American Friends of the Tel Aviv University Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY (AFTAU) RAISES AWARENESS AND FUNDS TO SUPPORT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY (TAU) AND ADVANCE ITS THREE-PART MISSION OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY BUILDING IN THE US. AFTAU SHARES THE INNOVATIVE WORK THE UNIVERSITY CONTRIBUTES TO THE WORLD AND BUILDS BRIDGES BETWEEN THE US AND ISRAEL.
- Income
- $52.4 million
- Spending
- $52.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 33
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $468,830, ceo
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
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2542 of 42 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (9)
- $9.2 million spent. Program Support and Equipment - funds are used to support and pay for staff for programs that are available on-line such as classes, or programs within Israel for underprivileged students to attend University classes. Equipment includes things used to teach or to do research, such as microscopes, materials needed to perform experiments, etc.
- $14.6 million spent. Buildings and campus improvements - funds are used to improve the Tel Aviv University campus including but not limited to building new labs, adding space and modernizing existing buildings on campus whether lecture halls, research facilities or student housing
- $8.9 million spent. RESEARCH - Tel Aviv University is the a globally ranked research institution and the number one research university in Israel. Funds for research are used by faculty members and scientists across all disciplines including but not limited to medicine, technology, cyber, environment, engineering, psychology and others. For example, funds are used to pay for PhD students to work in the labs to conduct the research.
- $5.0 million spent. Centers
- $4.5 million spent. Institutes and Chairs
- $3.7 million spent. Scholarships and Fellowships
- (Expenses $ 5,013,867 including grants of $ 5,013,867) Centers
- (Expenses $ 4,533,401 including grants of $ 4,533,401) Institutes and Chairs
- (Expenses $ 3,687,820 including grants of $ 3,687,820) Scholarships and Fellowships
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1957.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.