named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Publication of Sephardic Monographs
Ongoing publication of scholarly tracts and monographs on Sephardic culture, history, language, and religion, often under financial constraints.
Sephardic House
Institution created in 1978 at Congregation Shearith Israel to serve as a study center fulfilling the founders' vision of a cultural and educational hub for Sephardic youth.
Sephardic Spain Photographic Exhibition
1967 exhibition at the Jewish Museum in New York featuring photographs by Victor Laredo of historic Jewish quarters in Spain, sponsored by the foundation.
Studies in Honor of M.J. Benardete
A memorial volume and testimonial dinner honoring Professor M.J. Benardete, which catalyzed the formation of the foundation.
Support for Me'Am Lo'ez Translation
Foundation support for Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s English translation of the classic Sephardic religious text Me'Am Lo'ez.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Jewish Textual and Educational Publishing 3 activities
- Co-sponsoring academic and community programsCollaborates with institutions such as Yeshiva University’s Sephardic Studies Program to support joint events, publications, and educational initiatives that advance Sephardic studies and community engagement.
- Publication of scholarly works on Sephardic studiesProduces and publishes books, poetry collections, annotated editions, and memorial volumes related to Sephardic history, culture, and literature, including works such as "Salonica and the Jews of the Balkans," "Portraits of our Past," and annotated translations like Michael Molho's Usos y Costumbres.
- Reissuing and translating foundational Sephardic textsReissues out-of-print publications and produces English translations of key Sephardic texts, including significant contributions to the Me'am Lo'ez, such as the Pirke Avoth section, and supports translation efforts for scholarly and communal use.
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Jewish and Cultural Heritage Archives 1 activity
- Preservation and digitization of Sephardic cultural heritageMaintains and operates digital archives dedicated to Sephardica, including historical documents, photographs, audio clips of music, maps, and reprinted materials, to ensure long-term access to Sephardic cultural and historical resources.
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Uncategorized 5 activities
- Advocacy for Sephardic identity and communal cohesionPromotes the preservation of Sephardic ethnicity and cultural identity as a means of strengthening communal bonds and intergenerational continuity.
- Conducting and disseminating scholarly researchEngages in ongoing academic research, writing, and lecturing on Sephardic identity, history, and culture, and provides expert consultation on Ladino language and Hebrew-to-Spanish translations for scholars.
- Free dissemination of educational content via websiteProvides website content on Sephardic studies freely to the public, supports internet-based participation through open access, and maintains privacy by not collecting personal data or using cookies.
- Organizing cultural exhibitions and public eventsSponsors and co-sponsors exhibitions, lectures, dramatic performances, and testimonial dinners to promote public understanding of Sephardic life and history, including the 1967 'Sephardic Spain' exhibition and related media appearances.
- Supporting Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) language preservationEstablished the Ladino Preservation Council and facilitates online discussion groups and audio chat sessions in spoken Ladino to sustain and revitalize the Judeo-Spanish language among speakers and learners.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$3.01M
Contributions & grants$2.79M93%
Program service revenue$214K7%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$3.07M
Program expenses63%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$870K
Grants paid out$254K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.83M
Cash$286K
Investments$0
Liabilities$824K
Net assets$3.00M
Liquid reserves1.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +35.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 5
- ISAAC GINDI — SECRETARY/DIRECTOR
- NORMAN MANDEL — OPERATION FIN. RESOURCE DIRECTOR
- RAYMOND GINDI — SECRETARY/DIRECTOR
- SEYMOUR SAMMELL — TREASURER
- SOLOMON FALLAS — PRESIDENT
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Alfred A. Zara Partner — Translated Michael Molho's work into English.
- Bravenet Partner — Hosts the guestbook feature for the Foundation's website.
- Brooklyn College Government — Long-time affiliation as Professor of Spanish and Sephardic Studies at Brooklyn College in New York City.
- CBS Television Partner — Featured the 'Sephardic Spain' exhibition on the 'Look Up and Live' program in 1968.
- Columbia University's Hispanic Institute Partner — Collaborated with the Hispanic Institute, particularly through its Sephardic Studies Section, to advance Sephardic scholarship and cultural programming.
- Congregation Shearith Israel Partner — Hosted Sephardic House, an institution created in collaboration with the Foundation.
- Festiladino Partner — Collaborates with Festiladino, a competition for new Ladino songs, where a poem from the published collection was set to music and won first prize.
- Foundation for the Advancement of Sephardic Studies and Culture Partner — Served as Secretary and published writings through the Foundation.
- Jewish Museum in New York City Partner — Hosted the 1967 'Sephardic Spain' photographic exhibition sponsored by the Foundation.
- Ladinokomunita Partner — Hosts a discussion group for Ladino speakers and learners.
- Michael Molho Partner — Authored the original 1950 work Usos y Costumbres de los Sefardies de Salonica, which was republished in English by the Foundation.
- Revista Hispanica Moderna Partner — Generated scholarly articles for publication in "Revista Hispanica Moderna" as part of Sephardic studies programming.
- Robert Bedford Partner — Edited the English-language edition of Michael Molho's work.
- Yeshiva University Partner — Co-sponsored events and publications, including the Sephardic Cultural Festival and early publications of the Sephardic Studies Program.
- theguestbook.com Partner — Uses theguestbook.com platform for its guestbook feature.
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.
- Cultural Preservation Through Scholarly Educationmethodology: cultural_preservation_through_educationBy advancing Sephardic studies through research, education, and scholarly dissemination, we strengthen communal identity and ensure historical continuity, because sustained academic engagement fosters authentic cultural transmission and counters misrepresentation.
- Language and Literary Authenticity as Cultural Stewardshipmethodology: language_preservationBy producing bilingual scholarly editions of Sephardic classics and preserving Judeo-Spanish through linguistic initiatives, we maintain cultural authenticity and intergenerational continuity, because language is a foundational vessel of identity and meaning in dispersed diasporic communities.
- Multi-Modal Cultural Documentation for Historical Continuitymethodology: cultural_preservation_through_multimediaBy integrating historical research with multimedia elements such as audio and maps, we preserve and communicate the lived experience of Sephardic communities, because immersive, multi-sensory documentation strengthens engagement and intergenerational memory more effectively than text alone.