Project Ezrah Needs Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
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- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 450
- Highest pay
- $171,600, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 72% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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 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)
- $2.2 million spent. Project EZRAH administers three programs within this category. Internally the programs are called Spark, Boost and Partner. All three provide varying levels of support. Hours of preparations for a client family begin even before the client is accepted into any of the Financial Assistance programs starting with an initial intake meeting to understand the issues and try to assess what the right program for the family would be. It then moves onto analysis of required financial documents, review and verification of financial need, evaluation of probable compliance to the program's principles and, finally, acceptance into one of the three programs and the creation of a unique-to-that-family path toward success. An extended initial meeting acquaints the new client family with the program, sets the family's goals, outlines their individual course of action and reviews in detail the family's financial assistance package. The family's first month in the program usually requires extended interaction hours so that both spouses, and even children when appropriate, are fully comfortable with and possess an understanding of the program. Throughout the course of a family's program, case workers, mental health professionals and health care professionals work in areas as needed. Additionally, staff members are available to assist clients with bookkeeping, financial planning, in finding appropriate and meaningful employment, computer-training, school supplies before the beginning of each year as well as planning appropriate simchas. The Partner Program (formerly known as the Managed Salary Program) assists client families with critical living expenses, medical bills, approved invoices as well as a cash allowance for food and weekly incidentals. In 2024, the Managed Salary program assisted 9 families; by year's end, approximately 33% of these families either graduated out of the program or, with minimal assistance from Project Ezrah, managed on their own. The Boost Program works with families who do not have the same level of need as our Partner clients or who have graduated out of that program as a step down program. Our Spark Program assists families who look to Project Ezrah for pre-approved, singular needs assistance and/or pro-bono services. There were over 370 additional families who received consistent support in 2024. An additional 574 families received scholarships, grants and other forms of one time assistance during 2024.
- $144,437 spent. The Employment department connects candidates with appropriate employment opportunities. After a specific in-take process, an initial meeting allows counselors to assess a candidate's job readiness and make suggestions for targeted area improvements; resumes are reviewed and revised, interview skills are evaluated, job-search strategies are analyzed and appropriate goals are established. Candidates continue to work directly with their employment counselor until they have found meaningful and appropriate employment. The employment department spends many hours cultivating potential employers in order to develop a broader spectrum of available employment opportunities for the Project Ezrah client/candidate. In 2024, the employment team worked directly with 202 in-house candidates and was instrumental in placing 44 candidates (22%). Additional and complimentary services have been implemented to augment the job-search experience: (1) A LinkedIn group promotes networking. Over 2,500 candidates and community members use this format to expand each candidate's own network of contacts and answer appropriate industry-specific questions. (2) Seminars are held to assist, encourage, enlighten and broaden a candidate's knowledge in a variety of subjects. 2024's seminars were: Professional Resume Workshop I * Professional Resume Workshop II * Professional Resume Workshop III * Young Leadership Career Night * SQL Murder Mystery * TABC - Resume Workshop * Leaders in Transition * AI and Job Search * Resume Review * YOU be YOU Seminar * Pivotal Moments in Excel . Recent Initiatives: In an effort to keep current with community needs, the organization has initiated a program to identify new areas that will support its mission goals: Help Ezrah Help. In an effort to reduce some financial expenditures on behalf of its clients, the organization has made a concerted effort to avail itself of pro bono services donated by community members and has thus created a base with a broad range of donated services (e.g. legal assistance, medical and dental care, financial planning, tax preparation and accounting, tutoring.) By the end of 2024, the organization was able to draw from over 200 pro bono providers, which enabled the organization to distribute funds in areas of greater need. (At the end of 2023 the organization was able to draw from over 200 pro bono providers.) The Aisle: A Pathway to Financial Fidelity. A specialized training seminar, targeting engaged or newlywed couples, to teach money management and budget preparation. This specific group has been selected in order to prevent financial collapse prior to the onset of the yeshiva tuition avalanche. Passover Grant Program. For families who might not need the intensive services during the year that Project Ezrah offers, but do need support during various points in the year. A grant application is open to the public and allows families to apply through an online portal. This is also used as an entryway into the organization for families who might be in need of our comprehensive programming but might have been reluctant to access it. Day Camp Scholarships. For many in our community day camp is not a luxury but an important form of child care during the summer months. To help make this more affordable Project Ezrah created a day camp scholarship open to the community.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 January 2006.
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 November 4, 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.