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Louis August Jonas Foundation Inc

EIN 14-1387863 · Rhinebeck, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LAJF HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE GROW INTELLECTUALLY, ETHICALLY, AND GLOBALLY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
57.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
43
Volunteers
135
Highest pay
$178,929, executive director 10/1/24 - 6/30/25

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

Good: 75 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 57.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 (1)
  1. $1.6 million spent. FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS, THE LOUIS AUGUST JONAS FOUNDATION HAS TRAINED YOUNG PEOPLE IN ETHICAL LEADERSHIP THAT IS ROOTED IN SERVING OTHERS. OUR INTERNATIONAL, SCHOLARSHIP-BASED PROGRAMS BRING TOGETHER YOUTH FROM MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, EXPAND THEIR WORLDVIEWS, AND GROW AS INDIVIDUALS. THROUGH OUR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING MODEL, OUR PARTICIPANTS GAIN THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF OUR TIME. THIS LIFE-ALTERING EXPERIENCE MOTIVATES YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE IN WAYS BIG AND SMALL. LAJF REMAINS COMMITTED TO OFFERING EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TO OUR ACTIVE NETWORK OF 6,600 ALUMS WORLDWIDE, WHO SHARE A COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A BETTER WORLD FOR US ALL. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O PROGRAM CONTINUED LAJF OFFERS BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PRACTICE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, CHALLENGE THEMSELVES, AND JOIN A GLOBAL NETWORK OF ETHICAL LEADERS. PARTICIPANTS FROM MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES LEAD AND FOLLOW THEIR PEERS AND LEARN BY DOING IN A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SPACE. OUR HIGHLY INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE ISSUES OF CULTURAL IDENTITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ACTION, SUSTAINABILITY, THE ARTS, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY. OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, CAMP RISING SUN CRS, IS AN IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE HELD EACH SUMMER IN UPSTATE NEW YORK WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE LEAD. TYPICALLY, THERE ARE TWO 4-WEEK CAMP SESSIONS - ONE FOR APPROXIMATELY 65 BOYS AND NON-BINARY YOUTHS, AND THE OTHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 65 GIRLS AND NON-BINARY YOUTHS. SELECTION IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND IS BASED ON INTELLECT DEMONSTRATED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND AN ABILITY TO THINK CRITICALLY, CHARACTER HONESTY, COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL SELF-CONFIDENCE, OPENNESS AND FAIRNESS IN DEALING WITH OTHERS, AND INDIVIDUALITY DEVELOPED ABILITIES AND INTERESTS. A SPECIAL FOCUS OF THE CAMP EXPERIENCE IS THE NURTURING OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS. THE ETHICAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TELE IS A VIRTUAL, TWO-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM. TWO TELE SESSIONS ARE OFFERED EACH SUMMER WITH A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 100 CAMPERS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMS. TELE PROVIDES A SPACE FOR DISCUSSION AND LEARNING SURROUNDING THE CRS MISSION AND VALUES. WHILE THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT AIM TO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE TRADITIONAL IN-PERSON PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM SHARES MANY WELL-LOVED ASPECTS OF CAMP, INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS, LEADERSHIP ROLES, AND A FOCUS ON CURRICULUM THAT REFLECTS THE CRS PEDAGOGY OF REFLECTION AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. CAMPERS ATTEND RISING SUN PROGRAMS FOR ONLY ONE OR TWO SUMMERS. ALTHOUGH, MANY CAMPERS RETURN TO CRS TO WORK AS COUNSELORS. THE CRS PROGRAM IS MEANT TO SERVE AS A WATERSHED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIVIDUALS IDENTITY. ITS SUCCESS LIES IN ENCOURAGING IN EACH CAMPER THE FULLEST REALIZATION OF THEIR INTELLECTUAL, CULTURAL ARTISTIC, MUSICAL, AND LITERARY, HUMANISTIC AND ETHICAL CAPABILITIES. IN THE SHORTER TERM, THROUGH THE CAMP EXPERIENCE, CAMPERS CAN DEVELOP NEW SELF-AWARENESS, INCREASED SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND ENHANCED PERCEPTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM. MANY CAMPERS DO NOT FEEL THE FULL IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM UNTIL WELL AFTER THE END OF THE CAMP SEASON. AFTER CAMP RISING SUN HAS ENDED, ALUMNI CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH SERVING ON CAMPER SELECTION AND BOARD COMMITTEES AND ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS. THE CAMP RISING SUN ALUMNI COMMUNITY IS VIBRANT, WITH A WORLDWIDE NETWORK THAT HOSTS NUMEROUS REGIONAL GATHERINGS EACH YEAR. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT ALUMNI PURSUING UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREES THROUGH THE GEORGE E. JONAS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND, IN 2015, STARTED TO OFFER FELLOWSHIP POSITIONS IN A VARIETY OF AREAS RELATED TO NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. WITH THE ONE EXCEPTION NOTED BELOW, THERE IS NO TUITION ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATION IN THE CRSS OVERNIGHT CAMP. TEENS AGES 15 - 16 ARE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR CAMP PROGRAM INDEPENDENTLY OF FINANCIAL MEANS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO OVER 6,600 STUDENTS REPRESENTING 30 COUNTRIES AND 15 STATES. LEGACY CAMPERS -- THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF CRS ALUMNI -- PAY TUITION TO ATTEND CRS. APPROXIMATELY 5-10 LEGACY CAMPERS ATTEND CRS EACH SESSION. CAMPERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN CRS VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ARE ALSO CHARGED TUITION, BUT ELIGIBLE VIRTUAL CAMPERS MAY RECEIVE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS OR TUITION ASSISTANCE. THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION IS SUPPORTED THROUGH ANNUAL WITHDRAWALS FROM THE PORTFOLIO AND SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ALUMNI, PARENTS OF ALUMNI, AND OTHER OUTSIDE SOURCES.

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 April 1938.

    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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