COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS AMERICAN SECTION INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131790756 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE X010 · Religion-Related · Large ($10M-$50M) · www.worldjewishcongress.org
revenue
$19.3M
expenses
$21.7M
net assets
$10.6M
employees
0
program ratio
89%
profile · synthesized from sources

The World Jewish Congress (American Section) Inc. represents Jewish communities globally and advocates on their behalf to governments, international organizations, and other faiths. It combats antisemitism, promotes tolerance, and supports Jewish life through advocacy, education, and leadership initiatives. The organization operates as a politically non-partisan body with a focus on global Jewish interests and intercommunal cooperation.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $835K
    SEE SCHEDULE O
  2. #2 $5.29M
    DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO OUR OVER 100 MEMBER COMMUNITIES. ISSUED PERIODICAL PRESS RELEASES, REPORTS AND WEEKLY SUMMARIES OF ACTIVITIES, ANALYSES OF TIMELY ISSUES AS WELL AS OPINION PIECES AND PRESS ITEMS THAT PERTAIN TO THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM, AT HOME AND ABROAD, THE IRANIAN THREAT, ISSUES AFFECTING ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST, AND JEWISH COMMUNITY NEWS.
named programs · 11 · from sources

What they call their work

#WeRemember
Annual social media campaign to educate the public on Holocaust denial and rising antisemitism.
International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians (ICJP)
Global network of Jewish legislators and elected officials to discuss challenges facing Jewish communities in Israel and the diaspora.
Israel Council on Foreign Relations (ICFR)
Non-partisan forum for study and debate of foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel, the Middle East, and international Jewish affairs.
Mission Impact
Provides firsthand experiences in Israel to educate allies about the realities of antisemitism and Jewish life post-October 7 attacks.
Special Envoys & Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA)
Forum for policy makers and officials dedicated to addressing antisemitism, including representatives from the European Commission, IHRA, and UNESCO.
Together Through Sport
Partnership initiative with What Matters NGO to educate athletes and staff about Jewish life, antisemitism, and the Holocaust.
WJC Elevate
Leadership program for Jewish individuals aged 15-45 to develop skills in advocacy and diplomacy.
WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps
Network of over 400 leaders aged 27-45 advocating for global Jewish interests and supporting local communities.
WJC National Community Directors’ Forum (NCDF)
Brings together senior professionals from WJC-affiliated Jewish communities globally to share best practices and build collaborative networks.
WJC NextGen
Empowers young leaders aged 15-26 to impact their communities and become future changemakers.
WJC Technology and Human Rights Institute (TecHRI)
Combats online antisemitism and hate speech by engaging Jewish communities, governments, and tech companies.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 6 activities
    • Combatting antisemitism through international coordination and policy forums
      Leads international efforts to combat antisemitism by convening policymakers, establishing the SECCA Network, and hosting forums with institutions like the European Commission, IHRA, and UNESCO to coordinate global responses and strengthen protections for Jewish communities.
    • Educational outreach to sports communities and allies
      Partners with football associations and clubs in over a dozen countries to educate athletes and sports staff about Jewish life, antisemitism, and the Holocaust, and provides educational trips to Israel for allies to deepen understanding of Jewish challenges.
    • Facilitating American Jewish participation in global Jewish governance
      Enables American Jewish communities to contribute to the global deliberations of the World Jewish Congress and promotes national actions to combat antisemitism and advance tolerance in the U.S. context.
    • Global diplomatic advocacy for Jewish communities
      Engages in high-level diplomatic advocacy by meeting with heads of state, prime ministers, and government officials to represent the interests of Jewish communities worldwide and advance policies addressing antisemitism and tolerance.
    • Global parliamentary engagement on Jewish issues
      Convenes international Jewish legislators and elected officials through forums such as the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians to discuss shared challenges and strengthen global cooperation on issues affecting Jewish communities.
    • Research and educational outreach on Jewish affairs
      Produces and disseminates non-partisan research and educational materials on Jewish concerns, foreign policy, Israel, and the Middle East to the public, government leaders, and religious institutions to promote awareness and informed discourse.
  • Jewish Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Leadership development and capacity building for Jewish youth and professionals
      Operates global leadership programs that identify, train, and convene Jewish students and young professionals aged 15–45 through skill-building initiatives, networking, and advocacy training to prepare future leaders and strengthen Jewish communities worldwide.
  • Holocaust and Genocide Remembrance Education 1 activity
    • Public education campaigns on antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance
      Conducts annual social media-based educational campaigns and organizes delegations to Holocaust memorial sites to promote awareness of antisemitism, combat Holocaust denial, and preserve historical memory.
  • Jewish Religious Institution Support 1 activity
    • Support for global Jewish communal infrastructure and initiatives
      Provides institutional and operational support to the World Jewish Congress’s global projects and affiliated organizations, including the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, which runs schools, camps, and community centers across Central and Eastern Europe.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Historical advocacy and Holocaust-era relief efforts
      Conducted critical advocacy during and after World War II, including negotiating the release of concentration camp prisoners, establishing relief committees for Jewish war refugees, and facilitating compensation mechanisms for Holocaust survivors and forced laborers through the Claims Conference and German government funds.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$19.32M
Contributions & grants$19.12M99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$164K1%
Other revenue$39K
expenses
Total expenses$21.68M
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$1.36M
Grants paid out$15.05M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$11.44M
Cash$2.74M
Investments$8.24M
Liabilities$862K
Net assets$10.58M
Liquid reserves6.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -21.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
BETTY EHRENBERG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $279K
RANDI DUBNO GARDNER DIRECTOR DR DEVELOPMENT 40 $279K
JANICE WOLPO DIR CAMPAIGN RELATIONS/COM 40 $240K
JENNIFER WALSH DIRECTOR OF DIRECT MAIL 40 $187K
board members · 20
  • AMEILA KATZEN — GOVERNING BOARD
  • AMIR SHAVIV — GOVERNING BOARD
  • ANDREW BORANS — GOVERNING BOARD
  • AVI POSNICK — GOVERNING BOARD
  • CHERYL BIER — GOVERNING BOARD
  • CHERYL FISHBEIN — GOVERNING BOARD
  • DEBBIE BIENENFELD — GOVERNING BOARD
  • DR GERALD PLATT — GOVERNING BOARD
  • EFRAT GILMAN — GOVERNING BOARD
  • EMANUEL ADLER — GOVERNING BOARD
  • EUGENE LANDY — GOVERNING BOARD
  • EVELYN SOMMER — GOVERNING BOARD
  • FRAN HIRMES — GOVERNING BOARD
  • GAIL PERL — VICE CHAIR
  • JASON GUBERMAN — GOVERNING BOARD
  • JAY FELDMAN — GOVERNING BOARD
  • JEANETTE SCHECHTER — GOVERNING BOARD
  • JEFFREY WIESENFELD — TREASURER
  • JOAN LURIE GOLDBERG — GOVERNING BOARD
  • MELISSA JANE KRONFELD — GOVERNING BOARD
relationships · 21

Who they work with

  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation Partner — Collaborates through leadership and support for the preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site.
  • Charity Navigator Government — Rated the World Jewish Congress, American Section, with a 4-star rating for financial health, accountability, transparency, and efficiency.
  • Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Network — Served as Chairman, indicating formal leadership role in the coalition.
  • European Commission Government — Represented in the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) forum.
  • European Commission Partner — Collaborates with the World Jewish Congress in the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Network to coordinate responses to antisemitism.
  • European Commission Partner — International partner in the SECCA Network initiative.
  • International Committee of the Red Cross Partner — Cooperated with the WJC to protect Jews in German-occupied countries during World War II.
  • International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians Network — Hosts and supports the International Council of Jewish Parliamentarians as a forum for Jewish legislators and government officials.
  • International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Government — Represented in the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) forum.
  • International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Partner — International partner in the SECCA Network initiative.
  • International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Partner — Participates in the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Network alongside the World Jewish Congress to strengthen responses to antisemitism.
  • Jewish National Fund Network — Former President and long-term leader within the organization.
  • UNESCO Government — Represented in the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) forum.
  • UNESCO Partner — Engages with the World Jewish Congress in the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) Network to coordinate international efforts against antisemitism.
  • UNESCO Partner — International partner in the SECCA Network initiative.
  • United Nations Government — Monitors and responds to anti-Israel bias within the UN and its agencies.
  • WJC Affiliated Countries Network — Network of national Jewish communities affiliated with the World Jewish Congress.
  • WJC Non-Affiliated Countries Network — Refers to countries with Jewish communities not formally affiliated with the World Jewish Congress.
  • What Matters Partner — German-based NGO co-founding partner of the Together Through Sport initiative.
  • World Jewish Congress Network — Parent organization of the World Jewish Congress American Section Inc
  • World Jewish Congress Network — World Jewish Congress (American Section) Inc. is the American section of the World Jewish Congress and supports its global projects and initiatives.
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.

  • Centralized Global Representation for Collective Advocacy
    methodology: centralized_global_representation
    By operating as a unified, democratically organized global body, the organization amplifies the voice of Jewish communities to defend against antisemitism and advocate for Israel, because collective representation increases diplomatic leverage and political efficacy.
  • Leadership Development Through Mutual Responsibility and Network Building
    methodology: leadership_development_network
    By training and connecting emerging Jewish leaders through structured development and networking, the organization strengthens long-term global Jewish advocacy, because leadership rooted in mutual responsibility and shared identity fosters resilient, coordinated action across borders.
  • Public Exposure and Diplomatic Lobbying for Justice and Restitution
    methodology: public_exposure_and_lobbying
    By combining public exposure with high-level diplomatic lobbying, the organization secures concrete protections and justice for Jewish communities and Holocaust survivors, because sustained visibility and political engagement convert commitments into actionable outcomes.
  • Research and Education as Tools for Shaping Public Discourse
    methodology: research_and_education_dissemination
    By producing and disseminating research and educational materials, the organization influences public debate on antisemitism and Jewish life, because evidence-based narratives shift perceptions and inform policy.