Jewish Endowment Foundation of South Carolina
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE JEWISH ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS TO EDUCATE, STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT THE SC JEWISH COMMUNITY BY UNITING PEOPLE, AND INVESTING RESOURCES; AND TO LEAD AND FACILITATE A CULTURE OF PHILANTHROPY AND SHARED INVESTMENT AMONG DONORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SUSTAIN, STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT THE JEWISH COMMUNITIES AND VALUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $258,067, cfo thru 10/30/25
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 58% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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, 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 (2)
- $957,954 spent. GRANTMAKING - THROUGH A STRATEGIC PROCESS AND OVERSIGHT BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES, JEFSC GRANTS HELP SUSTAIN, BUILD AND SECURE SOUTH CAROLINA'S JEWISH INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES. THE GRANT REQUESTS RANGE FROM OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO NEW PROGRAMMATIC INITIATIVES. THE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY JEFSC THROUGH THESE GRANTS IMPACT THOUSANDS OF JEWISH LIVES AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR AND ENSURES A VIBRANT JEWISH FUTURE ACROSS THE STATE.IN 2025, THE JEWISH ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION OF SC DISBURSED 205 GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $957,954. THESE GRANTS WERE DISTRIBUTED AS FOLLOWS: 82 GRANTS TOTALING $314,139 IN SUPPORT OF RELIGIOUS AND OTHER PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS, 56 GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $382,881 SUPPORTING VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS, 35 GRANTS TOTALING $197,748 SUPPORTING HUMAN NEEDS, 24 GRANTS TOTALING $34,986 SUPPORTING HEALTH INITIATIVES, 3 GRANTS TOTALING $11,000 SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT, AND 5 GRANTS TOTALING $17,200 IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTS.
- $234,129 spent. TEMPLE SINAI - IN 2016, A RELATED PARTY OF THE FOUNDATION ASSUMED OWNERSHIP OF THE TEMPLE SINAI SYNAGOGUE BUILDING AND THE ASSOCIATED CEMETERY IN ORDER TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THIS CORNERSTONE OF JEWISH HISTORY AND LEGACY IN SUMTER COUNTY. WHILE THE SYNAGOGUE CURRENTLY REMAINS ACTIVE UNDER INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES FOR THE UPKEEP OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS. ON JUNE 2, 2018, THIS HISTORICAL LANDMARK WAS CONVERTED TO THE TEMPLE SINAI JEWISH HISTORY CENTER (SUMTER COUNTY MUSEUM) AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS, 1:00PM TO 4:00PM, AND SATURDAYS, 10:00AM TO 1:00PM.
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
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 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 December 1996.
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.