE STRATEGICALLY SELECTED INFLUENTIAL LEADERS, INCLUDING CLERGY AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
  4. $363,704 spent. IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SUPPORT - THE COUNCIL TAKES A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING ORGANIZING SANCTUARY CLUSTERS AND IMMIGRATION DETENTION ACCOMPANIMENT. SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2021, WE HAVE BEEN PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK WELCOMING AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE ORGANIZED 35 CONGREGATIONAL SUPPORT TEAMS, INCLUDING 25 SYNAGOGUES, IN ORDER TO WELCOME SOME 200 AFGHAN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1951.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.