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Jewish Federation of Orange County

EIN 95-2407026 · Irvine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FEDERATION CONVENES, ENGAGES, AND LEADS THE ORANGE COUNTY JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ITS PARTNERS, LEVERAGES RESOURCES TO ENHANCE AND SUSTAIN JEWISH LIFE, ASSISTS JEWS IN NEED, AND MOBILIZES ON ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY, AND STRENGTHENS ITS BOND WITH ISRAEL AND JEWISH PEOPLE GLOBALLY.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
26
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$374,747, president & chief executive officer

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 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 (4)
  1. $310,415 spent. SERVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEEDHOLOCAUST SURVIVOR PROGRAM: 182 SURVIVORS WERE SERVED IN 2024 WITH INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT; COMPENSATION FOR HOME CARE AND HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES; ASSISTANCE WITH RESTITUTION APPLICATIONS; EMERGENCY FINANCIAL AID; AND CAF EUROPA, A SERIES OF SOCIAL EVENTS; ALL THROUGH JFEDOC'S PARTNERSHIP WITH JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF SAN DIEGO, SUPPORTED BY JFEDOC DONORS. ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES: IN 2024, 40 ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES WERE SERVED THROUGH THE JEREMIAH SOCIETY, A MONTHLY SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM; AND THROUGH JEWISH PROGRAMMING COORDINATED FOR RESIDENTS OF MANDEL HOUSE AND HORWITZ FAMILY HOUSE, GROUP HOMES ESTABLISHED BY JFEDOC IN 2014 AND 2017. THE GROUP HOMES WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE IRVINE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IN 2021 AND JFEDOC CONTINUES TO PROVIDE JEWISH ENRICHMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE HOMES THROUGH JEREMIAH SOCIETY AND IN-HOME JEWISH HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.LIFELINES ASSISTANCE: 362 ORANGE COUNTY HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED IN 2024 WITH SOLUTION-FOCUSED CASE MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR QUALIFIED CLIENTS, AND RESOURCE REFERRAL SERVICES TO AID CLIENTS IN NAVIGATING THE OFTEN-COMPLEX NETWORK OF GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT SOCIAL SERVICE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
  2. $1.0 million spent. PHILANTHROPY AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTIN 2024, OVER 1,800 JFEDOC'S DONORS REPRESENTING 1,705 HOUSEHOLDS BENEFITED FROM PROGRAMS, EVENTS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS ON LOCAL AND GLOBAL JEWISH ISSUES AND ACHIEVEMENTS. THE MAJORITY OF JFEDOC'S DONORS BENEFITING FROM THESE SERVICES WERE MEMBERS OF ITS SOLOMON SOCIETY AND WOMEN'S PHILANTHROPY.
  3. $1.1 million spent. GRANTMAKINGISRAEL EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN: LAUNCHED IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE OCTOBER 7, 2023, ATTACKS ON ISRAEL, JFEDOC'S ISRAEL EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN ENGAGED OVER 1,000 DONORS WHO CONTRIBUTED SOME $1.06 MILLION FOR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF. AS OF DECEMBER 2024, A TOTAL OF $1.25 MILLION, INCLUDING $200,000 FROM THE LEON NINBURG ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND, HAD BEEN DISTRIBUTED PER THE RECOMMENDATION OF FEDERATION'S COMMUNITY PLANNING & GRANTS COMMITTEE, WITH APPROVAL BY THE BOARD, TO NONPROFIT PARTNERS IN ISRAEL PROVIDING TRAUMA AND MEDICAL CARE, HOUSING, SMALL BUSINESS LOANS, AND OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES.TEEN ENGAGEMENT & WELLNESS INITIATIVE: 898 ORANGE COUNTY JEWISH TEENS BENEFITED FROM JFEDOC'S GRANTS UNDER THIS INITIATIVE TO FIVE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY JFEDOC'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS. PASSPORT TO JEWISH LIFE: 108 JEWISH STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12 WERE ASSISTED BY JFEDOC PASSPORT GRANTS TO SUPPORT THEIR PARTICIPATION IN JEWISH SUMMER CAMP, MACCABI GAMES, SUMMER YESHIVAS, AND OTHER IMMERSIVE JEWISH SUMMER PROGRAMS.WEISSMAN ARTS: 750+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN CELEBRATE ISRAEL @ 76, A COMMUNITY ARTS AND CULTURE FESTIVAL IN MAY CELEBRATING ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE DAY, SPONSORED BY A GRANT FROM JFEDOC'S WEISSMAN ARTS FUND.ROSE PROJECT: GRANTS FROM THE ROSE PROJECT SUPPORTED HILLEL ORANGE COUNTY, CHABAD AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE, AND CHABAD AT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY AND CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FULLERTON. STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES AND LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES BENEFITED FROM REGULAR PROGRAMMING PROVIDED BY THESE JEWISH CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS.
  4. $1.2 million spent. COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND ENGAGEMENTSOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL: IN SEPTEMBER 2024, FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF HOSTAGES TAKEN DURING THE ATTACK ON ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7, 2023, 300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED FOR A SOLIDARITY RALLY TO MOURN THE LOSS AND PRAY FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF THE REMAINING HOSTAGES. ADDITIONALLY, ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF OCTOBER 7, 2023, JFEDOC PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE A MEMORIAL PROGRAM IN HONOR OF THE VICTIMS, ATTRACTING THE ATTENDANCE OF OVER 1,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. ROSE PROJECT: IN FEBRUARY 2024, ROSE PROJECT PARTNERED WITH UCI TO HOST THE COUNTERING HATE SUMMIT, WHICH ATTRACTED 200 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, CIVIL LEADERS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AROUND ANTISEMITISM, HATE SPEECH, AND DISCRIMINATION. THE SUMMIT EMPHASIZED SOLIDARITY, EDUCATION, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION SO THAT ALLIES CAN BECOME POWERFUL ADVOCATES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM. STUDENT TO STUDENT: 3,425 STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IN ORANGE COUNTY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS LEARNED ABOUT JEWISH LIFE AND CULTURE THROUGH PEER PRESENTATIONS BY 70 JEWISH TEEN AMBASSADORS IN THE 2024 COHORT OF THE ROSE PROJECT'S STUDENT TO STUDENT INITIATIVE. PJ LIBRARY: IN 2024, 2,170 CHILDREN RECEIVED FREE AGE-APPROPRIATE, JEWISH-THEMED BOOKS (FOR AGES 0 TO 12). OVER 18,800 BOOKS WERE DELIVERED DURING THE YEAR. MEANINGFUL AND EXCITING ACTIVITIES WERE ALSO PROVIDED FOR FAMILIES WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AS WELL AS PARENT-ONLY PROGRAMS.NEXTGEN: 192 YOUNG ADULTS IN THEIR 20S, 30S, AND 40S PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDED MEANINGFUL CONNECTION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, NETWORKING, AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, KEEPING THEM CONNECTED TO JEWISH LIFE IN ORANGE COUNTY AND EMPOWERING THEM TO LEAD.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 March 1966.

    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.