irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $550KCHORAL EDUCATION THE ZAMIR CHORAL FOUNDATION, CREATED BY MATTHEW LAZAR, PROMOTES CHORAL MUSIC AS A VEHICLE TO INSPIRE JEWISH LIFE, CULTURE AND CONTINUITY. BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE ZAMIR CHORALE, THE FIRST MODERN HEBREW-SINGING CHOIR IN NORTH AMERICA, MR. LAZAR SOUGHT AN EXPANSIVE VISION THAT WENT BEYOND THE ACTIVITIES OF ANY SINGLE CHOIR - ONE THAT FOSTERED JEWISH IDENTITY ACROSS GENERATIONAL AND DENOMINATIONAL LINES. TODAY, THE ZAMIR CHORAL FOUNDATION IS AT THE CENTER OF A GROWING MOVEMENT THAT PRESERVES AND FOSTERS JEWISH IDENTITY THROUGH JEWISH CHORAL MUSIC.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
HaZaPrep
Preparatory choral program for middle school students in North America to develop musical and Jewish literacy skills.
HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir
Nationwide network of Jewish high school choirs in North America and Israel that performs annually at major venues including Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera House.
Mandell Rosen Fund for New Music
Program commissioning original Jewish choral works from contemporary composers, supported by individual donors.
North American Jewish Choral Festival
Annual festival and conference that brings together Jewish choruses from across North America for performances, workshops, and awards.
Zamir Chorale
Adult Jewish choral ensemble founded in 1960 that performs at high musical standards and tours internationally, especially to Israel.
Zamir Noded
Post-high school choral program for HaZamir alumni and other young adults to continue singing Jewish music in a peer community.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 3 activities
- HaZaPrep: Jewish Choral Preparatory Program for Middle School StudentsRuns the first Jewish choral preparatory program in North America, with chapters in ten U.S. cities, preparing middle school students for participation in high school choral ensembles, including an annual national retreat.
- Intergenerational and Educational Programming in Jewish MusicOffers choral and educational programming for participants from tweens to adults, creating new musical communities across North America and Israel through experiential learning and performance.
- National Institute for Training Conductors of Jewish ChoirsOffers a two-year training program for emerging conductors, including monthly online meetings, annual in-person workshops, a summer intensive, and mentoring, culminating in a Certificate in Jewish Choral Conducting; trains 12–15 conductors annually.
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Community Choral Rehearsals & Performances 2 activities
- HaZamir: National Jewish High School Choir ProgramOperates 34 chapters across the United States and Israel for Jewish high school teens, providing weekly rehearsals, regional retreats, and an international festival focused on Jewish choral music, text study, leadership development, and cross-cultural connection.
- North American Jewish Choral FestivalOrganizes an annual multi-day choral festival featuring rehearsals with accomplished conductors, community singing, workshops, ad hoc vocal ensembles, and evening concerts for participants of all ages.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 2 activities
- Public Access to Choral RecordingsMakes recordings of its choral performances publicly available, including works such as “Ivru BaSh’arim,” “Megillat HaAtzma’ut,” “Shalom Rav,” and others, preserving and disseminating Jewish choral music.
- Virtual and Online Choral InitiativesProduces virtual choir recordings and online performances, including the first Jewish virtual choir recording in 2018 and subsequent collaborative projects such as “Shalom Aleichem” and “Horah Mamterah” during the pandemic era.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Commissioning and Premiering New Jewish Choral WorksCommissions and premieres original choral works for significant anniversaries and events, including pieces by Charles Osborne, Nick Page, Steve Cohen, Randy Klein, Gerald Cohen, and others, performed at major venues and festivals.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Concert and Performance Programming at Major VenuesProduces high-profile concerts at major cultural venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, featuring ensembles such as Zamir Chorale, HaZamir, and guest performers.
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Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 1 activity
- Musical Missions to IsraelLeads cultural and musical missions to Israel featuring performances in concert halls, community centers, and for elderly and military populations, including special missions during times of crisis and for national celebrations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$2.47M
Contributions & grants$1.84M74%
Program service revenue$627K25%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$131
expenses
Total expenses$2.26M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$783K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$903K
Cash$692K
Investments$50K
Liabilities$246K
Net assets$657K
Liquid reserves3.9 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +23.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW LAZAR | EXECUTIVE DI | 80 | $237K |
board members · 24
- ADINA AVERY-GROSSMAN — HONORARY MEM
- ARLINE DUKER — DIRECTOR
- BOBBIE SUE DAITCH — DIRECTOR
- CANTOR NANCY ABRAMSON — HONORARY MEM
- CAROL KOPELMAN — DIRECTOR
- DENNIS WALDMAN — HONORARY MEM
- DR ALAN MASON — DIRECTOR
- DR CHERYL TROY — HONORARY MEM
- DR ELLIOT STEIGMAN — DIRECTOR
- DR HUGH POLLACK — DIRECTOR
- DR MARK PODWALL — HONORARY MEM
- DR STEVEN C LORCH — VICE PRESIDE
- ELENA NEUMAN LEFKOWITZ — VICE PRESIDE
- ELIZABETH HOVE ARON — DIRECTOR
- ERIKA PARDES SCHON — HONORARY MEM
- FRANCINE M GORDON — HONORARY MEM
- FREDRICA BROOKS — DIRECTOR
- HENRY STEIN — VICE PRESIDE
- HYNDA FEIT — DIRECTOR
- JAMES BALL — HONORARY MEM
- JONATHAN CHIMENE — TREASURER
- JOSH MOHRER — DIRECTOR
- LARA TRAUM — SECRETARY
- LEAH STOLAR — DIRECTOR
relationships · 11
Who they work with
- American Zionist Foundation Partner — Collaborated on a concert to celebrate Jerusalem 3000.
- Cantors Assembly Partner — Collaborated with their soloists during a choral festival performance in Jerusalem.
- HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir Partner — Collaborates with HaZamir to premiere commissioned choral works.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Hosted HaZamir's performance at David Geffen Hall.
- Matthew Lazar Partner — Artistic director and conductor involved in festival programming and leadership.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary grant funder supporting recovery of the nonprofit arts and culture sector.
- North American Jewish Choral Festival Partner — Collaborates with the North American Jewish Choral Festival Community on joint performances.
- North American Jewish Choral Festival Partner — Collaborates with the North American Jewish Choral Festival as part of the summer conducting intensive.
- Ra’anana Symphonette Partner — Accompanied festival participants in a performance at the Jerusalem Theater.
- The Covenant Foundation Funder — Provided a $20,000 Ignition Grant to develop "Shir Connection" for Jewish music, learning, and intergenerational relationship-building.
- Zamir Choral Foundation Network — Zamir Chorale serves as the flagship ensemble of the Zamir Choral Foundation.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Advancing Jewish Culture Through Commissioned and Distributed New Musicmethodology: commissioning new music for commemorationBy commissioning and publicly distributing new choral works, we sustain the evolution of Jewish musical culture, because commemorating communal milestones through original art ensures cultural relevance and broad accessibility across time and geography.
- Cultural Diplomacy and Relationship-Building Through Musical Partnershipsmethodology: cultural_diplomacy_through_musicBy creating in-person and collaborative musical experiences between North American and Israeli Jews, we build lasting support for Israel, because shared artistic practice fosters deep interpersonal bonds that transcend political or geographic distance.
- Cultural Engagement Through Choral Musicmethodology: cultural_engagement_through_choirBy using Jewish choral music as a shared artistic and textual practice, we engage diverse, cross-generational, and trans-denominational Jews in pluralistic community building, because music creates a unifying, experiential entry point to Jewish identity and continuity.
- Professional Training Through Practice-Centered Mentorshipmethodology: practice-centered_trainingBy combining hands-on conducting experience with structured mentorship and blended learning, we develop skilled Jewish choral conductors, because practical podium time supported by expert feedback produces greater pedagogical mastery than theory alone.
- Text-Based Jewish Education Through Musicmethodology: text_based_jewish_educationBy setting Jewish texts to choral music, we teach Jewish history, language, and tradition, because musical engagement deepens cognitive and emotional retention of cultural content.