American Jewish World Service
Meets Standards
Standards For Charity Accountability
Governance
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Board Oversight
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Board Size
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Board Meetings
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Board Compensation
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Conflict of Interest
Measuring Effectiveness
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Effectiveness Policy
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Effectiveness Report
Finances
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Program Expenses
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Fundraising Expenses
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Accumulating Funds
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Audit Report
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Detailed Expense Breakdown
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Accurate Expense Reporting
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Budget Plan
Fundraising & Info
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Truthful Materials
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Annual Report
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Website Disclosures
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Donor Privacy
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Cause Marketing Disclosures
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Complaints
American Jewish World Service meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Stated Purpose:
"to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world and end poverty in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean."
Year, State Incorporated:
1985, NY
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) reports that it pursues lasting change by supporting grassroots and global human rights organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and by mobilizing supporters in the United States to advocate for global justice. Through the provision of grants the organization seeks to advance the health and human rights of women, girls and LGBT people; promotes civil and political rights; defends access to food, land and water; and aids communities in the aftermath of disasters. In FY2025, AJWS reports that it awarded 583 grants to 454 human rights organizations in 17 countries working to defend civil and political rights, advance sexual health and rights, protect land and water rights and promote climate justice, and respond to disasters. The organization also supported an additional 20 grantees in 5 countries via a donor-advised fund. AJWS-funded partners in Thailand led a campaign that legalized same sex marriage in the country. Through a case filed by partners in Uganda, several sections of the 2023 anti-homosexuality act were annulled. In India, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic, AJWS funded movements to champion the rights of adolescent girls and young women to self-determination, including their right to resist early and child marriage. In the area of civil and political rights, AJWS funded partners seeking to promote democratic ideals and advance justice. This support ranged from funding collectives of mothers searching for their disappeared loved ones in Mexico to community organizations working toward more inclusive and representative governance in Senegal, Guatemala and Haiti. The division also provided immediate humanitarian response support to partners facing climate disasters or public health emergency crises in the countries where we work. Specific support included grants allocated for response to flooding in Burma, El Salvador, Kenya, Haiti, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Uganda, as well as to outbreaks of Ebola and mpox in Uganda.
For the year ended April 30, 2025, American Jewish World Service's program expenses were:
| Programs | $29,412,904 |
| Communications | $3,159,157 |
| Strategic learning, research and evaluation | $814,634 |
| Total Program Expenses | $33,386,695 |
Chief Executive
Robert Bank, President and Chief Executive Officer
Compensation*
$468,320
Chair of the Board
Jill Minneman
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Leadership Coach
Board Size
28
Paid Staff Size
69
*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Telephone appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Membership appeals, Workplace giving, Cryptocurrency
AJWS incurred joint costs of $847,548 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs 573,030 was allocated to fundraising, $264,972 was allocated to program expenses, and $9,546 was allocated to administrative expenses.
Fundraising costs were 16% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $42,218,906, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)
This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
The following information is based on American Jewish World Service's audited financial statements for the year ended April 30, 2025.
Source of Funds
| Individuals | $24,899,721 |
| Foundations and corporations | $13,999,843 |
| Investment return, net | $3,013,841 |
| Government revenue | $1,564,091 |
| Bequests | $1,273,027 |
| Miscellaneous revenue | $783,009 |
| In-kind contributions | $380,163 |
| Donor-advised fund | $102,061 |
| Total Income | $46,015,756 |
Programs: 78% Fundraising: 16% Administrative: 6%
| Total Income | $46,015,756 |
| Total expenses: | $42,919,374 |
| Program expenses | $33,386,695 |
| Fundraising expenses | $6,933,599 |
| Administrative expenses | $2,599,080 |
| Other expenses | $0 |
| Income in Excess of Expenses | $3,096,382 |
| Beginning Net Assets | $62,646,533 |
| Other Changes In Net Assets | $0 |
| Ending Net Assets | $65,742,915 |
| Total Liabilities | $13,109,820 |
| Total Assets | $78,852,735 |
Note: For the year ended April 30, 2025, AJWS reported in-kind income of $380,163 including donated online advertisement services ($361,277) and donated legal services ($18,886).
An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.
This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.
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Meets Standards
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Standards Not Met
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Did Not Disclose
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Review in Progress
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Unable to Verify
Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance