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Center for Jewish History Inc

EIN 13-3863344 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE; MAKE AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND FOSTER RESEARCH; AND TO EDUCATE DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES THROUGH PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITIONS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) OPENED IN 2000, THE CENTER IS THE COLLABORATIVE HOME OF FIVE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING JEWISH HISTORY: THE AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AMERICAN SEPHARDI FEDERATION, LEO BAECK INSTITUTE, YESHIVA UNIVERSITY MUSEUM, AND YIVO INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH RESEARCH. TOGETHER, THE PARTNERS' ARCHIVE, MUSEUM, AND LIBRARY HOLDINGS MAKE UP THE LARGEST REPOSITORY FOR JEWISH HISTORY AND CULTURE HELD OUTSIDE ISRAEL.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$10.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
61
Volunteers
61
Highest pay
$297,750, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $3.5 million spent. BUILDING OPERATIONS: THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY, INC. (THE "CENTER") OWNS AND RUNS A 135,000-SQ-FT FACILITY A BLOCK FROM UNION SQUARE IN NEW YORK CITY, DESIGNED FOR RESEARCH, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION. IT INCLUDES A BOOKSTORE, AUDITORIUM, READING ROOM, GENEALOGY INSTITUTE, MEETING ROOMS, A SUITE OF ARCHIVAL PRESERVATION LABS, TWO FLOORS OF GALLERIES, SIX FLOORS OF OFFICES, AND TWENTY FLOORS OF STACKS ACROSS TWO BUILDINGS. THE CENTER RUNS ALL ASPECTS OF THE BUILDING, FROM SECURITY, THE HVAC AND BUILDING ENVELOPE CRITICAL FOR COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION TO THE IT INFRASTRUCTURE RELIED UPON BY ALL PARTNERS, VISITORS, AND OUR MANY ONLINE RESEARCHERS.
  2. $2.8 million spent. ARCHIVE AND LIBRARY SERVICES: THE SHARED PUBLIC READING ROOM AND ONLINE CATALOG SYSTEMS ARE THE GATEWAYS TO DISCOVERING THE REMARKABLE COLLECTIONS HOUSED AT THE CENTER. LIBRARIANS ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH ALL INQUIRIES. DIGITAL COLLECTIONS NUMBER OVER 14 MILLION AND SEE 1 MILLION VIEWS ANNUALLY. ARCHIVISTS OPEN NEW COLLECTIONS EVERY DAY, PHOTOGRAPHERS DIGITIZE MATERIALS FOR GLOBAL ONLINE ACCESS, AND CONSERVATORS CAREFULLY PRESERVE FRAGILE ITEMS.
  3. $1.8 million spent. ACADEMIC AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS: THE CENTER IS A PRIMARY DESTINATION FOR JEWISH HISTORY RESEARCHERS FROM YOUNG STUDENTS TO THE MOST SENIOR SCHOLARS. IT HOSTS A ROBUST ANNUAL COHORT OF SCHOLARS WHO CONDUCT INTENSIVE RESEARCH IN THE ARCHIVES, PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH, AND BENEFIT FROM AN ACTIVE INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY. THE CENTER HAS HOSTED OVER 150 FELLOWS FROM UNIVERSITIES WORLDWIDE WHOSE PUBLICATIONS HAVE GONE ON TO WIN AWARDS. PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITIONS, SUCH AS THE ANNE FRANK EXHIBITION, ILLUMINATE JEWISH HISTORY AND CULTURE FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES. THROUGH PRIVATE EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, PRIMARILY WITH NONPROFIT JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS, THE CENTER BROADENS ITS REACH AND IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 December 2024.

    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 March 1996.

    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.

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