irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2.57MSCHOLARSHIPS FUND-PROVIDE VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC STUDES. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOLARSHIP FUND WAS AWARDED TO 370 STUDENTS IN 28 SCHOOLS, 432JEWISH SCHOOLS STUDENTS IN 96 SCHOOLS WERE AWARDED. IN ADDITION, 10 SCHOLARHIPS WERE AWARDED TO STUDENTS ATTENDING FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
- #2 $17.30MMEDICAL PENSION AND LIFE INSURANCE BENEFIT PROGRAM-PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH, LIFE INSURANCE AND PENSION PREMIUMS OF CAREER EDUCATORS AT JEWISH DAY SCHOOLS IN THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN AREA. 1,957 EDUCATORS RECEIVED MEDICAL BENEFITS AND 1,153 RECEIVED PENSION BENEFITS FROM THIS PROGRAM. IN EXCESS OF 6,600 EDUCATORS RECEIVED LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS.
named programs · 9 · from sources
What they call their work
Building Renovations Fund
Provides grants to yeshivot and Jewish day schools in the NYC metro area to eliminate health and safety hazards and improve deteriorating facilities.
Elementary School Scholarship Fund
Offers scholarships to students in grades 1–8 with severe financial need and recently arrived immigrant students in Jewish day schools.
Enrollment Incentive Grants
Provides grants to students enrolling for the first time in Jewish day schools to help institutions stabilize and increase enrollment.
Interest Free Loan Fund
Offers interest-free loans of up to $500,000 to Jewish educational institutions for facility expansion to support increased enrollment.
Life Insurance Fund
Provides up to $125,000 in cost-free life insurance to full-time Jewish educators in the NYC metro area.
Medical Reimbursement Program
Helps schools and career educators cover the cost of medical insurance.
Pension Reimbursement Program
Assists schools and educators with the cost of pension plan contributions.
Scholarship Fund at Fashion Institute of Technology
Provides semester scholarships covering tuition and incidental expenses for FIT students who are graduates of Jewish schools or Jewish immigrants.
Scholarship Fund for Jewish Education
Offers scholarships to Jewish high school and supplementary school students based on financial need, with priority for immigrants.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
-
Private K–12 School Support 2 activities
- Funding enrollment incentive grants for Jewish day schoolsProvides grants to incentivize enrollment and support school enrollment stabilization and growth for students newly enrolled in yeshivot and Jewish day schools in the New York City Metropolitan area.
- Funding scholarships for elementary school students in Jewish day schoolsProvides scholarship assistance to elementary school students with severe financial need and recently arrived immigrant students enrolled in Jewish day schools in the New York City Metropolitan area. IRS-990 data confirms awards to hundreds of students across multiple schools annually.
-
-
Capital Infrastructure Funding 1 activity
- Funding building renovations for Jewish schoolsProvides grants to Yeshivot and day schools in the New York City Metropolitan area for building renovations to address health and safety hazards and deteriorating facilities.
-
-
Interest-Free Loan and Grant Support 1 activity
- Funding interest-free loans to Jewish educational institutionsProvides interest-free loans of up to $500,000 to Jewish educational institutions worldwide, particularly in the New York City Metropolitan area, for facility expansion to support increased enrollment.
-
-
Union and Association Benefit Funds 1 activity
- Funding medical, pension, and life insurance benefits for Jewish educatorsProvides cost-free life insurance coverage of up to $125,000 to over 6,500 full-time Jewish educators in the New York City Metropolitan area, and supports medical and pension benefits for thousands of career educators annually.
-
-
Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Funding scholarships for Jewish high school studentsProvides scholarships to Jewish high school and yeshiva students in the New York City Metropolitan area, ranging from $1,200 to $2,500 for full-time students and up to $250 for supplementary students, with priority given to those with financial need and immigrant status.
-
-
Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Funding semester scholarships for Fashion Institute of Technology studentsProvides semester scholarships to students at the Fashion Institute of Technology who are graduates of Jewish day schools or Yeshivot, or Jewish immigrants, covering tuition and up to 20% of tuition for travel and incidental expenses, with priority based on financial need and immigrant status. IRS-990 data shows support for 10–17 students annually.
-
-
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Funding interest-free mortgages for former Soviet Olim in IsraelHas provided more than 14,000 interest-free mortgages to former Soviet Olim (immigrants) in Israel as part of its long-term support for Jewish communities abroad.
- Funding secular education improvements in Jewish schoolsLaunched an initiative in 2001–2002 to improve secular education for 3,000 elementary school children in 15 Yeshivot and Jewish day schools in New York City and Long Island by funding computer laboratories, SuccessMaker Enterprise courseware, and educational support staff.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$0
Contributions & grants$0—
Program service revenue$0—
Investment income$0—
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$5.93M
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$215K
Grants paid out$5.53M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$315K
Cash$63K
Investments$206K
Liabilities$221K
Net assets$93K
Liquid reserves0.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -100.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JASON CURY | PRESIDENT | 28 | $198K |
board members · 15
- AMY BRESSMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- BERNARD LATERMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- BILLIE GOLD — BOARD MEMBER
- DOROTHY TANANBAUM — BOARD MEMBER
- DR ALISA DOCTORFF — BOARD MEMBER
- DR EVELYN GRUSS LIPPER — BOARD MEMBER
- ERIC GOLDSTEIN — BOARD MEMBER
- JEFFREY SCHOENFELD — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSHUA GRUSS — BOARD MEMBER
- LILLIAN EISMAN — SECRETARY
- MARTIN GRUSS — CHAIRMAN
- MATHEW MARYLES — TREASURER
- SARA NATHAN — BOARD MEMBER
- SARENE SHANUS — BOARD MEMBER
- SCOTT SHAY — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education Partner — Collaborates on initiatives related to Jewish education.
- Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) Network — Established CIJE as an independent 501(c)(3) to serve as an umbrella for all educational programs funded by the Gruss Foundation.
- Fashion Institute of Technology Partner — Provides scholarships to students attending FIT through the Gruss Life Monument Funds program.
- Former Soviet Olim in Israel Partner — Recipient of interest-free mortgages for housing support.
- Fund for Jewish Education Network — Member organization eligible to participate in FJE programs.
- Fund for Jewish Education Network — Requires schools to be eligible for Fund for Jewish Education programs to participate in the Building Renovations Fund.
- Fund for Jewish Education Partner — Co-administers and funds the life insurance program for Jewish educators.
- Fund for Jewish Education Partner — Jointly sponsored by UJA Federation and Gruss Life Monument Funds to deliver programs supporting Jewish educators in the New York City Metropolitan area.
- Fund for Jewish Education (FJE) Partner — Collaborates with FJE to determine school eligibility for scholarship program participation
- Gruss Life Monument Funds Network — Organization established to perpetuate the philanthropic legacy of Caroline and Joseph Gruss.
- UJA Federation Funder — Sponsor of the Fund for Jewish Education, which funds the Life Insurance Fund, Medical Reimbursement Program, and Pension Reimbursement Program.
- UJA Federation of New York Network — Member of a broader network supporting Jewish community services in New York.
- UJA-Federation Partner — Sponsors the Fund for Jewish Education, which co-funds the life insurance program.
- yeshivot day schools Partner — Partner institutions receiving matching grants to support student enrollment
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.
- Engineered Grant Review for Structural Integrity in School Renovationsmethodology: engineered_grant_reviewBy requiring detailed contractor plans and independent engineering review as part of the grant process, the organization ensures that funds for school renovations are used effectively and safely because technical oversight prevents waste and guarantees compliance with structural and safety standards.
- Interest-Free Financing for Institutional Growth and Accessmethodology: interest_free_financingBy providing interest-free loans and grants, the organization enables Jewish educational institutions to expand facilities and reduce tuition costs, thereby increasing enrollment and accessibility—particularly for financially vulnerable and immigrant families—because removing financial and infrastructural barriers sustains institutional development and communal engagement.
- Matching Grant Incentive to Promote Shared Responsibilitymethodology: matching_grant_incentiveBy requiring institutional matching contributions through matching grants, the organization incentivizes sustainable investment in tuition reduction and enrollment growth because shared financial responsibility strengthens long-term commitment and accountability among recipient schools.
- Targeted, Needs-Based Scholarship Model with Immigrant Prioritizationmethodology: needs_based_with_immigrant_prioritizationBy directing scholarship funds to students with demonstrated financial need and prioritizing recent immigrants, the organization increases equitable access to Jewish education because targeted aid reduces systemic barriers and supports integration within the community.