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Jewish Federation of St Louis

EIN 43-0652643 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS MOBILIZES THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ITS HUMAN AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE JEWISH LIFE IN ST. LOUIS, IN ISRAEL AND AROUND THE WORLD.

Income
$20.0 million
Spending
$21.3 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
22.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
94
Volunteers
569
Highest pay
$225,186, vp of development

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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 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 (2)
  1. $10.4 million spent. EACH YEAR, THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS WORKS WITH OUR VOLUNTEER AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ESTABLISH STRATEGIC PLANS TO SUSTAIN OUR VIBRANT JEWISH ECOSYSTEM. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THOUSANDS OF DONORS, WE THEN RAISE FUNDS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. OUR VOLUNTEERS THEN LEAD A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS TO GET THOSE FUNDS WORKING TO FULFILL OUR MISSION THROUGH AGENCIES, CONGREGATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND PROGRAMS. OUR TEAM THEN EVALUATES THOSE INVESTMENTS BASED ON THE IMPACT THEY ARE HAVING HERE IN ST. LOUIS, IN ISRAEL AND WHEREVER THERE IS A NEED. THIS COMMUNITY IMPACT AND PHILANTHROPY WORK HAS BEEN DONE SINCE OUR INCEPTION IN 1901. IN 2024, COMMUNITY IMPACT SUPPORTED 64 LOCAL PARTNERS, 27 ISRAEL AND OVERSEES PARTNERS, AND 6 NATIONAL PARTNERS.
  2. $5.1 million spent. JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS PROVIDES A VARIETY OF JEWISH ENGAGEMENT, JEWISH EDUCATION, AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ST. LOUIS JEWISH COMMUNITY. THE MISSION OF OUR WORK IS TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO INFORMATION, RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND EACH OTHER. WE DO THIS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND ENGAGE ADULT LEARNERS, FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND CONGREGATIONS, YOUNG ADULTS, THOSE TRAVELING TO ISRAEL, DEVELOPING COMMUNITY LEADERS, SENIORS AGING IN PLACE, AND MUCH MORE. JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS SUPPORTS THE WORK OF OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY THROUGH MILLSTONE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES BY ENGAGING NEW LEADERS AND WELCOMING NEW PROFESSIONAL STAFF, PROVIDING TRAINING AND INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING, AND STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS AMONG BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND LAY LEADERS OF JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND CONGREGATIONS. JPROSTL, AN INITIATIVE OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF ST. LOUIS, IS A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION BRINGING TOGETHER STAFF WHO WORK AT ORGANIZATIONS, CONGREGATIONS, AND DAY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF THE ST. LOUIS JEWISH COMMUNITY. JPROSTL PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SHARING OF RESOURCES, AND NETWORKING EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN 2024, 750 PROFESSIONALS WERE WORKING AT LOCAL JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS; ALMOST HALF OF THOSE PROFESSIONALS ENGAGED WITH JPROSTL. EIGHTY-EIGHT PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN JPROSTL REPORT GAINING OR DEEPENING NEW SKILLS OR KNOWLEDGE TO ENHANCE THEIR WORK. ISRAEL CENTER OFFERS CONSULTING SERVICES TO HELP IDENTIFY MEANINGFUL TRIPS OR MISSIONS THAT BEST MEET THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ISRAEL CENTER ALSO OFFERS TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS FUNDING THROUGH NEED-BASED AND INCENTIVE-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO EASE THE COST OF A QUALITY ISRAEL EXPERIENCES, CONNECTS ADULTS AND FAMILIES WITH TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED THROUGH LOCAL SYNAGOGUES AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND TRIPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA. ISRAEL CENTER ALSO ORGANIZES A VARIETY OF EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES FOR SPECIAL COHORTS. THE PJ LIBRARY IS AN INTERNATIONAL JEWISH FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE IDENTITIES OF JEWISH FAMILIES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. THE PJ LIBRARY OFFERS FREE, HIGH-QUALITY JEWISH BOOKS AND MUSIC EACH MONTH TO OVER 100,000 CHILDREN BETWEEN BIRTH AND 12 YEARS OLD IN MORE THAN 175 COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND ISRAEL. PJ LIBRARY'S VISION IS TO INSPIRE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN JEWISH LIFE, STRONGER JEWISH IDENTITY AND DEEPER CONNECTIONS TO JEWISH COMMUNITY. THE PJ LIBRARY INITIATIVE IS BUILDING A STRONGER JEWISH PEOPLE, ONE BOOK AT A TIME. PJ LIBRARY AIMS TO HELP FAMILIES EXPLORE THE TIMELESS CORE VALUES OF JUDAISM AND TO TRANSMIT THESE VALUES TO THE NEXT GENERATION - CREATING A JEWISH LITERACY FOR THIS GENERATION AND LAYING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE ONES TO COME. PJ LIBRARY IMPACTS FAMILIES BEYOND THE BOOKS THEY RECEIVE AT HOME BY CONNECTING FAMILIES TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HERE IN ST. LOUIS, AND ENRICHING LOCAL JEWISH PROGRAMMING. IN 2024, MORE THAN 2,200 FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN THE ST. LOUIS PJ LIBRARY PROGRAM. THE ST. LOUIS FEDERATION COMMUNITY SECURITY PROGRAM SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND, MANAGE, AND REDUCE RISK TO THE ST. LOUIS JEWISH COMMUNITY. IN 2024, THE COMMUNITY SECURITY PROGRAM CONDUCTED OVER 113 SECURITY TRAINING COURSES TO OVER 674 PEOPLE AND SUPPORTED 692 ORGANIZATIONS WITH PHYSICAL AND CYBER SECURITY REQUESTS. THE COMMUNITY SECURITY PROGRAM COVERS THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA AS WELL AS JEFFERSON CITY, COLUMBIA, LAKE OF THE OZARKS, SPRINGFIELD AND JOPLIN. OUT OF STATE AREAS COVERED INCLUDE: WESTERN KY (PADUCAH) AND SOUTHERN IL (CARBONDALE, MAKANDA, BENTON, BELLEVILLE, EDWARDSVILLE).

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 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.