Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
A social service agency, JFS strengthens lives and our diverse community by providing exceptional and transformational human services. Services include: Counseling, Case Management, Financial and Food Support, Home Care, Senior Services, and Post-Adoption Support. JFS provides trauma informed care to roughly 120 Holocaust Survivors, and assists people who fled Anti-Semitism in the USSR with ongoing going programming and support.
- Income
- $10.8 million
- Spending
- $10.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 144
- Volunteers
- 90
- Highest pay
- $201,605, chief executive officer
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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (4)
- $5.6 million spent. Aging & Caregiver Services provides case management, counseling, outreach to isolated seniors, therapeutic social programming and caregiver support to help older adults retain their quality of life and age in place successfully. We address the unique needs of clients through our program areas: the Center for Holocaust Survivors, the Russian Jewish Cultural Center, AgeWell Cincinnati, K'vod Connect, and case management and counseling services. Our Adult Day Care offers participants socialization and enrichment and respite for caregivers.
- $1.3 million spent. StarPoint Home Care provides 24/7 non-medical, in-home assistance services for senior adults to support daily living activities and to help older adults maintain their independence and live with dignity and security.
- $1.4 million spent. The Barbash Family Vital Support Center provides a holistic set of programs and services to help vulnerable individuals affected by economic hardship and/or mental illness, in an environment that is culturally sensitive and affirming. Programs and services include food assistance through the Heldman Family Food Pantry, emergency financial assistance, homelessness prevention, case management, and therapeutic social programming.
- $1.0 million spent. Youth Mental Health delivers effective interventions to meet the mental health needs of Jewish youth, teens and young adults, and their families in Greater Cincinnati. This program targets the high impact/high risk area of Jewish youth and young adults (ages 11-26) where we see the biggest gap in 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
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 December 2024.
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 February 1960.
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.