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LIMMUD FSU INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 261870256 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE X30 · Religion-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · limmudfsu.org
revenue
$547K
expenses
$474K
net assets
$-104K
employees
1
volunteers
550
program ratio
49%
mission · from form 990

Limmud conducts seminars, lectures, workshops, and discussions covering a vast range of topics, including religious, social, and cultural trends within Jewish communities worldwide with roots in the former Soviet Union countries.

profile · synthesized from sources

Limmud FSU International Foundation organizes educational conferences and festivals for Russian-speaking Jews worldwide. Founded in 2006, it hosts volunteer-driven events featuring lectures, workshops, and discussions on Jewish culture, history, and identity. The organization operates across multiple countries, focusing on engaging young adults with roots in the former Soviet Union.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $68K
    UZHHOROD UKRAINE, MAY & NOVEMBER 2024In 2024, two Limmud FSU conferences were held in Ukraine. The first conference was attended by 200 participants and the event featured diverse sessions, ranging from Jewish history to contemporary topics. Limmud FSU held a ceremony to honor the Jews of Uzhhorod who were murdered by the Nazis 80 years ago. The second conference was attended by 100 young Ukrainian Jews for a weekend of Jewish learning and cultural enrichment.
  2. #2 $19K
    TEL AVIV ISRAEL, DECEMBER 2024500 participants with FSU roots gathered in Tel Aviv for a Limmud FSU festival and Jewish learning amid ongoing attacks from Yemen and Gaza. The program focused on Israel's security, political future, and rising antisemitism after October 7th. Participants also attended other workshops and events.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Interfaith Dialogue – Islam, Judaism, Christianity
Conference session in Kazan promoting interfaith understanding among religious leaders from multiple faiths
Limmud FSU Conference
Annual volunteer-based educational festival featuring lectures, workshops, and discussions on Jewish culture, history, and identity for Russian-speaking Jews
Limmud FSU Tekumah
Event in Vinnitsa, Ukraine marking the 70th anniversary of Operation Barbarossa and commemorating Jewish victims of the Holocaust
Limmud Olympics
Educational program in Upper Nazareth honoring the 11 Israeli athletes killed in the 1972 Munich Olympics
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 2 activities
    • Coordinate logistics and operations for international events
      Manages end-to-end planning, implementation, team coordination, and international travel logistics for Limmud FSU conferences and cultural events worldwide.
    • Organize large-scale Jewish learning festivals and conferences globally
      Hosts annual multi-day conferences and one-day festivals featuring diverse educational sessions, cultural events, and networking opportunities for Russian-speaking Jews worldwide. Events have taken place in Moscow, Israel, Ukraine, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe, with attendance ranging from 500 to over 2,500 participants per event.
  • Jewish and Cultural Heritage Archives 1 activity
    • Conduct commemorative and historical education projects
      Organizes special projects and exhibitions to commemorate significant figures in Jewish history with roots in the FSU and to document historical contributions and settlements, including publishing narratives on rediscovered Jewish heritage.
  • Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
    • Conduct historical research on Russian-speaking Jewish contributions
      Documents and publishes research on the historical roles of Russian-speaking Jews in politics, literature, and the arts, as well as on Jewish settlement efforts in Canada, Australia, New York, and Birobidzhan.
  • Virtual Education Continuity Programs 1 activity
    • Produce e-learning and educational materials for global audiences
      Develops and delivers e-learning opportunities and English-language conference materials to support engagement, particularly during disruptions to in-person events, and to serve non-English speaking communities.
  • Jewish Religious Education and Outreach 1 activity
    • Support Jewish identity development among FSU Jewish youth and young adults
      Provides tools, programming, and community-building opportunities to enrich the Jewish journey of young Russian-speaking Jews globally, including through conferences, labs, and informal learning environments.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Advocate for Jewish memory and identity through public commemorations
      Organized a major commemorative march in Sighet, Romania honoring Elie Wiesel, drawing thousands of participants and high-level officials to promote Jewish remembrance and identity.
    • Build organizational and financial infrastructure to support global operations
      Established and maintains legal, accounting, and management infrastructure including U.S. 501(c)(3) status, professional accounting systems since 2014, and affiliated entities in Israel and Ukraine to support global programming.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$547K
Contributions & grants$547K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$474K
Program expenses49%
Admin / overhead51%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$105K
Grants paid out$185K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$123K
Cash$7K
Investments$0
Liabilities$227K
Net assets$-104K
Liquid reserves0.2 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -27.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
NATALIA CHECHIK Executive Director 40 $95K
board members · 9
  • Aaron Frenkel — Director
  • Chaim Aviad HaCohen — Director
  • Chaim Chesler — Chairman
  • Diane Wohl — Secretary
  • Malcolm Hoenlein — Director
  • Matthew Bronfman — Director
  • Sandra Cahn — President
  • William Hess — Treasurer
  • Yury Zelvenskiy — Director
relationships · 21

Who they work with

  • American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Funder — Supported the Moscow Jewish learning festival.
  • Aviad HaCohen Partner — Curated and participated in a special exhibition on the legacy of Rabbi Menachem HaCohen at the Limmud FSU Israel conference.
  • Claims Conference Funder — Supported the Moscow Jewish learning festival.
  • Eliezer Shkedy Partner — Participated as a speaker at the Limmud FSU Israel conference.
  • Elyakim Rubinstein Partner — Participated as a speaker at the Limmud FSU Israel conference.
  • Ephraim Lapid Partner — Participated as a speaker at the Limmud FSU Israel conference.
  • Genesis Philanthropy Group Funder — Supported the Moscow Jewish learning festival.
  • Gil Hovav Partner — Participated as a speaker at the Limmud FSU Israel conference.
  • Haim Beer Partner — Participated in a special exhibition on the legacy of Rabbi Menachem HaCohen at the Limmud FSU Israel conference.
  • Ilia Akselrod Partner — Participated as a speaker at the Limmud FSU Israel conference.
  • Jewish Agency for Israel Partner — Co-launched the first Limmud FSU conference in Canada.
  • Jewish National Fund Funder — Supported the Moscow Jewish learning festival.
  • Limmud Network — Adapted the original Limmud model from the UK to create Limmud FSU for Jews from the Former Soviet Union.
  • Limmud FSU Canada Partner — Regional chapter organizing local events under the LIMMUD FSU INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION umbrella.
  • March of the Living Partner — Collaborated with the International March of the Living as part of a Global Leadership Summit in Warsaw.
  • Minister Zeev Elkin Partner — Participated as a speaker at the Limmud FSU Israel conference.
  • Ministry of Diaspora Partner — Limmud FSU Labs is a joint venture with the Ministry of Diaspora.
  • Organizing Committee in Moscow Partner — Collaborating on the feasibility of replacing in-person gatherings with e-learning sessions.
  • Prime Minister's Office “Nativ” Government — Supported the Moscow Jewish learning festival.
  • UJA-Federation of Greater Toronto Partner — Collaborated with Limmud FSU to launch its first conference in Canada.
  • Zionist Federation of Australia Partner — Cooperation agreement for carrying out Limmud FSU activities in Australia, with oversight of financial operations in Melbourne and Sydney.
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.

  • Asset-Based Community Development with Mutual Responsibility
    methodology: asset_based_community_development
    By focusing on the inherent potential of individuals and communities to lead and grow, we produce sustainable communal renewal because collective action rooted in mutual responsibility generates greater impact than top-down interventions.
  • Experiential Identity Development Through Pluralistic Engagement
    methodology: experiential_identity_development
    By combining informal education, cultural programming, and constructive debate in immersive settings, we produce strengthened Jewish identity because shared experience and narrative reconnection deepen belonging more effectively than formal instruction alone.
  • Grassroots, Volunteer-Driven Learning Model
    methodology: grassroots_jewish_learning
    By empowering local volunteers and community leaders to design and lead programming, we produce deeper engagement and sustainable Jewish identity development because ownership fosters responsibility, inclusivity, and personal transformation.