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Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona

EIN 86-0096795 · Tucson, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA (JPSA) IS COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPY, NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. COMPRISED OF JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA (JFSA OR FEDERATION) AND JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (JCF), JPSA PROVIDES PLANNING, VISION, PROGRAMMING, AND FUNDING TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY-WIDE PRIORITIES INCLUDING JEWISH ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, SECURITY, AND ADVOCACY. JFSA FUNDS AND SUPPORTS OUR FIVE BENEFICIARY AGENCIES - JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES, TUCSON HEBREW ACADEMY, TUCSON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, TUCSON JEWISH MUSEUM & HOLOCAUST CENTER, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA HILLEL FOUNDATION - AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND CORE INITIATIVES SUCH AS JEWISH COMMUNITY SECURITY, JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL (JCRC), WEINTRAUB ISRAEL CENTER, AND PJ LIBRARY. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ENSURE VIBRANT JEWISH LIFE AND UPLIFT THE ENTIRE SOUTHERN ARIZONA COMMUNITY. JFSA ALSO RESPONDS TO CRITICAL, EMERGENT NEEDS L

Income
$5.9 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
24.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
31
Volunteers
151
Highest pay
$263,745, ceo

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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 24 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (1)
  1. $3.9 million spent. AFTER THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACK ON ISRAEL, JFSA SPEARHEADED THE PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF A COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY GATHERING THAT DREW ALMOST 1,000 TUCSONANS. SINCE THEN, JFSA HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN RAISING AWARENESS, COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM, AND RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT BASIC AND EMERGENCY NEEDS IN ISRAEL AND ASSOCIATED LOCAL CAUSES IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA. THE JFSA JEWISH COMMUNITY SECURITY INITIATIVE CONTINUES TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. SECURITY DIRECTORS REGULARLY MONITOR GATHERINGS, RESPOND TO CONCERNS, COMMUNICATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, CONDUCT FACILITY SECURITY ASSESSMENTS, AND ASSIST LOCAL SYNAGOGUES AND JEWISH AGENCIES WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS. AND CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION, THROUGHOUT 2024 JFSA FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING JEWISH LIFE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA BY: 1) SUPPORTING AND ENHANCING PROGRAMS SERVING THOSE IN NEED; 2) EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT CRITICAL ISSUES; 3) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GATHER, CELEBRATE, VOLUNTEER, AND ADVOCATE; AND 4) DEVELOPING JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. AFTER THE OCTOBER 7 ATTACK ON ISRAEL, JFSA SPEARHEADED THE PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF A COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY GATHERING THAT DREW ALMOST 1,000 TUCSONANS. SINCE THEN, JFSA HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN RAISING AWARENESS, COMBATTING ANTISEMITISM, AND RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT BASIC AND EMERGENCY NEEDS IN ISRAEL AND ASSOCIATED LOCAL CAUSES IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA. THE JFSA JEWISH COMMUNITY SECURITY INITIATIVE CONTINUES TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. SECURITY DIRECTORS REGULARLY MONITOR GATHERINGS, RESPOND TO CONCERNS, COMMUNICATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, CONDUCT FACILITY SECURITY ASSESSMENTS, AND ASSIST LOCAL SYNAGOGUES AND JEWISH AGENCIES WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS. AND CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION, THROUGHOUT 2024 JFSA FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING JEWISH LIFE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA BY: 1) SUPPORTING AND ENHANCING PROGRAMS SERVING THOSE IN NEED; 2) EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT CRITICAL ISSUES; 3) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GATHER, CELEBRATE, VOLUNTEER, AND ADVOCATE; AND 4) DEVELOPING JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.

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

  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 2024.

    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 January 1955.

    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.