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Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg

EIN 23-1352338 · Harrisburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ENSURE THAT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF GREATER HARRISBURG FLOURISHES BY SERVING AS ITS CENTRAL UNIFYING COMMUNAL ORGANIZATION, AND BY STRENGTHENING THE BONDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH ISRAEL AND JEWS AROUND THE WORLD.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$8.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
161
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$109,992, interim pres

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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $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 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 (5)
  1. $2.2 million spent. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES CARE TO INFANTS THROUGH PRE- KINDERGARTEN. THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED BY THE PA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. IT IS A KEYSTONE FOUR STARS FACILITY (HIGHEST RATING POSSIBLE FROM THE COMMONWEALTH) FEATURING AN INTERACTIVE GARDEN, ART EDUCATION, NUTRITION AND WELLNESS AS PART OF ITS CURRICULUM. WE SERVE UP TO 150 CHILDREN.
  2. $926,186 spent. A MULTITUDE OF SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED TO MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS. THE PROGRAMS RANGE FROM AFTERCARE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN TO A KOSHER NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR SENIORS. THE PROGRAMS SEEK TO MEET THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, WHICH WOULD ALSO INCLUDE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION, ISRAELI PROGRAMMING, AND HEBREW HIGH PROGRAMMING. NEARLY 400 CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE BOOKS THROUGH OUR PJ LIBRARY PROGRAM. 2,066 HOUSEHOLDS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSPAPER "COMMUNITY REVIEW" WHICH IS ISSUED EVERY OTHER WEEK ALONG WITH OUR ONLINE EDITION WWW.COMMMUNITYREVIEWHBG.ORG. COMMUNITY REVIEW IS A BIWEEKLY PAPER THAT COVERS ISSUES OF CONCERN AND INTEREST TO MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
  3. $835,163 spent. A SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM IS HELD EACH YEAR FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. THE CAMP IS HELD AT THE GREEN HILLS FACILITY. A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES IS PLANNED EACH YEAR FOR EACH AGE GROUP TO PROVIDE CAMPERS WITH AN EXCITING OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE. THE GREEN HILLS FACILITY IS LOCATED IN FISHING CREEK VALLEY JUST NORTH OF HARRISBURG AND IS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE FACILITY INCLUDES A SWIMMING POOL, VARIOUS SPORTS FIELDS AND PICNIC GROUNDS.
  4. $2.6 million spent. THE SPORTS, FITNESS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDES OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF ALL FITNESS FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. IT ALSO ORGANIZES AND SUPERVISES ALL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING IN PERSON AND 400 VIRTUAL FITNESS CLASSES, BASKETBALL PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES, FROM IDDY BIDDY TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITIONS AND ADULT PICK-UP GAMES, THE MACCABI GAMES, ROCKSTEADY BOXING, GIRLS ON THE RUN, NUMEROUS AQUATICS ACTIVITIES (FREE SWIM, SWIM LESSONS INCLUDING TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, WATER AEROBICS, SWIM TEAM, EDUCATIONAL AND SAFETY COURSES), AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY 5K AND CORPORATE CLASH. THERE WERE OVER 300 UNIQUE YOUTH AS PART OF REGISTRATIONS FOR YOUTH PROGRAMMING. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES IN NEED PARTICIPATING AT OUR ELC AND DAY CAMP. MONIES ARE PAID TO LOCAL AND NATIONAL JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS.
  5. THE SPORTS, FITNESS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDES OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF ALL FITNESS FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT. IT ALSO ORGANIZES AND SUPERVISES ALL PROGRAMMING INCLUDING IN PERSON AND 400 VIRTUAL FITNESS CLASSES, BASKETBALL PROGRAMMING FOR ALL AGES, FROM IDDY BIDDY TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITIONS AND ADULT PICK-UP GAMES, THE MACCABI GAMES, ROCKSTEADY BOXING, GIRLS ON THE RUN, NUMEROUS AQUATICS ACTIVITIES (FREE SWIM, SWIM LESSONS INCLUDING TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, WATER AEROBICS, SWIM TEAM, EDUCATIONAL AND SAFETY COURSES), AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY 5K AND CORPORATE CLASH. THERE WERE OVER 300 UNIQUE YOUTH AS PART OF REGISTRATIONS FOR YOUTH PROGRAMMING. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES IN NEED PARTICIPATING AT OUR ELC AND DAY CAMP. MONIES ARE PAID TO LOCAL AND NATIONAL JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 August 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 January 1949.

    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 November 4, 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.