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Institute of Southern Jewish Life Inc

EIN 64-0762027 · Jackson, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IN ORDER TO SUPPORT, CONNECT, AND CELEBRATE JEWISH LIFE IN THE SOUTH, THE ISJL PROVIDES A RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE DO THIS THROUGH THREE CORE SERVICE AREAS: EDUCATION, CULTURE, AND SPIRITUALITY. BECAUSE CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY AS A WHOLE IS PART OF THE JEWISH LEGACY, WE ALSO OFFER SECULAR LITERACY PROGRAMMING. OVER 10,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED BY THE ISJL PROGRAMS IN 2024.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
27.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
19
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$185,073, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 (3)
  1. $568,991 spent. IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT OUR MISSION TO SUPPORT, CONNECT, AND CELEBRATE JEWISH LIFE IN THE SOUTH, THE GOLDRING/WOLDENBERG INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN JEWISH LIFE (ISJL) PROVIDES A RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THIS INCLUDES AN ANNUAL SOUTHERN & JEWISH CONFERENCE, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION TO GATHER AND CONNECT EACH SUMMER. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE ALSO COORDINATE IN-PERSON EVENTS, PUT OUR STAFF ON THE ROAD, AND OFFER ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT. ALL TOLD, OVER 10,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED BY ISJL PROGRAMS IN 2024-2025. OUR PROGRAMS ARE COORDINATED BY OUR THREE PROGRAMMING DIVISIONS: EDUCATION, CULTURE, AND SPIRITUALITY.EDUCATION: THE ISJL EDUCATION DIVISION SUPPORTS JEWISH LEARNING ACROSS THE SOUTH. IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, 70 RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS UTILIZED OUR CURRICULUM; THIS MEANS APPROXIMATELY 3,000 STUDENTS WERE IMPACTED BY ISJL RESOURCES. OUR TEAM OF EDUCATION LEADERS ALSO COORDINATED A REGIONAL COHORT OF TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS, ABLE TO NETWORK, COLLABORATE, AND SHARE BEST-PRACTICES YEAR-ROUND.
  2. $347,395 spent. CULTURE: CELEBRATING JEWISH CULTURE AND PRESERVING THE UNIQUE STORIES OF JEWISH LIFE IN THE SOUTH IS AT THE HEART OF THE ISJL'S WORK. WE PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE JEWISH CULTURAL EXPERIENCES THAT APPEAL TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES. OUR FREE, ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SOUTHERN JEWISH COMMUNITIES RECEIVES ALMOST 100,000 VIEWS EACH YEAR.
  3. $336,673 spent. SPIRITUALITY: WE SERVE THE SMALLEST JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION SPECIFICALLY, INDIVIDUALS AND CONGREGATIONS WITHOUT ANY LOCAL FULL-TIME CLERGY AND ENGAGE IN INTERFAITH WORK AND BRIDGE-BUILDING THAT MAKES ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES MORE INCLUSIVE AND INTERCONNECTED. OUR SPIRITUALITY DIVISION ANNUALLY REACHES APPROXIMATELY 2,400 INDIVIDUALS WITH REMOTE AND IN-PERSON RESOURCES, AND OUR STAFF RABBI VISITS AROUND 20 COMMUNITIES IN-PERSON EACH YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1989.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.