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LITVAKSIG INC
POMONA, NY · EIN 421467493 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A80 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · litvaksig.org
revenue
$119K
expenses
$70K
net assets
$625K
employees
0
program ratio
100%
profile · synthesized from sources

LitvakSIG is a genealogical organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of Lithuanian Jews. It supports research into Jewish communities from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania region, focusing on historical documentation, archival transcription, and family history. The organization connects descendants and researchers through online resources, discussion forums, and collaborative projects.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

All Lithuania Database (ALD)
Comprehensive database of Lithuanian Jewish records, including birth, marriage, death, census, and property records from the 18th to 20th centuries
Distrikt/Gubernia Research Groups
Volunteer-led research groups focused on specific historical districts in Lithuania and surrounding regions, transcribing and analyzing archival records
Internal Passports Project
Digitization and indexing of Lithuanian internal passport records from 1919–1940 to aid genealogical research
LitvakSIG Discussion List
Online forum for members to share research, ask questions, and collaborate on family history
Vilnius Household Registers Project
Transcription and digitization of household registers from Vilnius to document Jewish families and their movements
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Jewish Genealogical Research Services 3 activities
    • Maintains and provides access to the All Lithuania Database
      Operates a freely searchable online database containing over 2.8 million records related to Lithuanian-Jewish (Litvak) genealogy, with records in multiple languages and alphabets including Old Cyrillic, Yiddish, Hebrew, and Lithuanian. The database is publicly accessible through LitvakSIG.org and serves as a primary global resource for Litvak genealogical research.
    • Operates online forums and discussion platforms for researcher collaboration
      Hosts a moderated discussion forum and discussion list that enable members and researchers worldwide to ask questions, share findings, and support one another in Litvak heritage research. Free access is provided without requiring donations.
    • Supports genealogical research through supplementary resources and tools
      Provides access to translated records, archival information, FAQs, an online journal, book lists, internet links, a glossary, and a shtetl map to support individual research. Also offers MACEVA, JewishGen ID services, and downloadable Excel templates for comprehensive genealogical work.
  • Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Administers organizational governance and membership structure
      Operates with a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors elected annually in staggered three-year terms during the IAJGS Jewish Genealogy Conference. Maintains financial transparency through annual IRS Form 990 filings and supports continuity through a Nominating Task Force and membership program.
  • Membership Program Administration 1 activity
    • Provides member access and data stewardship
      Offers annual membership for $50, granting voting rights and access to a password-protected members website and early-release translated historical records. Qualified contributors receive Excel-format data via standardized templates and early access to research materials 18 months before public release.
  • Jewish Community Media Production 1 activity
    • Publishes scholarly and community content on Litvak heritage
      Produces and publishes an edited online journal featuring articles on Litvak history, heritage, and genealogy, combining scholarly and personal narratives to advance public understanding and engagement.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Conducts historical research and indexing projects
      Executes specialized research initiatives including the indexing of over 13,000 Vilnius household registers, the Internal Passports project, and transcription of records from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Organizes geographic-specific research groups to collect and translate historical data on Lithuanian-Jewish communities.
    • Coordinates volunteer-driven research and translation efforts
      Manages a global network of volunteers and elected leadership to support research, translation, fundraising, and project coordination. Includes District Research Groups focused on collecting and translating historical records from specific regions in Lithuania.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$119K
Contributions & grants$119K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$70K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$625K
Cash$625K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$625K
Liquid reserves107.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +14.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 9
  • ANN BRODY — Director
  • DAVID ELLIS — Director
  • EGLE BENDIKAITE — Director
  • GARRI REGEV — Director
  • HARVEY LEVITT — Vice President
  • HATTE RUBINSTEIN BLEJER — Secretary
  • JODY TZUCKER — President
  • JUDY BATSON — Director
  • RUSS MAURER — Director
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • All Lithuania Database Partner — Collaborates on the public release of translated historical records.
  • Barry Partner — Former webmaster who supported LitvakSIG until October 1, 2024.
  • District, Guberniya and Project Coordinators Partner — Consults with coordinators when deciding to reallocate donor-designated funds to other projects.
  • IAJGS Partner — Collaborates with IAJGS by running BOF meetings at its conferences.
  • International Association of Jewish Genealogy Societies Network — Participates in the IAJGS annual conference where board elections are held.
  • JewishGen Network — Member of JewishGen, a global Jewish genealogy organization.
  • JewishGen Network — Member of the JewishGen network supporting Jewish genealogical research
  • JewishGen Partner — Collaborates with JewishGen to standardize data in the All Lithuania Database and develop databasing templates.
  • Lithuanian Central State Archive Partner — Partner in the Vilnius Household Registers Project to index historical household records from the interwar period.
  • Simon Zelman Partner — New webmaster contributing technical expertise to LitvakSIG.
  • Webmaster Partner — Receives corrections and suggestions for resource updates from users.
  • donors.litvaksig.org Network — Hosts a members-only website for additional research content and resources.
  • donors.litvaksig.org Network — Integrated donor platform for managing memberships and donations.
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.

  • Democratic and Staggered Governance Model
    methodology: staggered_board_terms
    By combining democratic elections with staggered board terms, the organization ensures both accountability and leadership continuity because rotating representation allows for stable institutional memory while incorporating new perspectives.
  • Geographically Focused Research Model
    methodology: geographic-research-collaborative
    By organizing research around geographic districts or administrative regions (e.g., guberniyas), the organization systematically captures familial, historical, and administrative connections within Litvak communities, enhancing the depth and accuracy of genealogical data because regional context improves source correlation and community reconstruction.
  • Project-Based Access Incentive Model
    methodology: project-based_access_model
    By offering contributors access to genealogical data in exchange for participation in specific research projects, the organization increases data collection and verification because targeted incentives align member interests with research output, enhancing both engagement and data quality.
  • Standardized Transliteration and Data Integrity System
    methodology: standardized transliteration and databasing
    By applying consistent methods for transliterating and databasing historical records, the organization improves researcher usability and data accuracy because standardization balances fidelity to original sources with accessibility across modern research platforms.
  • Volunteer-Driven Knowledge Co-Creation
    methodology: distributed_volunteer_network
    By engaging a distributed network of skilled volunteers in research and operations, the organization sustains and advances Litvak heritage preservation because decentralized, passion-driven participation increases research breadth, community ownership, and operational scalability.