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American Friends of Neve Shalom-Wahat Al-Salam

EIN 13-3441742 · Glendale, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NEVE SHALOM/WAHAT AL-SALAM, INC. ENCOURAGES, SUPPORTS, AND PUBLICIZES THE PROJECTS OF NEVE SHALOM/WAHAT AL-SALAM THE OASIS OF PEACE IN ISRAEL, WHERE APPROXIMATELY 70 JEWISH AND PALESTINIAN FAMILIES HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE AND WORK TOGETHER AS EQUALS IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES TRUST, UNDERSTANDING, AND MUTUAL RESPECT. THE VILLAGE IS UNIQUELY DESIGNED TO FULFILL THIS MISSION THROUGH ITS INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS: THE BILINGUAL, BI-NATIONAL K-6 PRIMARY SCHOOL; THE SCHOOL FOR PEACE, WHERE YOUNG ADULTS AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND CROSS-CULTURE ENCOUNTER WORKSHOPS: THE SPIRITUAL CENTERS PEACE MUSEUM AND OASIS ART GALLERY WELCOMING JEWISH AND PALESTINIAN VISUAL ARTISTS ENGAGING VISITORS THROUGH SHARED EXHIBITS, DIALOGUE, DEMONSTRATIONS AND PUBLIC EVENTS; THE PLURALISTIC SPIRITUAL CENTER, WHERE ADULTS AND YOUTH ENGAGE IN INTERFAITH, INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE, STUDY, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS; AND THE NADI WHICH BRINGS NON-ACADEMIC EXPE

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$907,728
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
11.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
1
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$151,702, director national office

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 August 31, 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 (2)
  1. $147,000 spent. Print materials continue to be available online and via postal mail at no charge, and to all who request this. Schools are now back to in-person, but our requests for in-person presentations or services have not returned to the pre-COVID levels. What weve done instead is offer online meetings; question/answer sessions and single-focus ZOOM interviews and discussions with individual Directors from the School for Peace, Primary School, NSWAS Community Board, and NSWAS Communications. These have been well-attended, and are followed by a recording of each session to be sent to our wider audience and to any who request the recording. Small-group, in-person gatherings, whether congregations or interested civic groups and friendship circles continue to be available by request. It is our hope that through these windows, anyone interested in building trust, mutual respect and conflict transformation can learn about the mission, activities and professionals of the School for Peace, the Primary School, the NADI (teen and pre-teen group), and the Spiritual Center. AFNSWAS held in-person and virtual meetings with individuals for fund- raising purposes as well as public virtual events for the Directors of the School for Peace and the Primary School for the purpose of introducing potential supporters to the goals and practices of NSWAS. Newsletters, program-specific brochures, quarterly updates and short significant announcements were provided on-line via website, e-mail and social media. These include information about the conflict, along with requests to support these programs. AFNSWAS is committed to cost-effective practices and transparency. Since 1986, AFNSWAS has depended on outreach through mail, public presentations and reports to educate the public about our mission. The mission of AFNSWAS to support the work of the Primary School, The Peace Museum and Oasis Art Gallery, the School for Peace and the Pluralistic Spiritual Center in strengthening a shared society between Israeli Palestinians and Jews through education, engagement and activism - thereby reducing and transforming conflict, begins with outreach and education, but may also include requests for contributions to support that mission. As a result, and in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines, we allocate a portion of our outreach costs to program services and to fundraising. We are committed to ensuring our donors money is spent as effectively and transparently as possible.
  2. $648,150 spent. FUNDING GRANTS FOR PROJECTS PROPOSED BY NEVE SHALOM/WAHAT AL-SALAM: PRIMARY SCHOOL: 59.4% of funds allocated. DESCRIPTION: Since 1984,first Hebrew-Arabic bilingual, multicultural school K-6 (providing model for 5 new Israeli bilingual schools) equal numbers of Israeli Palestinian and Jewish students, fully inclusive, multicultural curriculum based in successful learning, equality, peace-building, respect for culture, traditions and language. Special programs integrated into curriculum: English, music lessons and performance,story-telling through writing, gardening, Archaeology, Art through recycling. FUNDS UTILIZED FOR: Salaries and required benefits; materials, equipment and instruments, curriculum development, and required transportation. SCHOOL FOR PEACE: 20.9% of funds allocated. DESCRIPTION: Dual dialogue, long-term programs, short-term encounters deepening identities, responsibilities for role in conflict, roots/nature of the conflict; university courses; dialogue facilitators training; international youth encounters; two-year profession-specific programs in Israeli and Palestinian (West Bank and Israeli)in health care,Women in Social Media, Mental Health, environment, politics, education, journalism, law; Jewish/Arabic literature anthology, and leadership in Mixed Cities. FUNDS UTILIZED FOR salaries, facilities, materials,housing, transportation. PLURALISTIC SPIRITUAL CENTER: 11.6% of funds allocated. DESCRIPTION: Inter-religious dialogue; program collaborations for Israeli Jews and Palestinians to sacred places in Israel for dialogue, reflection; interfaith programs in mediation, scripture and social transformation, political justice, feminism in Islam, Christian Palestinian readings of the Hebrew Testament, Jewish and Palestinian films and book launches with authors, and discussions. This program also includes the Oasis Art Gallery, which inspires visitors to connect across language, culture, and geography by showcasing work that engages the complex and pressing issues of our time, including identity, nationalism, political freedom, violence, and oppression. FUNDS UTILIZED FOR salaries, materials,necessary transporation, room and board. NADI-YOUTH CLUB: 4.6% of funds allocated. DESCRIPTION: Develop young adult community leaders; assist school children with language and culture issues; counselors for younger children in NSWAS binational, bilingual summer camps. FUNDS UTILIZED FOR materials, room and board, required transportation. EVALUATION: On site NSWAS volunteers, observation, interviews by teachers; public and private school utilization-rates for publications; increased employment of NSWAS-licensed facilitators; increase/persistence of Jewish-Palestinian professional projects and relationships; increase in familites requesting bilingual, multicultural primary schooling.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 January 1988.

    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.