Jewish Federation of Greater Houston
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston (JFGH) funds and cultivates programs that strengthen the Houston Jewish community, connections with Israel, and supports Jews around the world.
- Income
- $23.2 million
- Spending
- $25.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $408,064, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2551 of 51 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 August 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 (3)
- $10.9 million spent. The most significant ways the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston (JFGH) makes a difference in Jewish lives is with funds raised through its annual appeal. Funds raised each year benefit the Jewish Communities in Houston, across the United States, in Israel and around the world. Continued on Schedule OThe Jewish Federation of Greater Houston both operates direct community programs and grants funds to partner organizations that provide support and assistance in areas including: Food, shelter and medical care; Educating the youth of our community; Providing senior care, services and programming; Facilitating leadership development and youth engagement programming; Reconnecting and engaging Jews with the local Jewish Community; Offering Jewish programming for young families and children; Antisemitism support and Israel advocacy; Supporting Israel travel and Jewish missions for youth and community members; Aiding people with special needs.
- $7.5 million spent. Security, Public Affairs and Antisemitism Response - The Federation has collaborative partnerships to protect Jewish life in Houston. The program tracks and responds to incidents, monitors threats, issues community alerts, and facilitates security training. The Federation also provides free security site assessments to help institutions apply for Nonprofit Security Grants (NSGP). Continued on Schedule OThe Federation's Public Affairs work advocates with lawmakers in Houston, Austin, and Washington, D.C. The Federation also combats antisemitism through educational programming, partnerships, Fellowships, and monthly Antisemitism Roundtables. The Public Affairs team works to strengthen interfaith relationships through programming and educational opportunities as well as individual collaborations.Additionally, the Federation leads disaster response efforts for Houston's Jewish community during natural and man-made emergencies. The Federation also provides support for disasters that impact other Jewish communities throughout the country and around the world.
- $2.7 million spent. Strategy, Education and Engagement (SE&E) - This Department nurtures the continuity and quality of Jewish life in the Greater Houston area by fostering and strengthening life-long engagement and learning in the Jewish community. Within education, the department is dedicated to enhancing the quality of formal and informal Jewish education, promoting enrollment and participation at all levels, advocating on behalf of students, parents, institutions and professionals involved in Jewish education, encouraging professional growth of educators, and facilitating cooperation among schools and community organizations.Continued on Schedule O The Federation strives to engage all members of our community in Jewish life through multiple meaningful entry points. The engagement portfolio includes young families through PJ Library, which provides free high-quality Jewish books and activities to more than 1,800 children ages 0-12. Young adults ages 22-45 connect through the Minnette and Jerome Robinson Family Young Adult Division (YAD), which offers social, educational, cultural, and philanthropic programming including FedU leadership development and Honeymoon Israel trips. The broader community engages through programs such as Yom Limmud (now in its 31st year as the community's annual Day of Jewish Learning), Chai Lights, Insights Speaker series, and programs with local and Israeli partners. The Engagement team coordinates professional networks of those working in Jewish programming in Houston.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 October 13, 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 August 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 September 1941.
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 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.