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Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo Inc

EIN 16-0760887 · Getzville, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE JCC IS TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THE JEWISH AND WNY COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH JEWISH VALUES.

Income
$11.9 million
Spending
$12.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
595
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$200,854, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 (4)
  1. $1.2 million spent. THE JCC AFTER-SCHOOL AND DAY CAMP PROGRAMS ANNUALLY SERVE APPROXIMATELY 600 CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 4 TO 13. THE FOUNDATION OF THESE PROGRAMS IS TO PROVIDE A SETTING THAT IS SAFE AND NURTURING ALONG WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO FACILITATE CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT, CONFIDENCE AND INDIVIDUALITY. THESE PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE COMBINE ALL ELEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS AND INCLUDE STRUCTURED PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SWIMMING ACTIVITIES. AS A RESULT, A WELL-ROUNDED EXPERIENCE FOR EACH CHILD IS PROVIDED. INCORPORATING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES WITHIN THIS EDUCATIONAL SETTING ENHANCES THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT OF EACH PARTICIPANT THEREBY BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE CHILDREN TO ENJOY SUCCESS NOT ONLY IN SCHOOL BUT IN THEIR LIVES OVERALL AS WELL.
  2. $2.9 million spent. THE JCC HEALTH, FITNESS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SERVES APPROXIMATELY 5,000 TO 6,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY BETWEEN OUR CITY AND SUBURBAN LOCATIONS. OUR PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND INCLUDE A DIVERSIFIED PROGRAM OF FITNESS, SPORT AND RECREATION, AQUATICS, POST-REHABILITATION AND PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THE JCC IS SEEN AS A FRONT RUNNER IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS BECAUSE OF ITS COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE PROJECTS WHICH ADDRESS HEALTH INITIATIVES INCLUDING TYPE 2 DIABETES PROGRAMS, ARTHRITIC WATER EXERCISE CLASSES, AND BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR WORKOUT PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION WE OFFER FITNESS-FOUNDATION CLASSES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE JUST BEGINNING THEIR FITNESS JOURNEY'S AS WELL AS AN ESCALATING SET OF ROBUST PROGRAMS TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF AN EVER EVOLVING COMMUNITY.
  3. $5.5 million spent. THE JCC EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 400-500 PARTICIPANTS AGES 6 WEEKS - 5 YEARS. OUR COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOCUSES ON COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SKILL BUILDING. IT INCLUDES ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES (MUSIC, SWIMMING, FITNESS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION, ART, MOVEMENT AND DANCE); A MULTI-CULTURAL CURRICULUM (CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS THROUGH MUSIC, CRAFTS, STORIES AND DRAMATIC PLAY); AND STRESSES PEER RELATIONSHIPS AND DEVELOPING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THE JCC PROVIDES ITS FAMILY PARTICIPANTS A SAFE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WITH FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING, YEAR-ROUND CARE AVAILABILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE PARENTING SKILLS THROUGH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT.
  4. $1.5 million spent. OTHER VARIOUS SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDED FOR THE WESTERN NEW YORK COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE OPERATION OF THREE FACILITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 2026.

    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 July 1951.

    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.