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ELEM YOUTH IN DISTRESS INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133171815 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q300 · International Affairs · Medium ($1M-$10M) · elem.org
revenue
$1.6M
expenses
$1.5M
net assets
$424K
employees
10
volunteers
28
program ratio
74%
mission · from form 990

SEE PART III, LINE 1.

profile · synthesized from sources

Nonprofit providing therapeutic and social support to at-risk youth in Israel, with a focus on those impacted by sexual abuse, human trafficking, and exploitation. Operates digital counseling platforms, emergency shelters, and outreach programs for vulnerable populations including LGBTQIA+ youth, ultra-Orthodox teens, and survivors of trauma. Services are delivered through anonymous chat, in-person centers, and mobile outreach across Israel.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $166K
    ELEM USA IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON ISSUES RELATED TO TROUBLED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN ISRAEL INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG ADDICTION, VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE, NEGLECT, INVOLVEMENT WITH THE COURT SYSTEM AND INTEGRATING NEW IMMIGRANTS.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Anashim Tovim (Good People)
Field project providing on-the-ground crisis response and safe spaces for survivors of trauma, including at events like the Nova Festival aftermath
Bayit Amiti (A Real Home)
Shelter and support program helping youth exit prostitution and build independent lives through housing, counseling, and vocational training
ELEM Digital
Provides anonymous, real-time emotional support via chat, forums, and social media outreach to Israeli youth ages 12–26; includes virtual counseling rooms, 24/7 email and phone support, and targeted engagement on platforms like TikTok and Instagram
HaLev (The Heart)
24/7 shelter and support program in Haifa offering immediate assistance, counseling, and alternatives to prostitution for youth, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ youth and young men
Orshina
Therapeutic program providing support to youth impacted by sexual abuse, human trafficking, and exploitation; includes art-based therapy and trauma recovery services
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Jewish Lifecycle-Integrated Service Projects 1 activity
    • Corporate and youth engagement programs
      Facilitates corporate engagement through donations, sponsorships, employee workshops, and customized wellbeing programs. Supports teens in creating personalized B’nai Mitzvah projects focused on raising awareness and funds for at-risk youth in Israel.
  • Youth Development and Support Services 1 activity
    • Direct mental health and outreach services for at-risk youth
      Provides comprehensive direct services to over 15,000 young people annually through street, school, online, and shelter-based outreach, including therapy, mentorship, emergency shelter, and vocational training. Services are delivered by 300 professionals and 1,200 trained volunteers across more than 50 programs nationwide.
  • Trauma-Informed Community Resilience Initiatives 1 activity
    • Emergency and trauma response for survivors of the October 7th attacks
      Launched targeted interventions including the Yuvalim Project to provide trauma-informed psychological and social rehabilitation services to young survivors of the October 7th Hamas attacks and the Nova Festival. Staff travel across Israel to deliver care, conduct outreach to identify unconnected survivors, and offer immediate crisis support.
  • Mobile Mental Health Crisis Intervention 1 activity
    • Mobile and informal therapeutic outreach
      Operates outreach vans that travel to high-risk environments to deliver informal therapeutic care and connect with at-risk youth. These mobile units are part of broader street-based initiatives designed to engage youth who may not access traditional services.
  • Volunteer and Professional Training Programs 1 activity
    • Professional training and capacity building
      Trains hundreds of professionals annually in youth intervention strategies and operates regional chapters that build public awareness, host events, and support fundraising efforts for youth in distress.
  • Jewish Holiday and Shabbat Community Events 1 activity
    • Public education and community engagement initiatives
      Offers speakers for events, distributes weekly parenting tips, supports book discussions, and enables individuals and groups to create fundraisers. Organizes community events such as Shabbat dinners, wellness walks, and creative gatherings to raise awareness and support for vulnerable youth.
  • Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
    • Research and policy-informing publications
      Conducts and publishes research and position papers that inform public discourse and policy, including on truancy among displaced teens, substance abuse among attack survivors, mental health needs of Nova Festival survivors, emergency housing gaps, and rising nitrite abuse among youth.
  • LGBTQ+ Community Support and Resource Centers 1 activity
    • Support services for LGBTQIA+ youth
      Provides counseling, emergency shelter, vocational training, and mentorship to LGBTQIA+ youth through drop-in centers and outreach programs. Operates a 24/7 shelter in Haifa for youth exiting prostitution, with 63% of participants identifying as LGBTQIA+ as of 2023.
  • Residential Care for At-Risk Youth 1 activity
    • Therapeutic support for survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation
      Delivers specialized therapy and long-term therapeutic care to youth impacted by sexual abuse, human trafficking, and exploitation, including through dedicated programs such as Orshina, HaLev shelter, and Bayit Amiti. Provided over 10,000 hours of therapeutic support in 2024 alone.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Digital mental health outreach and online safe spaces
      Conducts large-scale digital outreach through chat services and social media, handling over 10,000 chat conversations between October 2023 and October 2024, with significant expansion in Arabic-language services. Operates the only digital safe space for Ultra-Orthodox teen girls in Israel and produces viral mental health content reaching over 21 million views on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
    • Government advocacy and policy engagement
      Engages in national advocacy by regularly testifying in Knesset hearings—participating in 31 sessions in 2024 alone—across committees including Education, Youth Issues, Rights of the Child, and Welfare and Labor. Partners with government ministries and local authorities to influence policy on urgent youth issues.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.55M
Contributions & grants$1.56M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$180%
Other revenue$-8K
expenses
Total expenses$1.50M
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$386K
Grants paid out$947K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$427K
Cash$427K
Investments$0
Liabilities$3K
Net assets$424K
Liquid reserves3.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +7.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LIORA ATTIAS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40 $125K
board members · 12
  • ALAN HEDRICK — BOARD MEMBER
  • ALON HARNOY — TREASURER
  • ANN BIALKIN — CHAIR
  • CONNIE RUBIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • DAN SAPADIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • FRANCES KATZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOHANNA BIALKIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • LENORE RUBEN — PRESIDENT
  • LORI GOSSET — VICE PRESIDENT
  • MORIAH SCHERVONE — BOARD MEMBER
  • NOAM LADEN — BOARD MEMBER
  • TRACEY STULBERG — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • American Friends of ELEM Network — U.S.-based affiliate supporting ELEM
  • American Friends of ELEM Network — U.S.-based affiliate supporting ELEM's programs for at-risk youth in Israel.
  • American Friends of ELEM Network — U.S.-based affiliate supporting ELEM's programs, including Shluk.
  • American Friends of ELEM Network — U.S.-based affiliate supporting ELEM's work in Israel.
  • American Friends of ELEM Network — U.S.-based affiliate supporting ELEM's work with youth in Israel
  • American Friends of ELEM Network — U.S.-based support organization that promotes and funds ELEM's work with youth in Israel.
  • American Friends of ELEM Partner — U.S.-based partner organization that secures financial support and raises awareness for ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel.
  • Community Partners Partner — Collaborates with community partners to promote volunteer engagement and awareness
  • Corporate Partners Partner — Collaborates with corporate partners to promote volunteer engagement and awareness
  • Government Ministries Government — Partners with government ministries to address urgent issues affecting teens and young adults
  • Israeli government Government — Collaboration with the Israeli government to advance youth mental health support.
  • Israeli government Government — Requested ELEM to design and implement a comprehensive trauma-informed model for psychological and social rehabilitation of young survivors.
  • Knesset Government — Engages in testimony and advocacy within the Knesset to influence policy for at-risk youth.
  • Knesset Government — Participates in Knesset hearings to influence legislation and policy related to at-risk youth
  • Local Authorities Government — Collaborates with local authorities on issues affecting at-risk youth
  • NGOs Partner — Partners with NGOs to support programs for at-risk youth in Israel.
  • NGOs Partner — Partnership with NGOs to support youth mental health initiatives.
  • local municipalities Partner — Collaboration with local municipalities to deliver youth mental health services.
  • municipalities Partner — Collaborates with local municipalities to deliver services to at-risk youth.
  • national ministries Partner — Partners with national ministries to expand and sustain youth support programs.
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.

  • Culturally Grounded and Identity-Affirming Integration
    methodology: culturally_responsive_intervention
    By embedding services within trusted cultural contexts and offering inclusive, non-segregated programming, the organization supports reintegration and reduces stigma, because youth are more likely to engage and heal when services affirm their identity and community.
  • Early Intervention and Sustained Engagement
    methodology: early_intervention_and_sustained_engagement
    By intervening early during crises and maintaining long-term support, the organization builds trust and enables lasting behavioral and emotional change in at-risk youth, because ongoing relational continuity fosters stability and reduces recidivism into high-risk situations.
  • Multimodal, Low-Barrier Access Strategy
    methodology: multi_access_point_outreach
    By meeting youth where they are—on streets, in schools, online, and in subcultural spaces—the organization reduces structural and psychological barriers to help-seeking, because accessibility and cultural familiarity increase engagement among youth who distrust formal systems.
  • Systems Change Through Advocacy and Capacity Building
    methodology: policy_advocacy
    By advocating for policy change and strengthening professional and public capacity, the organization amplifies impact beyond direct service, because systemic reform and widespread awareness are necessary to sustainably support at-risk youth at scale.
  • Trauma-Informed, Holistic Recovery Model
    methodology: trauma_informed_care
    By integrating therapeutic shelter care with psychosocial support and human connection, the organization addresses both clinical and relational dimensions of trauma, because healing from abuse and exploitation requires safety, clinical intervention, and restored belonging.