American Friends of Bar-Ilan University Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $31.7 million
- Spending
- $20.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 39.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 21
- Volunteers
- 38
- Highest pay
- $319,117, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 39.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2539 of 39 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 September 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 (1)
- $14.5 million spent. THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY (AFBIU) DEVELOPS PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY (BIU) IN ISRAEL. AFBIU SEEKS CONTRIBUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS OF GIVING FROM INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, FOUNDATIONS AND BUSINESSES WHO EMBRACE THE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION-UNIQUE AMONG ISRAELI UNIVERSITIES-TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH TOP-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN AN ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT INFUSED WITH JEWISH VALUES AND A LOVE OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL. HISTORICALLY, THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BAR-ILAN HAS OPERATED AS A FUNDRAISING DIVISION WITHIN BAR-ILAN UNIVERSITY, SERVING TO BROADEN THE UNIVERSITY'S DONOR BASE IN THE UNITED STATES AND CULTIVATE A SUSTAINED STREAM OF FUNDING. OVER 60 YEARS AGO, AMERICAN DONORS ENVISIONED THIS UNIVERSITY, AND STEPPED FORWARD TO MAKE IT A REALITY. SINCE THEN, AFBIU HAS BEEN A VITAL PARTNER IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S MISSION TO CREATE A WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITY WITH STRENGTH IN STEM, LAW, EDUCATION AND THE HUMANITIES, THAT, UNIQUE TO THE UNIVERSITY'S VALUES, REQUIRES A CORE CURRICULUM THAT PROVIDES A DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS WITH A COMMON BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR JEWISH HERITAGE, HISTORY AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS OF THE ZIONIST VALUES WHICH UNDERPIN THE STATE OF ISRAEL. AFBIU HAS OBTAINED ITS OWN SECTION 501(C)(3) TAX EXEMPTION FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND IS OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY FROM BIU. AFBIU REPRESENTS THE UNIVERSITY'S INTERESTS IN THE UNITED STATES; OUR FUNDING OF ACADEMIC PROJECTS, FACILITIES, RETURNING SCIENTISTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND PLANNED GIFTS ARE LAYING A FOUNDATION OF SUPPORT THAT WILL SUSTAIN THE UNIVERSITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on February 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on February 15, 2012.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.