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Milwaukee Jewish Federation Inc

EIN 39-0806312 · Milwaukee, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood87 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-WIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT, PLANNING AND ALLOCATIONS, THE MISSION OF THE MILWAUKEE JEWISH FEDERATION IS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE, TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF JEWISH LIFE AND TO BUILD A STRONG, UNIFIED JEWISH COMMUNITY IN MILWAUKEE, IN ISRAEL, AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. IN FULFILLING ITS MISSION, THE FEDERATION IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLES OF KLAL YISRAEL (THE COLLECTIVE UNITY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE), TZEDAKAH (THE OBLIGATION TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER) AND TIKKUN OLAM (IMPROVING THE SOCIETY IN WHICH WE LIVE).

Income
$33.6 million
Spending
$33.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
34.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
89
Volunteers
450
Highest pay
$321,861, president & ceo

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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 37% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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 (5)
  1. $10.6 million spent. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HELPS DONORS MAKE A LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE VIBRANCY AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THROUGH A VARIETY OF PLANNED GIVING OPTIONS, WE HELP OUR DONORS FULFILL BOTH THEIR FINANCIAL NEEDS AND CHARITABLE DESIRES WHILE SUPPORTING THE HEALTH OF A THRIVING JEWISH COMMUNITY.
  2. $949,328 spent. THE JEWISH MUSEUM MILWAUKEE IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND PRESENTING THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN AND CELEBRATING THE CONTINUUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE AND CULTURE. THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN JEWS IS ROOTED IN THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF SEARCHING FOR FREEDOM AND EQUALITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SHARING THIS STORY AND THE LIFE LESSONS IT BRINGS WITH IT, SO THAT WE MAY ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF JEWISH LIFE AND CULTURE; TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, AND TO USE HISTORY AND ART AS A LENS TO EXPLORE CONTEMPORARY THEMES.
  3. $831,763 spent. THE NATHAN AND ESTHER PELZ HOLOCAUST EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER (HERC) IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN IS DEDICATED TO HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE, EDUCATION, AND THE PRESERVATION OF THE MEMORY OF ITS VICTIMS. BY TEACHING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, THE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER AIMS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE EVILS OF HATRED AND PREJUDICE AND TO INSPIRE ETHICAL BEHAVIOR. HERC TAUGHT THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST TO APPROXIMATELY 27,000 STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN LAST YEAR.
  4. $421,687 spent. THE MISSION OF "THE CHRONICLE" IS TO PROVIDE NEWS OF A LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER SO AS TO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITHIN THE JEWISH POPULATION IN WISCONSIN, PROVIDE INFORMATION AND INTERPRETATION CONCERNING JEWISH LIFE THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGHLOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA, CREATE A FORUM FOR HEARING THOSE ISSUES OF A LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NATURE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO JEWS, AND TO SUPPORT THE PUBLISHER. THE MILWAUKEE JEWISH FEDERATION IN ITS COMMUNITY-BUILDING GOAL OF PROMOTING AWARENESS OF AND SUPPORT FOR THE VALUE OF JEWISH COMMUNITY, SERVES AS A COMMUNICATIONS VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES AND SYNAGOGUES CAN REPORT TO THEIR CONSTITUENCIES AND TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN GENERAL AND THROUGH WHICH THEY CAN PUBLICIZE THEIR ACTIVITIES, RECORD COMMUNITY EVENTS AND LIFE CYCLE EVENTS THROUGH ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS, SO AS TO ACT AS A HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND MAINTAIN AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM FOR REACHING THE JEWISH POPULATION.
  5. $15.1 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE PARTNERSHIP2GETHER AND THE SCHLICHUT PROGRAM, WHICH PLAY A KEY ROLE IN ENSURING ONGOING CULTURAL AND PERSONAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE MILWAUKEE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ISRAEL, WITH A FOCUS ON THE REGION OF THE SOVEV KINNERET. MILWAUKEE JEWISH FEDERATION PROGRAM SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE THE COALITION FOR JEWISH LEARNING (CJL), THE EDUCATION PROGRAM OF THE MILWAUKEE JEWISH FEDERATION.

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 July 1947.

    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.