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Americans for Ben-Gurion University Inc

EIN 23-7270753 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A4BGU ELEVATES AWARENESS, STRENGTHENS DONOR BONDS, AND RAISES FUNDS FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV (BGU) ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. WE SHOWCASE BGU'S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH TO INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE MEDIA.

Income
$74.0 million
Spending
$69.0 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
46
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$772,475, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 250% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    53 of 53 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, 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 (4)
  1. $58.5 million spent. BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY (BGU) SUPPORT: A4BGU RAISES FUNDS WITHIN THE U.S. FOR BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY. SUPPORT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, GRANTS FOR ONGOING OPERATIONS (E.G. SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS, STUDENT ACTIVITIES), ACADEMIC RESEARCH (E.G. WATER/ENVIRONMENT, CYBER SECURITY, ROBOTICS/ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS), FACULTY RECRUITMENT, CAPITAL PROJECTS (E.G. DORMITORIES, RESEARCH LABS, CLASSROOM BUILDINGS, CONFERENCE FACILITIES), COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISRAEL'S NEGEV REGION (E.G. VOLUNTEER AND SOCIAL ACTION TO UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS, BEDOUIN SUPPORT, YOUTH CLUBS, MENTORING/TUTORING, UNIVERSITY PREP PROGRAMS, ETC.).
  2. $1.6 million spent. RAISING AWARENESS & EDUCATION PROGRAM: A4BGU RAISES AWARENESS IN THE U.S. TO POTENTIAL DONORS ABOUT BGU AND THE NEGEV REGION IN GENERAL. A4BGU ALSO EDUCATES CURRENT AND POTENTIAL DONORS ON VARIOUS RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS THE NEGEV REGION IN GENERAL. A4BGU SHOWCASES BGU'S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH TO INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE MEDIA THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND INFORMATIVE DIGITAL AND PRINT COMMUNICATIONS FEATURING BGU'S WORLD-RENOWNED RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
  3. $203,229 spent. ZIN FELLOWS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: THE A4BGU ZIN FELLOWS PROGRAM IS AN INSPIRING AND TRANSFORMATIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTSTANDING AMERICANS IN THEIR 30S-50S. THE EIGHTEEN MONTH PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWO IN-PERSON GATHERINGS IN THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWED BY AN IMMERSIVE ISRAEL EXPERIENCE. ZIN FELLOWS REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE BEST IN TERMS OF THE NEXT GENERATION. THEY ARE CURRENT AND FUTURE AMERICAN COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE ROLE BGU PLAYS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEGEV AND THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL.
  4. $133,434 spent. THE MEDICAL SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH (MSIH) PROGRAM: MSIH AT BGU IS A UNIQUE MEDICAL SCHOOL THAT INCORPORATES GLOBAL HEALTH COMPONENTS INTO ALL FOUR YEARS OF THE CORE M.D. CURRICULUM. AS A SMALL AND PRESTIGIOUS MEDICAL SCHOOL, MSIH OFFERS AN M.D. PROGRAM THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR A CAREER GOING FAR BEYOND THE HOSPITAL OR PRIVATE CLINIC. STUDENTS GAIN THE TRAINING NECESSARY TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT BY PRACTICING MEDICINE WHILE MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL HEALTH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 July 1973.

    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.