Agudath Israel of America
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IN ACCORDANCE WITH HALACHA,JEWISH RELIGIOUS LAW,TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER THE IDEALS OF ORTHODOX JUDAISM,AND DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN INTEREST IN JUDAISM'S RELIGION, CULTURE AND TRADITIONS BY THE ERECTION, SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF SYNAGOGUES,CENTERS, EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, SCHOOLS, VACATION CAMPS, LIBRARIES, CONDUCT OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE, MINYANIM, AND OTHER SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THESE OBJECTIVES, UNDER THE GOVERNANCE OF THE MOETZES GEDOLEI HATORAH, THE RABBINICAL BOARD, WHICH IS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OF ALL DECISIONS.
- Income
- $24.6 million
- Spending
- $28.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- -1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 49%
- Employees
- 404
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $407,899, coo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 30 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 49% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 77 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2560 of 60 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 August 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 (4)
- $8.3 million spent. OPERATE SUMMER CAMPS FOR ORTHODOX JEWISH YOUTH AND CHILDREN. AGUDATH ISRAEL'S CAMP PROGRAMS PROVIDE OVER TWO THOUSAND YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THEIR SUMMERS IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT BENEFITS BOTH THEIR SPIRITS AND BODIES THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF CREATIVE ACTIVITIES WHICH INTEGRATE JEWISH STUDY, RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND VALUES DIRECTLY INTO THE CAMP PROGRAM.AS A RESULT, THESE YOUNGSTERS REMAIN ENGAGED AND INCREASE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN RELIGIOUS LIFE AS THEY GROW INTO ADULTHOOD.
- $4.8 million spent. PUBLIC AFFAIRS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF AGUDATH ISRAEL'S PUBLIC AFFAIRS ACTIVITIES IS TO ENSURE THAT THE RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF ORTHODOX JEWS ARE PROTECTED. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A MYRIAD OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE ONGOING MONITORING OF THE MEDIA AS IT AFFECTS THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY, INTERACTING WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLICATION OF ARTICLES AND BRIEFS WHICH ADDRESS TIMELY CONCERNS,INTERACTING WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICALS ON ALL LEVELS ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF JEWISH SACRED CUSTOMS AND THE SAFEGUARDING OF TORAH VALUES.
- $2.2 million spent. COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES: A MYRIAD OF ACTIVITIES BENEFITING THOUSANDS FROM THE YOUNG TO THE SENIOR ARE CONDUCTED. THESE INCLUDE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, HOMEOWNER COUNSELING SERVICES, SOCIAL ACTIVIES FOR HOMEBOUND AND HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN, MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR TROUBLED TEENS, PARENT COACHING AND SUPPORT SERVICES, MEDIATION OF DISPUTES, AND SENIOR CITIZENS AND NURSING HOME VISITATIONS.
- $6.2 million spent. YOUTH ACTIVITIES: TO FOSTER THE STRENGHTENING OF JEWISH HERITAGE AND VALUES BY PROVIDING VARIOUS TORAH PROGRAMS,AFTER-SCHOOL AND WEEKEND ACTIVIES, AND SUPERVISED SERVICES AND EXTRA CURRICULAR PROGRAMS FOR THOUSANDS OF JEWISH YOUNGSTERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.EMERGENCY RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE: TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AS WELL AS MORAL AND THERAPEUTIC ASSISTANCE TO THOSE SUFFERING HARDSHIPS AS A RESULT OF CATASTROPHIC OCCURENCES INCLUDING ILLNESS,LOSS OF INCOME,NATURAL DISASTERS AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES CREATING ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES.INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE: TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND MORAL ASSISTANCE TO THOUSANDS OF NEEDY JEWISH FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, INCLUDING FOOD PACKAGES, INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES, RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE.EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES: EACH YEAR THOUSANDS ARE PROVIDED WITH VOCATIONAL COUNSELING, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, REFERRALS AND JOB TRAINING IN ORDER TO PREPARE THESE INDIVIDUALS TO EARN A MEANINGFUL LIVELIHOOD THEREBY ENABLING THEM TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. SPECIFIC EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB DUE TO COMPANY DOWNSIZING OR MERGERS AS A RESULT OF THE DEPRESSED ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.TORAH PROJECTS.AGUDATH ISRAEL'S TORAH PROJECTS PROGRAMS PROVIDE TENS OF THOUSANDS IN THE BROAD JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND NUMEROUS AGUDATH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WITH A WEALTH OF RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.INCLUDED ARE LECTURES BY WELL-KNOWN TORAH PERSONALITIES, STUDY PROGRAMS IN JEWISH LAW AND CULTURE,RELIGIOUS SERVICES, FORUMS FOR STRENGTHENING TORAH VALUES AND PRACTICE IN COMMUNITY LIFE, AND GRANTS TO OTHER GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE RELIGIOUS,EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PROGRAMS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS OF THE ORGANIZATION WHICH IS PRIMARILY AND FOREMOST TO PERPETUATE JEWISH RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AND OBSERVANCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1947.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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