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Jewish Community Center on the Palisades

EIN 22-1487220 · Tenafly, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEEPLY ROOTED IN JEWISH VALUES AND TRADITION, THE KAPLEN JCC ON THE PALISADES IS A VIBRANT HOME FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE THAT WELCOMES ALL AND CULTIVATES THE SOCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

Income
$34.0 million
Spending
$28.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
852
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$456,260, ceo (through 1/25)

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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

    49 of 49 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 June 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 (4)
  1. $7.6 million spent. YOUTH PROGRAM - EARLY CHILDHOOD, YOUTH SERVICES, DAY CAMP: SERVING PROGRAMS. PROVIDED AFTER SCHOOL CARE, RECREATION AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS. IN ADDITION WE SERVED 650+ CHILDREN IN DAY CAMP.
  2. $5.7 million spent. HEALTH & WELLNESS - OUR GOAL IS TO PROMOTE HEALTH, WELLNESS AND WORKING WITH OTHERS AND INSTILLING GOOD CITIZENSHIP. FITNESS HAS MORE THAN 28,500 MEMBERS VISIT OUR FACILITIES EVERY MONTH. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MEMBERS A MONTH USING OUR EXERCISE ROOMS, SWIMMING POOLS, BASKETBALL COURTS, AND INDOOR TRACK. THE EXPERIENCED STAFF WORKS WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES.
  3. $3.3 million spent. PERFORMING ARTS - THE PERFORMING ARTS APPROXIMATELY 500 ENROLLEES IN DANCE PROGRAMS, APPROXIMATELY 300 PER SEMESTER IN DRAMATIC ARTS PROGRAMS AND OVER 400 STUDENTS IN OUR RENOWNED COMMUNITY SCHOOL. THE MUSIC SCHOOL CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH THE ENGLEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDING MUSIC EDUCATION TO 70 FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED INNER CITY YOUTHS. THE DANCE, MUSIC AND DRAMATIC ARTS STUDENTS PERFORM FOR THE SENIOR ADULT CENTER AND AT LOCAL CENTERS FOR THE DISABLED.
  4. $5.1 million spent. COMMUNITYJCC OFFERS EXTENSIVE, HIGH-QUALITY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO ADULTS OF ALL AGES INCLUDING SENIORS THROUGH THE KAPLEN ADULT REACH CENTER (ARC) AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THROUGH THE GUTTENBERG CENTER FOR SPECIAL SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1952.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.