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Friends of Chevra Thelim Inc

EIN 54-2043763 · Portsmouth, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE VISITORS CAN LEARN ABOUT AND CELEBRATE JEWISH HISTORY, FAITH, AND CULTURE. THROUGH THE USE OF THE HISTORIC SYNAGOGUE STRUCTURE (FORMERLY, CHEVRA T'HELIM), THE JMCC WILL SERVE AS A CENTER FOR EDUCATION, CULTURAL, AND ARCHIVAL EVENTS.

Income
$92,452
Spending
$92,316
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$26,000, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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)
  1. $75,929 spent. IN ADDITION TO BEING A COMPLETELY RESTORED ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE AVAILABLE FOR TOURS AND EVENTS, THE JMCC OFFERS PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SUITABLE FOR ALL FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND. OUR "COMING TO AMERICA: AN IMMIGRATION STUDY PROGRAM" FULFILLS THE VIRGINIA SOL FOR LOCAL AREA SCHOOLS. ONGOING PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUR MUSIC, LECTURE, AND MOVIE SERIES, AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED IMMIGRATION EXHIBIT AND OUR GROWING ARCHIVES OF MAJOR JEWISH ENTITIES AND PERSONS IN THE HAMPTON ROADS AREA. THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL MUSIC SERIES CELEBRATED 15 YEARS OF PERFORMANCES. THE PROGRAM HAS PRESENTED FOUR PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. ANNUAL CHEVRA CINEMA SERIES HIGHLIGHTS JEWISH SUBJECTS, HISTORY, WRITERS, AND PRODUCERS. EACH FILM FEATURES A PRESENTER WHO INTRODUCES THE FILM, AND LEADS A RELAVENT DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THE FILM. ONGOING TOURS AND PROGRAMS BASED AROUND THE EXHIBIT ON JEWISH IMMIGRATIONS, THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA, AND, THE JEWISH CONTRIBUTION TO THE AMERICAN CULTURE ARE OFFERED TOT HE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION TO BEING A COMPLETELY RESTORED ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE AVAILABLE FOR TOURS AND EVENTS, THE JMCC OFFERS PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SUITABLE FOR ALL FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND. OUR "COMING TO AMERICA: AN IMMIGRATION STUDY PROGRAM" FULFILLS THE VIRGINIA SOL FOR LOCAL AREA SCHOOLS. ONGOING PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUR MUSIC, LECTURE, AND MOVIE SERIES, AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED IMMIGRATION EXHIBIT AND OUR GROWING ARCHIVES OF MAJOR JEWISH ENTITIES AND PERSONS IN THE HAMPTON ROADS AREA. THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL MUSIC SERIES CELEBRATED 15 YEARS OF PERFORMANCES. THE PROGRAM HAS PRESENTED FOUR PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. ANNUAL CHEVRA CINEMA SERIES HIGHLIGHTS JEWISH SUBJECTS, HISTORY, WRITERS, AND PRODUCERS. EACH FILM FEATURES A PRESENTER WHO INTRODUCES THE FILM, AND LEADS A RELAVENT DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THE FILM. ONGOING TOURS AND PROGRAMS BASED AROUND THE EXHIBIT ON JEWISH IMMIGRATIONS, THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA, AND, THE JEWISH CONTRIBUTION TO THE AMERICAN CULTURE ARE OFFERED TOT HE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2002.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.