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Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle

EIN 91-0575950 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 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

THE FEDERATION LEADS A STRONG JEWISH PUGET SOUND BY SERVING AS A COMMUNITY VOICE, STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS TO ISRAEL AND WORLD JEWRY, AND MAKING INVESTMENTS IN JEWISH LIFE, FOR TODAY AND THE NEXT GENERATION.

Income
$14.7 million
Spending
$8.5 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
89.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 51%
Employees
39
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$273,619, president & 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 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 89.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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 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. $3.2 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES: THE FEDERATION PROVIDES A RANGE OF PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY. THE FEDERATION'S JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL (JCRC) BRINGS TOGETHER AND MOBILIZES THE LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY ON CRITICAL ISSUES, AMPLIFYING THE COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS AND INDIVIDUAL LEADERS. THE JCRC'S CORE WORK INCLUDES PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS ANTISEMITISM, BIGOTRY, AND RACISM, SUPPORTING A PEACEFUL, SECURE, JEWISH, AND DEMOCRATIC STATE OF ISRAEL, FOSTERING POSITIVE AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONS WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND STRENGTHENING OUR JEWISH COMMUNITIES THROUGH COHESION AND CIVIL DISCOURSE. THE FEDERATION OPERATES THE JEWISH COMMUNITY SECURITY PROGRAM, SAFE WASHINGTON, AND LEVERAGES CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SECURITY SERVICES TO JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS STATEWIDE, INCLUDING A ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, TRAINING AND RESOURCES, AND RISK ASSESSMENT. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER SEATTLE (THE FOUNDATION), A PROGRAM OF THE FEDERATION, PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PHILANTHROPISTS BY STEWARDING FUNDS, INCLUDING DONOR-ADVISED, SPECIAL-PURPOSE, AGENCY CUSTODIAL, AND SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. THESE FUNDS SUPPORT JEWISH AND SECULAR ORGANIZATIONS, DISTRIBUTING GRANTS AND ALLOCATIONS IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION, THE U.S., AND OVERSEAS. THE FEDERATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SYNAGOGUES THROUGH ITS SPECIAL INITIATIVES FUND. GRANTS INCLUDE 1) IGNITION GRANTS FOR NEW, ONE TIME, OR PILOT PROJECTS 2) SMALL AGENCY SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS, PROVIDING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR SMALL JEWISH AGENCIES AND 3) WOMEN'S ENDOWMENT FUND GRANTS, SUPPORTING PROGRAMS EMPOWERING AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN OUR REGION.
  2. $1.8 million spent. INVESTMENTS IN JEWISH LIFE: THE FEDERATION OFFERS PROGRAMMING TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT PROVIDE EASY ENTRY POINTS TO JEWISH LIFE AND SECURES OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. FEDERATION BUILDS AND ENHANCES COMMUNITY BY FOSTERING PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONNECTIONS. THESE PROGRAM INVESTMENTS INCLUDE: - PJ LIBRARY AND PJ OUR WAY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION, PROVIDE YOUNG FAMILIES JEWISH-THEMED BOOKS FREE OF CHARGE TO FOSTER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND CONNECTION. LOCALLY, PJ LIBRARY ENABLES FAMILIES TO BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH FUN AND WELCOMING IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES. - RESET & REFRESH, A LOCALLY DEVELOPED PROGRAM, OFFERS YOUNG COUPLES IN MIXED-HERITAGE RELATIONSHIPS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT JEWISH LIFE AND BUILD COMMUNITY WITH PEERS. - NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AND ONE HAPPY CAMPER INCENTIVE GRANTS HELP FAMILIES SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO JEWISH OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP. - THE CARDOZO SOCIETY IS AN AFFINITY GROUP FOR JEWISH LEGAL PROFESSIONALS AND LAW STUDENTS. CARDOZO SOCIETY PROGRAMS INCLUDE CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES, PRO BONO INITIATIVES, JUDICIAL CANDIDATE RATINGS, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. - FEDERATION SPONSORS PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE EMERGING LEADERS TO TAKE ON COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT FEDERATION SPONSORS INCLUDE THE NATIONAL YOUNG LEADERSHIP CABINET (NYLC). IN OTHER FISCAL YEARS, FEDERATION SPONSORS AND/OR RUNS THE WEXNER HERITAGE PROGRAM, THE SEATTLE NOWGEN GIVING CIRCLE, AND THE COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP INCUBATOR (CLI).
  3. $1.5 million spent. ISRAEL AND OVERSEAS: FEDERATION STRENGTHENS JEWISH PUGET SOUND'S CONNECTIONS TO ISRAEL AND OVERSEAS JEWISH COMMUNITIES THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONNECTIONS. THE FEDERATION INVESTS IN PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION, FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY, HEALTH CARE FOR THE SICK, AND SUPPORT FOR ISRAELI IMMIGRANTS IN CRISIS. FEDERATION HAS MADE INVESTMENTS THROUGH DECADES-LONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL (JAFI) AND THE JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE (JDC). IN ADDITION, FEDERATION INVESTMENTS SUPPORT HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL, THE ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL PROJECT, JINDAS, SELAH: ISRAEL CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER, SHAHARIT, TECH-CAREER, AND YEMIN-ORDE/IMPACT ISRAEL. THE FEDERATION HELPS AREA COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO ISRAEL THROUGH ITS ISRAELI EMISSARIES PROGRAM, SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLING TEENS TO HAVE ISRAEL EXPERIENCES, AND LOCAL LECTURES ON ISRAEL AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FACING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 July 1942.

    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.