The Board of Jewish Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND JEWISH EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 32
- Volunteers
- 20
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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (2)
- $1.5 million spent. EARLY CHILD CENTER (ECC) - BJE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER IS A REGGIO-INSPIRED PROGRAM. THE CHILDREN PAVE THE WAY FOR THEIR OWN LEARNING BASED ON IDEAS OR CONCEPTS THAT THEY SHOW A VISIBLE INTEREST IN. WE ARE A PROGRAM THAT SETS CHILDREN UP TO USE THE SKILLS THEY ARE LEARNING TO FOSTER A LOVE FOR LEARNING. WE NATURALLY WEAVE IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LEARNING THROUGH SOCIAL DRAMATIC PLAY AND GUIDED EXPLORATIONS. FACETS OF EARLY LITERACY, PRE-MATH AND PRE-SCIENCE ARE ORGANICALLY INTRODUCED IN AN AGE-APPROPRIATE WAY. IN FY25 THE BJE-ECCS OPERATED A FULL-DAY PROGRAM IN WILMETTE SERVING OVER 65 CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE BJE EMPLOYED OVER 20 EDUCATORS. IN SEPTEMBER 2024 BJE ANNOUNCED THAT, REGRETFULLY, IN JUNE OF 2025 THE BJE ECC SCHOOL AND PROGRAM IN WILMETTE WOULD CLOSE DUE TO THE END OF THE WILMETTE FACILITY LEASE AND INABILITY TO RENEW OR FIND SUITABLE SPACE. ALSO ANNOUNCED WAS THAT BJE AND JCC ARRANGED FOR THE BJE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM TO MERGE WITH JCC EVANSTON AND FOR BJE FAMILIES TO ENROLL FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR (FY26) AT THE JCC EVANSTON PRESCHOOL AND FOR THE BJE ECC DIRECTOR TO WORK AT BOTH LOCATIONS IN FY25 AND JCC EVANSTON IN FY26. BJE STAFF WERE ALSO OFFERED JOBS FOR FY26 BY JCC.AT BJE-ECC, OVER THE PAST 52 YEARS INCLUDING FY25, WE RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY CHILD LEARNS DIFFERENTLY. OUR STAFF VALUES EACH CHILD AS CAPABLE AND COMPETENT. TEACHERS ACT AS GUIDES IN THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION. WE PROVIDE A CO-CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THE CHILDREN ARE THE DRIVERS OF THEIR LEARNING AND NATURALLY ABSORB THE FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMMUNICATION, GROUP-LIVING, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM THROUGH THEIR UNIQUE LENS. THIS MEANS CHILDREN ARE THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING WE DO AT BJE.WE ALSO VALUE THE ENVIRONMENT AS THE THIRD TEACHER, MEANING WE ARE INTENTIONAL WITH THE MATERIALS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE IN THE CLASSROOMS AND OUR ATELIER STUDIO SPACE SO THE CHILDREN CAN DIGEST WHAT THEY LEARN IN A WAY THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO THEM. THE CHILDREN ALSO USE NATURE AND OUTSIDE SPACES TO MAKE CONNECTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT.THE DIVERSE STAFF AT BJE IS ALSO WHAT MAKES BJE SO SPECIAL. OUR TEACHERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND ARE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION, REFLECTIVE SUPERVISION, AND MONTHLY STAFF MEETINGS. TEACHERS ARE CAREFULLY OBSERVED BY A MEMBER OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THEN MEET TO DISCUSS THE DYNAMICS OF THEIR CLASSROOM AND HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EACH CHILD'S SUCCESS.WE BRING TOGETHER OUR SHARED EXPERIENCES TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER. WE ALSO LEARN ALONGSIDE OUR CHILDREN BY ENCOURAGING THEM AND GUIDING THEM THROUGH PROJECT APPROACH WORK.BJE ECC VALUES COMMUNITY. WE VIEW PARENTS AND FAMILIES AS PARTNERS IN LEARNING. OUR COMMUNITY WIDE EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS HONOR THE WORK THAT THE CHILDREN ARE DOING IN SCHOOL AND HELP MOLD CONNECTIONS AMONG PARENTS AND FAMILIES. WE CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS TOGETHER AND ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S CLASSROOM SO THE CHILDREN CAN MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS.
- $147,153 spent. JTEACH.ORG, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE MARSHALL CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN JEWISH EDUCATION AND THE FRANK G. MARSHALL JEWISH LEARNING CENTER (MJLC), UNDERWENT REBRANDING IN FY21. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO LEAD THE WAY IN PROVIDING EXEMPLARY MODELS OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING, BEST PRACTICES, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE CURRICULA AND MATERIALS THAT FURTHER ENRICH THE FIELD OF JEWISH EDUCATION.THE RESOURCES PROVIDED BY THE BOARD OF JEWISH EDUCATION'S JTEACH ARE AVAILABLE BOTH NATIONALLY AND WORLDWIDE. THESE CUTTING-EDGE MULTIMEDIA JEWISH RESOURCES INCLUDE OVER 600 ORIGINAL LESSONS AND ARE ACCESSED BY OVER 105,000 EDUCATORS AND VISITORS FROM 133 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES. WITH OVER 475,000 DOWNLOADS OF LESSONS AND RESOURCES, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES CAN FORGE PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO JEWISH THOUGHT AND PRACTICE.THE MISSION OF JTEACH.ORG IS TO PROMOTE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH LIVING BY USING INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGY INSPIRED BY JEWISH WISDOM SPANNING THOUSANDS OF YEARS.JTEACH PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY, READY-TO-USE ACTIVITIES AND LESSON PLANS THAT CAN BE EASILY ACCESSED ONLINE. THESE ORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO JEWISH SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES WORLDWIDE. PUBLISHING ONLINE ALLOWS EVERYONE TO ACCESS ALL ACTIVITIES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING MONTHLY WEBINARS, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, AND GUIDANCE ON THE BEST RESOURCES.THE TWO-PRONG APPROACH PROVIDES TEACHERS WITH THE FLEXIBILITY TO CHOOSE THE BEST METHODOLOGY FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS, AS EVERY EDUCATOR AND LEARNER REQUIRES DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES TO MEET THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATORS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO MAKE JEWISH KNOWLEDGE MORE MEANINGFUL, RELEVANT, AND ENGAGING FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD TO ADULT LEARNERS. WE OFFER A RANGE OF INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES SUITABLE FOR JEWISH DAY SCHOOLS, CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOLS, CAMPS, AND YOUTH GROUPS, REGARDLESS OF DENOMINATION.WE COVER A WIDE RANGE OF TRADITIONAL TOPICS, INCLUDING SHABBAT AND HOLIDAYS, AND WE ALSO HELP PEOPLE CONNECT JEWISH WISDOM WITH EVERYDAY LIFE THROUGH CATEGORIES SUCH AS CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE, DAILY LIFE, AND SACRED MOMENTS. OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES FOR LEARNERS, SUPPORTING ACADEMICS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING WHILE FOSTERING A POSITIVE JEWISH EXPERIENCE. OUR SUCCESS IS BASED ON RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES, AND WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND HOMES.THE SECOND APPROACH INVOLVES PROVIDING LIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PD) OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH JTEACH'S PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES (PLCS). THESE PLCS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE, ENABLING US TO REACH EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD. WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH EDUCATORS TO DISCOVER AND IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES AND TEACHING STRATEGIES THAT YIELD POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENTA COMPREHENSIVE UPGRADE, REVISION, AND ENHANCEMENT OF JTEACH.ORG WAS LAUNCHED IN EARLY FY22 TO KEEP IT UP TO DATE AND UNIQUE. THE MATERIALS ARE DESIGNED TO BE CURRENT AND ENGAGING FOR 21ST-CENTURY LEARNERS, FOSTERING OPEN, RELEVANT DISCUSSIONS OF CURRENT EVENTS FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE. JTEACH ACTIVITIES AND LESSONS EMPHASIZE COLLABORATION, CRITICAL THINKING, COMMUNICATION, AND CREATIVITY. ADDITIONALLY, VISUALLY APPEALING POSTERS WITH CORRESPONDING CURRICULA ARE AVAILABLE FOR CLASSROOM USE.
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 July 1935.
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.
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