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Jewish Federation of Cleveland

EIN 34-0714445 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND SEEKS TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY, ITS MEMBERS, AND JEWS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD; ENHANCE THE CONTINUITY, SECURITY, AND UNITY OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY; INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF JEWISH VALUES AND THEIR (CONT. SCHEDULE O) APPLICATION TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES; ENCOURAGE OUR MEMBERS TO FULFILL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TIKKUN OLAM, TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE; SUPPORT ISRAEL AS A JEWISH AND DEMOCRATIC STATE; AND PROMOTE COLLECTIVE ACTION BY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVANCE THESE PURPOSES.

Income
$150.5 million
Spending
$101.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
43.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
262
Volunteers
901
Highest pay
$858,267, president * see sch o

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 43.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    135 of 136 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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)
  1. $75.6 million spent. ALLOCATIONS AND GRANTS FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS FROM THE CAMPAIGN FOR JEWISH NEEDS ARE MADE TO 15 LOCAL BENEFICIARIES AND PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS TO A NUMBER OF U.S. ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCTING PROGRAMS TO MEET THE SOCIAL WELFARE, RELIGIOUS, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. ENDOWMENT FUND GRANTS ARE DESCRIBED FURTHER ON SCHEDULE D, PART V, LINE 4 AND PART XIII. GRANTS FROM DONOR ADVISED FUNDS SUPPORT JEWISH AND NON-JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE MISSIONS ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE FEDERATION'S MISSION.
  2. $1.9 million spent. 4B. DIRECT SERVICES INCLUDE PROGRAMS THAT HELP MEET THE SOCIAL WELFARE, RELIGIOUS, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN CLEVELAND, ISRAEL, AND AROUND THE WORLD. THESE INCLUDE:1. THE JEWISH VOLUNTEER NETWORK (JVN) CONNECTS VOLUNTEERS TO A WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES IN BOTH THE JEWISH AND GENERAL COMMUNITY. IN THE PAST YEAR, JVN VOLUNTEER EFFORTS HAVE INCLUDED FEEDING THE HUNGRY, CARING FOR THE SICK, HELPING THE NEEDY, BEAUTIFYING COMMUNITY CEMETERIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, AND MANY OTHERS. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THROUGH JVN ARE OFFERED DAILY, WEEKLY, BI-MONTHLY, OR CAN BE TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL SCHEDULES. FEDERATION'S COMMUNITY OPTIONS AND JEWISH COMMUNITY HOUSING PROGRAMS HELP 900 SENIORS IN THE (SEE SCH O) COMMUNITY LIVE LONGER INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH PROVISION OF ACTIVITIES, ON-SITE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND SERVICE REFERRALS.2. THE OVERSEAS CONNECTIONS COMMITTEE OVERSEES AND RECOMMENDS FUNDING TO JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA AND OTHER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR A MYRIAD OF SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS THAT HELP DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS, AND FAMILIES IN ISRAEL, UKRAINE, AND AROUND THE WORLD TO FOSTER THE REVIVAL OF JEWISH LIFE. CLEVELANDERS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THESE INITIATIVES. 3. THE FEDERATION'S PJ LIBRARY PROGRAM FOR JEWISH FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN (BIRTH TO 12 YEARS), HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 133,000 BOOKS TO OVER 4,300 CHILDREN (SINCE JANUARY 2009) AND ORGANIZED A LARGE RANGE OF EVENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY AROUND THE PROGRAM.4. ACCESS JEWISH CLEVELAND, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE INFORMATION & REFERRAL SERVICE, IS A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ACCESS EITHER THROUGH PERSONALIZED, CONFIDENTIAL PHONE ASSISTANCE OR A WEBSITE. THE PROGRAM IS A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FEDERATION, ITS BENEFICIARY AGENCIES, SYNAGOGUES, AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CLEVELAND JEWISH COMMUNITY AND PROVIDED ACCESS TO A HOST OF INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. FEDERATION'S ROUNDTABLE ON FINANCIAL DISTRESS CONVENES ALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH CLIENTS FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP SO THEY CAN NETWORK AND COLLABORATE ON IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THEIR CLIENTS. AS A RESULT OF THIS ROUNDTABLE, THE FRONT-LINE STAFF FROM EVERY ORGANIZATION HAVE UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF COLLABORATION TO SERVE THE CLIENTS. THIS COLLABORATION LEVERAGES THE SPECIALTIES AND EXPERTISE OF EACH ORGANIZATION AND MAXIMIZES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SERVICES DELIVERED TO CLIENTS BY EACH AND EVERY ORGANIZATION. THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COORDINATING EFFORTS OF ACCESS JEWISH CLEVELAND.5. THE CLEVELAND ISRAEL ARTS CONNECTION IS A PROGRAM OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND, CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE MOST DYNAMIC 21ST CENTURY CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT ISRAEL HAS TO OFFER. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHEAST OHIO'S LEADING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, WE STRIVE TO IDENTIFY, ENHANCE, PROMOTE, AND CREATE UNIQUE AND ENGAGING ISRAELI CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES. THOUSANDS OF CLEVELANDERS ENJOY ATTENDING ISRAELI CULTURAL EVENTS PRESENTED BY OUR FINE ARTS PARTNERS. THE ROE GREEN GALLERY, LOCATED AT THE FEDERATION, HOSTED ART EXHIBITIONS DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO BOTH THE JEWISH AND GENERAL COMMUNITY AUDIENCES.
  3. $8.5 million spent. 4C. INDIRECT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FEDERATION THROUGH ITS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE:1. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH CULTIVATES AND DEVELOPS LEADERSHIP FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.2. THE PLANNING AND ALLOCATIONS DEPARTMENT, WHICH WORKS WITH A NETWORK OF 15 LOCAL BENEFICIARIES AND PROGRAMS TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS, ENGAGES IN LONG-TERM AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, AND ALLOCATES FUNDS TO PRIORITY PROGRAMS. THE COMMUNITY PLANNING COMMITTEE INITIATED A COMPREHENSIVE DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY OF COMPOSITION, TRENDS, AND POTENTIAL NEEDS OF THE CLEVELAND JEWISH COMMUNITY. THE FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY (SEE SCH O) WILL HELP THE FEDERATION, JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO PREPARE FOR THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THE COMING YEARS.3. THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE (CRC) SERVES AS THE CENTRAL COORDINATING AND RESOURCE BODY FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS FIELD. THE CRC POSITIONS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AS AN ACTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE CIVIC LIFE OF GREATER CLEVELAND. BY DEVELOPING COLLABORATIVE AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER ETHNIC, RACIAL, CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS, AND BY PROACTIVELY COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM, THE CRC HELPS SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS AND SECURITY OF JEWS IN GREATER CLEVELAND AND AROUND THE WORLD. THE CRC MOBILIZES JEWISH COMMUNITY MEMBERS BASED UPON THE JEWISH VALUES OF TZEDAKAH (SOCIAL JUSTICE), TIKKUN OLAM (REPAIRING THE WORLD), AND CHESED (ACTS OF KINDNESS).4. CENTRAL SERVICES PROVIDE BENEFIT PROGRAMS, SECURITY ADVICE, RISK MANAGEMENT ADVICE, INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE, FUND FOR CAPITAL REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS, AND TRAINING AND INFORMATION ON TOPICS SUCH AS SECURITY, RETIREMENT PLANNING, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO THE FEDERATION'S 15 LOCAL BENEFICIARIES AND PROGRAMS.5. THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE ADVOCATES ON ISSUES SUCH AS FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM, STRENGTHENING THE OHIO-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP, SECURITY, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, TRANSPORTATION, AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND NUTRITION, HELPING CLEVELAND CITIZENS RECEIVE NEEDED SERVICES AND SUPPORT.6. THE ENDOWMENTS AND FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO HIGH PRIORITY FEDERATION INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS AND OFFERS DONORS OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND INNOVATIVE AND PRIORITY CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS, AND PROMOTES COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE FEDERATION AND OTHER FUNDERS IN CLEVELAND.7. THE FEDERATION PROVIDES FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR SECURITY SERVICES TO LOCAL JEWISH BENEFICIARY AGENCIES, SYNAGOGUES, JEWISH PRESCHOOLS, AND OTHER JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS. THE FEDERATION ENGAGES JFC SECURITY, LLC (A SINGLE-MEMBER LLC WITH THE FEDERATION AS ITS MEMBER) AS ITS PRIMARY PROVIDER OF SUCH 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

  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 June 2025.

    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 August 1952.

    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.

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