Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Friends of Kolot

EIN 45-5309330 · Encino, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO TEACH JEWISH SOURCES TO INFLUENTIAL ISRAELIS AND AMERICANS IN ALL REALMS OF LIFE IN ORDER TO CREATE A SOCIETY WHICH WILL BE BASED ON JEWISH VALUES.

Income
$286,085
Spending
$387,910
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0

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

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 163% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 37% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $371,638 spent. AMERICAN FRIENDS OF KOLOT, INC. SUPPORTS THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY KOLOT, ISRAEL, AN ISRAELI ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO EDUCATE ISRAELIS AND AMERICANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN ORDER TO CREATE A SOCIETY BASED ON JEWISH VALUES. KOLOT, ISRAEL INVITES LEADERS AND KEY PLAYERS FROM VARIOUS SECTORS OF ISRAELI SOCIETY TO ENTER THEIR BEIT MIDRASH (STUDY HALL) AND ENGAGE IN VIBRANT, SPIRITED DISCUSSIONS THAT TRANSFORM THEM PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, HELPING THEM SHARPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUES THAT INFORM THEIR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS. THE PARTICIPANTS FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION FOR ONE ANOTHER, EVEN ALONGSIDE SUBSTANTIVE DISAGREEMENTS, BOTH DURING THE LEARNING PROCESS AND BEYOND. RESPONSE TO THE EVENTS OF OCTOBER 7, 2023: DUE TO THE TERROR ATTACKS OF OCTOBER 7, 2023, ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED BY KOLOT, ISRAEL AS DESCRIBED BELOW. RESTART PROGRAM RESTART RECRUITED FIFTEEN PROMINENT LEADERS FROM THE GAZA ENVELOPE WHO HAIL FROM VARIOUS FIELDS. EACH PARTICIPANT BROUGHT WITH THEM AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT DESIGNED TO HELP REIMAGINE AND REBUILD THE REGION. HEALING THE HEALERS PROGRAM CAREGIVERS HAVE BEEN OPERATING UNDER EXTREME EXHAUSTION, FACING A CONSTANT AND OVERWHELMING WORKLOAD IN THE FIELD OF MENTAL WELL-BEING. THESE PROFESSIONALS THEMSELVES NEED SUPPORT TO COPE WITH THEIR CHALLENGING DAILY LIVES. THIS PROGRAM HELPS INSPIRE MEANING AND PURPOSE DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. CHOOSE LIFE PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM, RUN TOGETHER WITH THE ISRAELI BACHARAT BACHAIM INITIATIVE, PROVIDES A THERAPEUTIC HEALING SPACE IN A FOREST SETTING FOR NOVA PARTY SURVIVORS AND BEREAVED PARENTS OF THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACKS. AMERICAN FRIENDS OF KOLOT, INC. SUPPORTS THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY KOLOT, ISRAEL, AN ISRAELI ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO EDUCATE ISRAELIS AND AMERICANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE IN ORDER TO CREATE A SOCIETY BASED ON JEWISH VALUES. KOLOT, ISRAEL INVITES LEADERS AND KEY PLAYERS FROM VARIOUS SECTORS OF ISRAELI SOCIETY TO ENTER THEIR BEIT MIDRASH (STUDY HALL) AND ENGAGE IN VIBRANT, SPIRITED DISCUSSIONS THAT TRANSFORM THEM PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, HELPING THEM SHARPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUES THAT INFORM THEIR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS. THE PARTICIPANTS FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION FOR ONE ANOTHER, EVEN ALONGSIDE SUBSTANTIVE DISAGREEMENTS, BOTH DURING THE LEARNING PROCESS AND BEYOND. RESPONSE TO THE EVENTS OF OCTOBER 7, 2023: DUE TO THE TERROR ATTACKS OF OCTOBER 7, 2023, ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED BY KOLOT, ISRAEL AS DESCRIBED BELOW. RESTART PROGRAM RESTART RECRUITED FIFTEEN PROMINENT LEADERS FROM THE GAZA ENVELOPE WHO HAIL FROM VARIOUS FIELDS. EACH PARTICIPANT BROUGHT WITH THEM AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT DESIGNED TO HELP REIMAGINE AND REBUILD THE REGION. HEALING THE HEALERS PROGRAM CAREGIVERS HAVE BEEN OPERATING UNDER EXTREME EXHAUSTION, FACING A CONSTANT AND OVERWHELMING WORKLOAD IN THE FIELD OF MENTAL WELL-BEING. THESE PROFESSIONALS THEMSELVES NEED SUPPORT TO COPE WITH THEIR CHALLENGING DAILY LIVES. THIS PROGRAM HELPS INSPIRE MEANING AND PURPOSE DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES. CHOOSE LIFE PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM, RUN TOGETHER WITH THE ISRAELI BACHARAT BACHAIM INITIATIVE, PROVIDES A THERAPEUTIC HEALING SPACE IN A FOREST SETTING FOR NOVA PARTY SURVIVORS AND BEREAVED PARENTS OF THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACKS.

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 January 2014.

    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.