irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $532KThe Workers Circle experienced significant growth and renewal across its programs, advocacy, and community engagement. Educational offerings expanded through new and diverse classes in Yiddish language, Jewish cultural history, and social justice. The Workers Circle activist community reached over 1.6 million voters in states that had enacted new voter suppression laws, many targeting voters of color. Our outreach took the form of phone banking, texting, handwritten postcards, and door knocking. Our Demand Democracy/Fight Fascism Campaign connected with thousands of new activists, and we created powerful partnerships with Black-led organizations, including the Center for Common Ground, Black Voters Matter, and more. The Workers Circle Democracy Circles emerged as vibrant hubs of grassroots organizing and activism since their launch in 2023. Our network expanded to over 80 circles nationwide, connecting over 350 participants in a grassroots movement that powers our activism. The Workers Circle continues to be the world's leading center for Yiddish language instruction and the largest provider of Yiddish language classes in the U.S. We've offered 160 classes through our world-renowned program, engaging nearly 2,000 students with 50 instructors worldwide.. Our daylong Winter in Yiddishland virtual program drew over 500 students.
- #2 $703KSOCIAL JUSTICE: SEE MISSION STATEMENT AT PART III, LINE 1
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Demand Democracy/Fight Fascism Campaign
Grassroots voter outreach initiative using phone banking, texting, postcards, and door-knocking to engage voters in states with restrictive voting laws.
Democracy Circles
Network of over 80 local activist groups nationwide that serve as hubs for grassroots organizing and community engagement.
New York Workers Circle School
Secular, progressive Jewish Sunday school offering Yiddish language, cultural education, activism, and a group B'nei Mitzvah program for children in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Yiddish Language Instruction Program
Offers 160 Yiddish classes annually with 50 instructors worldwide, serving nearly 2,000 students; recognized as the largest provider of Yiddish language education in the U.S.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Conduct voter engagement campaignsConducts phone banking, texting, handwritten postcards, and door-to-door canvassing to reach over 1.6 million voters in states with new voter suppression laws, providing early voting information and civic engagement support.
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Structured Jewish Text Study Programs 1 activity
- Offer secular Jewish education programsOffers secular Jewish Sunday school programs twice monthly in Brooklyn and Manhattan, providing ongoing educational programming for children and families.
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Immigrant Rights Advocacy & Policy Reform 1 activity
- Organize multi-faith civic vigilsOrganizes multi-faith vigils to honor individuals killed by ICE and to demand accountability, fostering intercommunity solidarity and public awareness.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Sponsor summer cultural festivalsSponsors Matchbook Fest 2026, a summer festival featuring theater, music, comedy, and conversation as part of its cultural programming.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Support grassroots democracy networksEstablished and supports a network of over 80 Democracy Circles nationwide, engaging more than 350 participants in grassroots organizing and activism to strengthen democratic participation.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Provide Yiddish language instructionOffered 160 Yiddish language classes in 2024, serving nearly 2,000 students with 50 instructors worldwide, and hosted a daylong virtual Winter in Yiddishland program that attracted over 500 participants.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.78M
Contributions & grants$852K23%
Program service revenue$520K14%
Investment income$2.40M63%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$4.37M
Program expenses56%
Admin / overhead34%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$2.57M
Grants paid out$8K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$36.46M
Cash$520K
Investments$34.26M
Liabilities$1.94M
Net assets$34.52M
Liquid reserves95.5 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANN TOBACK | CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $272K |
| MELISSA KARACHALIOS | DEPUTY EX. DIR. & DIR. OF DEV. | 40 | $204K |
| Shelley Binder | Associate Director of Special | 40 | $161K |
| JONATHAN GOLD | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $148K |
| NOELLE DAMICO | DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL JUSTICE | 40 | $145K |
| NIKOLAI BORODULIN | DIR OF YIDDISH PROGRAMMING | 40 | $137K |
board members · 14
- BARRY EISENBERG — Director
- Bradley Alter — Director
- EITAN TABAK — SECRETARY
- Eva Zasloff — Vice President
- HASIA R DINER — DIRECTOR
- JACK LUSK — DIRECTOR
- JEFFREY STEIN — Treasurer
- Judy Fishman — Director
- Lewis Jones — director
- Malky Goldman — Director
- RICHARD RUMELT — PRESIDENT
- ROBERT KAPLAN — DIRECTOR
- SALLY GUTTMACHER — Vice President
- andrea miller — director
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- Bend the Arc Partner — Co-organizes a multi-faith vigil with The Workers Circle to demand justice for victims of ICE violence.
- Black Voters Matter Partner — Collaborated with The Workers Circle on voter engagement and anti-suppression campaigns.
- Center for Common Ground Partner — Collaborates with The Workers Circle on phone banking to mobilize Black voters in Virginia.
- Center for Common Ground Partner — Partnered with The Workers Circle in voter outreach and democracy-building initiatives.
- HIAS Partner — Co-organizes a multi-faith vigil with The Workers Circle to demand justice for victims of ICE violence.
- Interfaith Center of New York Partner — Co-organizes a multi-faith vigil with The Workers Circle to demand justice for victims of ICE violence.
- Mix & Match Productions Partner — Co-sponsor of Matchbook Fest 2026, a festival featuring theater, music, comedy, and conversation.
- T'ruah Partner — Co-organizes a multi-faith vigil with The Workers Circle to demand justice for victims of ICE violence.
strategies · 4
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.
- Bundist-Inspired Secular Jewish Educationmethodology: bundist_education_modelBy integrating secular Jewish cultural heritage with social justice and community building, we engage diverse families and empower youth as change-makers, because this model fosters identity-based activism and intergenerational solidarity rooted in progressive values.
- Inclusive Multicultural Jewish Educationmethodology: inclusive_multicultural_educationBy centering marginalized voices in Jewish cultural education, we create an inclusive environment for multifaith, multiracial, and LGBTQ+ families, because representation and belonging increase engagement and broaden the reach of progressive Jewish identity.
- Intergroup Solidarity Through Strategic Alliancesmethodology: intermovement_solidarityBy forming alliances with Black-led racial justice organizations, we strengthen grassroots democracy and combat voter suppression, because solidarity across movements amplifies impact and builds shared power toward systemic change.
- Multi-Faith Public Advocacymethodology: multi_faith_advocacyBy organizing multi-faith vigils to honor victims of state violence, we generate public moral pressure and demand systemic accountability, because interfaith witness creates culturally resonant, coalition-based advocacy that transcends single-identity movements.