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Institute for Jewish Spirituality Inc

EIN 36-4531559 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IJS'S MISSION IS TO DEVELOP AND TEACH JEWISH SPIRITUAL PRACTICES SO THAT INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES MAY EXPERIENCE GREATER AWARENESS, PURPOSE, AND INTERCONNECTION.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
15
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$188,265, chief operating 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 115% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 85% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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 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)
  1. $1.2 million spent. ONLINE PROGRAMS: IJS OFFERS ONLINE AND IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT TO JEWISH SPIRITUALITY THROUGH MINDFULNESS PRACTICE IN ACCESSIBLE AND MEANINGFUL WAYS. FROM BEGINNING TO ADVANCED COURSES IN JEWISH MEDITATION AND IN-DEPTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING, TO WEEKLY MINDFUL YOGA AND FREE DAILY MEDITATION SITS OPEN TO ALL, OUR PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO DEEPEN SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FOR PEOPLE ANYWHERE ON THEIR JOURNEY.
  2. $1.1 million spent. LEADERSHIP AND CLERGY COHORT PROGRAMS: OUR IMMERSIVE, COHORT-BASED PROGRAMS PROVIDE INTENSIVE SPIRITUAL TRAINING OVER 10 TO 18 MONTHS FOR CLERGY, LAY LEADERS, AND DEDICATED PRACTITIONERS SEEKING TO INTEGRATE JEWISH MINDFULNESS AND LEADERSHIP INTO THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIVES. IJS PROVIDES SEVERAL SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS: CLERGY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR RABBIS AND CANTORS TO LEARN THE SKILLS OF JEWISH SPIRITUALITY; KIVVUN: MINDFUL JEWISH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR LAY LEADERS; YESOD PROGRAM FOR ASPIRING MINDFULNESS TEACHERS; AND KOL DODI SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR TRAINING. THESE PROGRAMS CULTIVATE A NETWORK OF SPIRITUALLY-GROUNDED LEADERS WHO ARE EQUIPPED TO TRANSFORM JEWISH COMMUNAL LIFE.
  3. $333,482 spent. RETREATS: OUR IN-PERSON RETREATS PROVIDE INTENSIVE, MULTI-DAY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES DESIGNED TO DEEPEN JEWISH MINDFULNESS PRACTICE AND FOSTER SPIRITUAL GROWTH WITHIN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNAL ENVIRONMENT. BY OFFERING A DEDICATED SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND PRACTICE AWAY FROM DAILY LIFE, THESE RETREATS EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES WITH A MORE GROUNDED, SPIRITUALLY-INFORMED APPROACH TO JEWISH LIVING AND LEADERSHIP.
  4. $142,382 spent. OTHER: IN ADDITION TO THESE PROGRAMS, WE ALSO RUN SEVERAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR OUR SUSTAINER'S CIRCLE AND SELL TEXT STUDIES. WE ALSO EARNED ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM "SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE" WHERE OUR CEO/PRESIDENT, JOSH FEIGELSON, MADE PRESENTATIONS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR PARTICIPANTS.

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 November 6, 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 October 2003.

    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 November 4, 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.