irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $174KNEW YORK SEPHARDIC JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL - THE NEW YORK SEPHARDIC JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL IS THE WORLD'S PREMIERE EXPERIENCE DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING THE RICH MOSAIC CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF JEWS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND GREATER SEPHARDIC DIASPORA, INCLUDING BY HONORING EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR LITERARY, ARTISTIC, AND OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS WITH THE ASF POMEGRANATE AWARDS.
- #2 $57NATIONAL SEPHARDIC LIBRARY & ARCHIVES - THE ASF IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES OF GREATER SEPHARDIC INTEREST IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, CONTAINING BOOKS, DOCUMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, FILMS, JUDAICA, AND EPHEMERA, AT THE CENTER FOR JEWISH HISTORY. A PROUD PARTNER OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETYS JEWISH ARCHIVES HISTORY NETWORK. IMPORTANT ASF COLLECTIONS INCLUDE: THE ARCHIVES OF SEPHARDIC JEWISH BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICA AND THE SEPHARDIC HOME FOR THE AGED. PROFESSOR AVIVA BEN-UR HAS DESCRIBED THE JUDEO-SPANISH COLLECTION OF LOUIS N. LEVY AT THE ASF AS "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LADINO COLLECTIONS IN THE WORLD".
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Kedmah Song Circle
Monthly in-person and virtual gatherings exploring Middle Eastern Jewish poetry and song through communal singing and education
Mimouna Celebrations
Community events marking the end of Passover with traditional Moroccan Jewish music, food, and customs in partnership with local organizations
National Sephardic Library & Archives
Cultural archive preserving historical materials related to Sephardic communities, housed at the Center for Jewish History
New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival
Annual film festival showcasing Sephardic Jewish creativity through premiere films and cultural events in New York City
Sephardi World Weekly
Publications series offering commentary, cultural insights, and scholarly content on Sephardic life and traditions
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 1 activity
- Advocacy for Sephardic inclusion and human rightsEngages in advocacy to advance Sephardic visibility and rights, including submitting testimony to include Sephardic history in California’s curriculum, advocating for the release of imprisoned Yemeni Jew Levi Marhabi, and launching the Spain Promises campaign to address unfulfilled commitments to Sephardic Jews.
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Jewish and Cultural Heritage Archives 1 activity
- Curating and hosting Sephardic art and historical exhibitionsProduces and hosts temporary and permanent exhibitions on Sephardic life, history, and art, both in-person and digitally. Exhibitions include "The Golden Age of the Jews of Alandalus," "Re-Creation: Judaica by Moroccan Muslim Artisans," and "Portugal, The Last Hope: Sousa Mendes’ Visas for Freedom," with some digitized via the Google Cultural Institute.
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Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
- Hosting cultural programming and public celebrationsProduces high-profile cultural events including film festivals, musical showcases, culinary competitions, and award ceremonies. Hosts the annual New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival, Pomegranate Awards, Kedmah Song Circle, and the Great Sephardic Chef Competition.
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Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
- Organization of national and international cultural events and conferencesOrganizes large-scale cultural events, festivals, and international conferences that bring together Sephardic communities and global partners. Examples include the 2nd Jewish Africa Conference (2022), Holocaust Remembrance Day event in Casablanca (2023), and the Upper West Side and Brooklyn Mimouna celebrations in 2026.
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Holocaust and Genocide Remembrance Education 1 activity
- Preservation and promotion of Sephardic history and culturePreserves and promotes the history, traditions, and culture of Greater Sephardic communities through archival collection campaigns, cultural programming, and public education. Conducts a nationwide effort to collect Sephardi archival documents, artifacts, photographs, footage, and memorabilia.
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Jewish Textual and Educational Publishing 1 activity
- Production of scholarly and cultural publicationsProduces a quarterly journal, monthly essays, weekly publications, and a publication series examining Jewish presence in the Land of Israel through a Sephardi lens. Also publishes thematic content such as the Passover-themed "Letter from the Land of Israel."
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Research and Scholarly Fellowship Support 1 activity
- Support for Sephardic scholarship and academic researchSupports research and scholarship through fellowships, endowments, and dedicated spaces for scholars. Operates the Sephardi House Fellowship program, which has engaged 58 students and hundreds more on campuses since 2020, and provides co-working and scholars-in-residence opportunities in New York.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Capacity-building through institutional partnerships and infrastructure developmentSponsored the creation of The Center for Jewish History, merged with Sephardic House in 2002 to integrate cultural and archival assets, and established the National Sephardic Library with over 13,000 volumes. Also formed the Council of Sephardic Sages to preserve leadership and wisdom.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$906K
Contributions & grants$795K88%
Program service revenue$54K6%
Investment income$31K3%
Other revenue$27K
expenses
Total expenses$919K
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead24%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$273K
Grants paid out$50K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$902K
Cash$48K
Investments$463K
Liabilities$541K
Net assets$361K
Liquid reserves6.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -5.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JASON GUBERMAN | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $100K |
board members · 24
- ARTHUR GODIVA — BOARD MEMBER
- BRUCE SLOVIN — BOARD MEMBER
- CARLOS BENAIM — BOARD MEMBER
- CARLOS M GUTIERREZ — BOARD MEMBER
- CAROLE BASRI — VICE PRESIDE
- DAVID DANGOOR — PRESIDENT
- DAVID LAVIPOUR — BOARD MEMBER
- DENISE COHEN — BOARD MEMBER
- DR ALAN MATARASSO — BOARD MEMBER
- EDMUND SHAMSI — BOARD MEMBER
- ELI GABAY — BOARD MEMBER
- EPHRAIM ISAAC — BOARD MEMBER
- GWEN ZUARES — VICE PRESIDE
- JANE GERBER — BOARD MEMBER
- JEFF BEJA — BOARD MEMBER
- JIMMY EZRA — BOARD MEMBER
- JOE HALIO — BOARD MEMBER
- JOEL MARCUS — COUNSEL
- JONATHAN SHARBANI — BOARD MEMBER
- LAUREN GIBI — BOARD MEMBER
- LEON L LEVY — BOARD MEMBER
- MARC GUERON — BOARD MEMBER
- MARTIN ELIAS — BOARD MEMBER
- MIKE NASSIMI — CHAIRMAN
relationships · 43
Who they work with
- 14th Street Y Partner — Co-presents the Kedmah Song Circle with the American Sephardi Federation.
- American Jewish Committee Partner — Co-presented "From Casablanca to NYC: A Night of Moroccan Culture" with ASF.
- American Jewish Historical Society Partner — Collaborated with ASF in forming The Center for Jewish History and co-presenting exhibitions.
- American Jewish Historical Society Partner — Partnered on the exhibition "Luis Moses Gomez: Merchant Pioneer of Colonial New York."
- Association Mimouna Partner — Co-presented "From Casablanca to NYC: A Night of Moroccan Culture" with ASF.
- Center for Jewish History Government — ASF is part of the Center for Jewish History, as indicated by the email domain and shared address.
- Center for Jewish History Partner — Hosts the Sephardi Scholars Center at its facility in New York.
- Center for Jewish History Partner — Houses the American Sephardi Federation and partners on programming and events.
- Combat Antisemitism Movement Partner — Co-created the Omni-American Future Project to combat racism and antisemitism together.
- Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Coalition — ASF is a member and collaborates on diplomatic and communal initiatives including joint events and statements.
- Council of Jewish Communities in Morocco Partner — Co-organized a Holocaust Remembrance Day event in Casablanca with ASF and Mimouna Association.
- Gomez Foundation for Mill House Partner — Partnered on the exhibition "Luis Moses Gomez: Merchant Pioneer of Colonial New York."
- Ike, Molly, and Steven Elias Foundation Funder — Supports the New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival.
- Institut du Monde Arabe Partner — Collaborated on the exhibition "Juifs d’Orient: Une histoire plurimillénaire" to highlight the history of Eastern Jews.
- Institut du Monde Arabe Partner — Partnering with ASF on cultural dialogue and a major exhibition on Jews in Islamic Lands.
- JCRC-NY Partner — Co-presents the Upper West Side Mimouna Celebration with the American Sephardi Federation.
- Jazz Leadership Project Partner — Co-created the Omni-American Future Project to combat racism and antisemitism together.
- Jewish Agency for Israel Partner — Co-presents Mimouna 2026 with the American Sephardi Federation.
- Kane Street Synagogue Partner — Co-presents Mimouna 2026 with the American Sephardi Federation.
- Kanisse Partner — Co-presents Mimouna 2026 with the American Sephardi Federation.
- Leo Baeck Institute Partner — Collaborated with ASF in forming The Center for Jewish History and co-presenting exhibitions.
- MJH Partner — Presenting partner for the New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival.
- Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan Partner — Co-presents the Upper West Side Mimouna Celebration with the American Sephardi Federation.
- Mimouna Association Partner — Official American partner; collaborates on joint initiatives including Rebuilding Our Homes, the Jewish Africa Conference, and Holocaust Remembrance events in Morocco.
- Muslim World League Partner — Co-signed the It Stops Now Agreement with ASF to combat hate, bigotry, and fanaticism.
- Oded Halahmy Partner — Artist and ASF Board Member whose work is featured in the gallery named in his honor.
- Philos Latino Partner — Co-hosts the annual Nosotros exhibit with ASF.
- Philos Project Partner — Founding partner in the Abraham’s Missing Child Initiative, promoting intercultural exchange.
- Portuguese Consulate of New York Partner — Co-partnered with ASF on the exhibition "Portugal, The Last Hope: Sousa Mendes’ Visas for Freedom."
- Qesher Partner — Co-presents multiple virtual educational events with the American Sephardi Federation on Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish communities.
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strategies · 3
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.
- Cultural Preservation as Central to Jewish Unitymethodology: cultural_preservation_and_integrationBy preserving and restoring Sephardic history, language, and traditions, the organization strengthens the broader Jewish experience and fosters inclusion within the Jewish community, because cultural recognition is foundational to unity and authentic identity.
- Intercultural Dialogue Through Shared Cultural Heritagemethodology: intercultural_dialogueBy highlighting shared linguistic, historical, and artistic roots between Jewish, Arabic, and Persian traditions, the organization promotes intercultural understanding and counters antisemitism, because positive cultural immersion fosters empathy and mutual respect.
- Scholarly Engagement as Cultural Advancementmethodology: scholarly_and_cultural_advancementBy supporting scholarly research, publications, and collaborative workspaces, the organization advances recognition of Sephardic communities, because academic legitimacy and knowledge continuity are essential to cultural preservation and public influence.