Jewish Childrens Folkshul
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 50% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION IS A SECULAR HUMANIST PRIVATE SUNDAY SCHOOL, WHICH TEACHES JEWISH HISTORY, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE TO APPROXIMATELY 70 CHILDREN.
- Income
- $204,516
- Spending
- $186,465
- Spent on programs
- 50%
- Reserves
- 5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Good: 70 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1550% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Fair: 62 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $29,247 spent. Youth Education Program: At the core of Folkshul is its youth education program, serving K-9th grade students with weekly instruction by certified teachers on Sunday mornings. The Folkshul curriculum is centered on fostering an identity through learning about the ideas, values, ethics, activities, traditions and celebrations of secular humanistic Jews and providing opportunities for students to practice what they learn. After completion of the 9th grade, our students are given the opportunity to become working assistants in our classrooms and community until their graduation from High School. Over 75% of rising 10th graders become Folkshul Assistants each year.
- $4,972 spent. Breit Mitzvah Program: Folkshul offers Bar and Bat Mitzvah in a manner unique to secular humanistic Jews. Working with a mentor, the child will spend several months researching and developing a presentation for their family, friends, classmates, and the Folkshul community. Together with the Lifecycle Coordinator, the family prepares a ceremony which reflects their love for, and ties to one another as well as their connection to their Jewish past and future. Our community is diverse, and the process of becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in our community allows significant room for the students and their families to express their own feelings and orientations towards their Jewishness, integrating his/her personal interests with his/her Jewish values and knowledge. Topics of recent Breit Mitzvah include: Jewish Immigration; HIAS and Todays Immigration; Jewish Food; Mythology; Anti- Jewish Propaganda in Nazi Germany; Klezmer Music; African American and Jewish Relations; History of the Bar Mitzvah and Rites of Passage in other Cultures; The Plight of Argentinean Jews; The Use of Wine in Jewish Tradition; and Art Created by Concentration Camp Victims.
- $58,540 spent. ALL OTHER MEMBER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
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
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 June 2025.
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 September 1977.
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.
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.