Kavod
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
KAVOD PROVIDES EMERGENCY AID FOR UNMET ESSENTIAL NEEDS FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS.
- Income
- $8.7 million
- Spending
- $8.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $124,000, executive director
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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $8.2 million spent. RECENT STUDIES INDICATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 34,000 HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS ARE LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES AND OVER 1/3RD OF THEM ARE LIVING AT OR NEAR POVERTY LEVELS. THAT IS OVER 30%. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE THAT THESE COURAGEOUS PEOPLE, WHO'VE ENDURED SO MUCH ALREADY, ARE LIVING THEIR REMAINING YEARS WITHOUT BASIC NECESSITIES. THE SUPPORT THESE SURVIVORS RECEIVE DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO AFFORD WHAT IS NEEDED TO LIVE A DIGNIFIED LIFE. MANY ARE CHOOSING BETWEEN HEAT OR FOOD, MEDICINE OR RENT. OTHERS HAVE DIRE LIVING CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT INVEST WHAT IS NEEDED TO REPAIR THEIR HOMES.THE KAVOD SHEF (SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST EMERGENCY FUND) INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEED THE DREAM FOUNDATION EXPONENTIALLY MULTIPLIES THE DOLLARS (AND CRITICAL SERVICES) DIRECTLY REACHING SURVIVORS AND SERVES AS A SECONDARY RESOURCE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEED THE DREAM FOUNDATION, KAVOD IS COMMITTED TO THIS VITAL EMERGENCY EFFORT, LEVERAGING THE DOLLARS RAISED THROUGH A SPECIAL PHILANTHROPIC NATIONAL MATCHING INITIATIVE, AND ENSURING THAT 100% OF THE MATCHING FUNDS WILL GO DIRECTLY TOWARD SURVIVOR SERVICES. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF REACHING ANY SURVIVOR REGARDLESS OF WHERE HE OR SHE LIVES, KAVOD SHEF WORKS WITH DESIGNATED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO BRING MILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO THE SURVIVOR COMMUNITY. URGENT AND CRITICAL EMERGENCY SERVICES ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE THROUGH KAVOD SHEF INCLUDE DENTAL, VISION, MEDICAL, FOOD, EMERGENCY HOME CARE, EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION, AND EMERGENCY HOME SERVICES.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.