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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
3
(212) 233-5200
255 West 36th Street, Suite 701
New York, NY, 10018
https://nacoej.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 3 (Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings)
An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

NACOEJ does not meet this Standard because:

  • The board of directors held two meetings in 2024.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 13

North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Child Sponsorship


NACOEJ'S sponsorship programs help Ethiopian-Israeli elementary school, high school, and college students cover costs associated with education so they can stay in school. These costs include school fees, rent, food, and transportation. Sponsorship of an elementary school student in the Limudiah program for one academic year is $1,600 and can be paid by an individual. Sponsorship of a high school student for one year is $425 and can be paid by an individual. Sponsorship of a college student for one academic year is $1,320 and can be paid by an individual, a family, or as part of a group. Sponsors will receive a biography and photo of each sponosored student and have the opportunity to visit the student if traveling to Israel. 

Stated Purpose:
"to help Ethiopian Jews survive in Ethiopia; to assist them in reaching Israel; to aid in the absorption of Ethiopian Jews into Israeli society; and to preserve their unique and ancient culture."

Year, State Incorporated:
1982, NY

The North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) reports that it advocates for immigration to Israel of the estimated 14,000 Jews still in Ethiopia, while funding daily meals for clinically malnourished children and malnourished pregnant and nursing women. The organization also provides educational, cultural, and vocational assistance and meals to Ethiopian Jews who have reached Israel. According to NACOEJ, the organization's Limudiah Intensive Education program currently serves about 400 Ethiopian Israeli elementary school children and includes 10 hours weekly of reading, mathematics, and study skills. Ethiopian-Israeli high-school students receive help annually through the NACOEJ High School Sponsorship Program, which covers costs of lab fees, educational trips, textbooks and other supplies. The NACOEJ/Barney & Rachel Landau Gottstein College Sponsorship Program provides undergraduate students with a modest living stipend to help them stay in school.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry's program expenses were:

Assistance in Israel $1,120,826
Relief in Ethiopia $723,662
Information and education - USA $185,876
Total Program Expenses $2,030,364

Chief Executive
Barbara M. Ribakove, Founder and Executive Director

Compensation*
$96,201

Chair of the Board
Peter Halasz, Esq.

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Partner, Schulte Roth & Zabel

Board Size
17

Paid Staff Size
9

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Note: NACOEJ reports that Gary Metzger, Chief Operating Officer, was the highest paid employee in 2023, receiving $106,000.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Radio

NACJOE incurred joint costs of $21,144 for informational materials and activities that included fundraising materials. Of those costs $10,899 was allocated to fundraising expenses and $10,245 was allocated to program expenses.

Fundraising costs were 18% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $1,421,035, 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 North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Source of Funds
Other income $1,224
Sales, net $3,668
Interest and dividend income $174,845
Investment return, net $290,481
Public support $1,421,035
Total Income $1,891,253

Programs: 81% Fundraising: 10% Administrative: 8%

Total Income $1,891,253
Total expenses: $2,492,122
  Program expenses $2,030,364
  Fundraising expenses $258,431
  Administrative expenses $203,327
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-600,869
Beginning Net Assets $5,777,615
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $5,176,746
Total Liabilities $380,701
Total Assets $5,557,447

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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Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance