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Spokane Jewish Family Services

EIN 31-1677534 · Spokane, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE AID TO FAMILIES THROUGH A SERIES OF PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: 1) SENIOR SUPPORT SYSTEM. PROVIDING SERVICES TO SENIOR CITIZENS DISTANT FROM FELLOW FAMILY MEMBERS. KEEPING RELATIVES INFORMED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR LOVED ONES AND RECOMMEND PLANS FOR FUTURE, INCLUDING FUNERAL PLANNING. WE PROVIDE ONGOING REASSURANCE TELEPHONE CALLS, HOME AND HOSPITAL VISITS, TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS, EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY, INFORMATION AND EDUCATION, REFERRALS TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND RESOURCES, ARRANGING SOCIAL INTERACTION EVENTS, AND GROUP EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL OUTINGS. 2) SERVICE FOR YOUTH. PROGRAMS FOCUS ON LITERACY, JEWISH CULTURE, AND DEEPENING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-12 AND THEIR PARENTS. 3) DIRECT SERVICE CLIENT SUPPORT. PROVIDING SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH FOOD BANK, ADVOCACY, DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND REFERRALS TO RELEVANT LOCAL RESOURCES.

Income
$234,947
Spending
$140,872
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
24.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
3
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$69,584, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (3)
  1. $100,400 spent. SENIORS BENEFIT FROM OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, WHETHER THAT MEANS SOCIALIZING AND LEARNING AT THE MONTHLY JFS LUNCHEON; BORROWING A WALKER FROM OUR MEDICAL LENDING CLOSET; GETTING A RIDE FROM JFS TO A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT OR JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENT; OR SIMPLY KNOWING THEY HAVE AN UNBREAKABLE LINK TO A COMMUNITY THAT CARES. MANY OF OUR SENIOR CLIENTS DO NOT LIVE NEAR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT AND CARE. JFS CAN BE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR DISTANT FAMILIES. WE KEEP RELATIVES INFORMED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES AND RECOMMEND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. WE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES TO SENIOR CLIENTS: ONGOING REASSURANCE TELEPHONE CALLS. HOME HOSPITAL VISITS. TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS. EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY. ERRAND AND CHORE SERVICES. MEDICAL LENDING CLOSET (BORROW CANES, WALKERS, WHEELCHAIRS, ECT.), FREE OF CHARGE. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. CLIENT ADVOCACY AND REFERRALS TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND RESOURCES. MORE THAN 327 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED DURING 2024. OTHER STATISTICS CAN BE FOUND ON THE ORGANIZATIONS WEBSITE. THE FOOD PANTRY HAS SERVED MORE THAN 10 HOUSEHOLDS, IN 26 INSTANCES OF SERVICE AND ABOUT 230 LBS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY. DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED DURING THE YEAR AS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE O FOR PART 1 LINE 10. MORE THAN 10,000 IN GRANTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT WAS AWARDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. SENIORS BENEFIT FROM OUR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, WHETHER THAT MEANS SOCIALIZING AND LEARNING AT THE MONTHLY JFS LUNCHEON; BORROWING A WALKER FROM OUR MEDICAL LENDING CLOSET; GETTING A RIDE FROM JFS TO A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT OR JEWISH COMMUNITY EVENT; OR SIMPLY KNOWING THEY HAVE AN UNBREAKABLE LINK TO A COMMUNITY THAT CARES. MANY OF OUR SENIOR CLIENTS DO NOT LIVE NEAR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT AND CARE. JFS CAN BE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR DISTANT FAMILIES. WE KEEP RELATIVES INFORMED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES AND RECOMMEND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. WE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES TO SENIOR CLIENTS: ONGOING REASSURANCE TELEPHONE CALLS. HOME HOSPITAL VISITS. TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS. EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY. ERRAND AND CHORE SERVICES. MEDICAL LENDING CLOSET (BORROW CANES, WALKERS, WHEELCHAIRS, ECT.), FREE OF CHARGE. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. CLIENT ADVOCACY AND REFERRALS TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND RESOURCES. MORE THAN 327 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED DURING 2024. OTHER STATISTICS CAN BE FOUND ON THE ORGANIZATIONS WEBSITE. THE FOOD PANTRY HAS SERVED MORE THAN 10 HOUSEHOLDS, IN 26 INSTANCES OF SERVICE AND ABOUT 230 LBS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY. DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED DURING THE YEAR AS DESCRIBED IN SCHEDULE O FOR PART 1 LINE 10. MORE THAN 10,000 IN GRANTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT WAS AWARDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
  2. $4,107 spent. PJ LIBRARY SENDS FREE JEWISH CHILDRENS BOOKS TO FAMILITES ACROSS THE WORLD EVERY MONTH. THE LOCAL SPOKANE PROGRAM SERVES 130 CHILDREN ANNUALLY.
  3. $16,919 spent. THE SPOKANE JEWISH CULTURAL FILM FESTIVAL BRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILMS TO SPOKANE THAT SHARE JEWISH LIFE AND CULTURE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 October 13, 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 December 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 2000.

    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 October 21, 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.