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American Jewish University

EIN 95-1684064 · Sherman Oaks, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY (AJU) ADVANCES AND ELEVATES THE JEWISH JOURNEY OF INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN SCHOLARSHIP, TEACHING, ENGAGED CONVERSATION, AND OUTREACH. AJU IS A THRIVING CENTER OF JEWISH RESOURCES AND TALENT THAT SERVES THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. A PORTAL FOR JEWISH BELONGING, AJU EQUIPS STUDENTS, FACULTY, CAMPERS, AND LEARNERS OF ALL AGES WITH THE TOOLS TO CREATE THE IDEAS, BUILD THE STRUCTURES, AND DEVELOP THE PROGRAMS TO ADVANCE JEWISH WISDOM AND ELEVATE JEWISH LIVING.

Income
$21.6 million
Spending
$28.2 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 50%
Employees
31
Volunteers
26
Highest pay
$549,443, president - 05/05/25

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 63% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 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 (4)
  1. $8.6 million spent. ACADEMIC AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:ACADEMIC PROGRAMS INCLUDE: BA OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MASTER'S IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MASTER'S IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, MARS - ZIEGLER GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR THE TRAINING OF CONSERVATIVE RABBIS. OTHER CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: JEWISH LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT PARTNERING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO OFFER MEANINGFUL LEARNING. JEWISH EDUCATION EXCELLENCE PROJECT WHICH IS A MENTOR TEACHER CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. EARLY CHILDHOOD EXTENSION PROGRAM FOR WORKING ADULTS AND LIFELONG LEARNERS TO MEET OTHER PASSIONATE EDUCATORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.SEE SCHEDULE OCOMMUNITY PROGRAMS THROUGH THE MAAS CENTER INCLUDE: INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM IS A PROGRAM REACHING A GLOBAL AUDIENCE THROUGH ONLINE COURSES AND FOSTERING JEWISH CONNECTIONS AND EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. OUR MIKVAH IS A JEWISH RITUAL POOL USED TO ADD A SACRED DIMENSION TO LIFE EVENTS, INCLUDING CELEBRATING TIMES OF JOY, MARKING SIGNIFICANT TRANSITIONS, OR HEALING. BCI IS A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR PARTICIPANTS AGES 20-29 WHO COME TOGETHER FOR A MULTI-DAY RETREAT TO CONNECT AND RECONNECT WITH THEMSELVES. MARRIAGE FOR LIFE IS A PROGRAM EMPOWERING COUPLES AT ANY STAGE TO BUILD FOUNDATIONS OF AN ENDURING RELATIONSHIP.
  2. $4.1 million spent. CONFERENCE CENTER:THE AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THE BRANDEIS-BARDIN CAMPUS. THE CONFERENCE CENTER AT THE BRANDEIS-BARDIN CAMPUS IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A CENTER DEVOTED TO JEWISH LEARNING AND CULTURE. THIS LOCATION IS EQUIPPED FOR CELEBRATING JEWISH LIFECYCLE EVENTS AND AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CREATIVE THINKING AND PRODUCTIVE COLLABORATION.
  3. $3.9 million spent. CAMP ALONIM: CAMP ALONIM STRIVES TO SPARK A LOVE FOR JEWISH CULTURE, TRADITION, AND COMMUNITY IN OUR CAMPERS BY EXPOSING THEM TO A MULTITUDE OF WAYS TO BE JEWISH. WE SEE EVERY ACTIVITY WE OFFER AS A "GATEWAY"- A MEANS BY WHICH THEY MIGHT ENGAGE WITH BEING JEWISH. JEWISH CAMPING HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS OF JEWISH EDUCATION, ENSURING A JEWISH IDENTITY IN ADULTHOOD.GAN ALONIM- DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 6TH GRADE. IT IS A NURTURING AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE THEIR WORLD AND BE ADVENTUROUS IN A SAFE SETTING.
  4. $2.0 million spent. WHIZIN CENTER/OFFICE FOR OPEN LEARNING CREATES AN OFFERS PROGRAMS TO HELP JEWS AND OTHERS ON A JOURNEY OF JEWISH LEARNING, CONNECTING THEM TO KNOWLEDGE, AND TO TEACH EACH OTHER THROUGH CLASSES, LECTURES, TOURS, GUEST SPEAKERS AND MULTI-MEDIA CONTENT. CLASSES AND LECTURES ARE A MIX OF IN-PERSON, WEB, AND HYBRID, AND FEATURE BOTH FACULTY FROM AMERICAN JEWISH UNIVERSITY AND GUEST SPEAKERS. STUDENTS ARE A CROSS-SECTION OF LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL.RESULTING FROM THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY THE UNIVERSITY COMPLETED, AND CASH PROCEEDS RECEIVED, SEVERAL GRANTS WERE PAID OUT AS DESIGNATED BY THE ENDOWMENT.

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 June 1959.

    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.

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