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Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts Inc

EIN 04-2104363 · Worcester, 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

THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF CENTRAL MASS, INC. IS DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION AND ENRICHMENT OF JEWISH LIFE IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
58.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
10
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$154,739, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 58.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 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, 2025, 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 (6)
  1. $712,095 spent. FEDERATION - THE FEDERATION IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND ENRICHING JEWISH LIFE IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. TO FULFILL THIS MISSION, THE FEDERATION RUNS AN ANNUAL CAMPAIGN AND THEN DESIGNATES DOLLARS RAISED TO A VARIETY OF LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SOCIAL AGENCIES AS WELL AS TO INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR AFFILIATION WITH THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA. OVERALL, OUR CAMPAIGN AND PROGRAMS REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITIES.
  2. $81,905 spent. FOUNDATION - THE FOUNDATION HOLDS ENDOWMENT FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE FEDERATION FROM MORE THAN 75 DONORS. THESE FUNDS FALL INTO FIVE CATEGORIES DONOR ADVISED, PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED, TEMPORARILY RESTRICTED, FUNDS HELD IN TRUST FOR OTHERS AND UNRESTRICTED. MONIES ARE EXPENDED FROM THESE FUNDS ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE ENDOWMENT AND THE SPENDING POLICIES ESTABLISHED IN OUR MISSION STATEMENT. IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR THERE WERE 53 DISBURSEMENTS THAT WERE MADE FROM THE ENDOWMENT TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $366,000.
  3. $331,677 spent. RACHEL'S TABLE - THE MISSION OF RACHEL'S TABLE IS TO DISTRIBUTE DONATED AND PURCHASED FOOD AND MILK TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES HELPING THE HUNGRY IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS AND TO REDUCE THE WASTE OF NOURISHING FOOD. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1989, RACHEL'S TABLE HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 14 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD AND MILK, AT NO COST, TO 30 LOCAL SHELTERS, SOUP KITCHENS, GROUP HOMES, DAY PROGRAMS. AND FOOD PANTRIES. THE CHILDREN'S MILK FUND PROVIDES MILK FOR APPROXIMATELY 20,000 INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN AT 21 OF THESE AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. RACHEL'S TABLE ALSO PURCHASES FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR THE SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM FOR WORCESTER'S CHILDREN RUN BY FRIENDLY HOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER TO HELP CHILDREN WHEN SCHOOL IS CLOSED AND SCHOOL MEALS UNAVAILABLE.
  4. $293,694 spent. CLARK HILLEL - CLARK HILLEL, THE STUDENT GROUP THAT CELEBRATES JEWISH CULTURE, IDENTITY, PLURALISM, AND COMMUNITY, IS A PROGRAM OF THE JFCM AND IS RECOGNIZED AS HILLEL PROGRAM CENTER BY HILLEL INTERNATIONAL. WE PRIMARILY SERVE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS ATTENDING ANY OF THE COLLEGES OF WORCESTER CONSORTIUM SCHOOLS, ALTHOUGH OTHERS ARE WELCOME MOST OF OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE UNDERGRADS ATTENDING CLARK UNIVERSITY.
  5. LIFE AND LEGACY IS A PROGRAM OF THE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION, AND ENCOURAGES LOCAL JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD ENDOWMENTS THAT WILL SUSTAIN THEM IN THE FUTURE. THE GRINSPOON FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTES 33 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET FOR EACH YEAR THAT A COMMUNITY'S LIFE & LEGACY PROGRAM REACHES ITS TARGET GOAL OF LEGACY GIFTS, PROVIDING UP TO $120,000 OVER FOUR YEARS.
  6. $366,618 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1944.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.