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JBI INTERNATIONAL INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131683279 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE G41Z · Voluntary Health Associations · Medium ($1M-$10M) · jbilibrary.org
revenue
$3.3M
expenses
$4.7M
net assets
$23.8M
employees
29
volunteers
100
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

JBI PROVIDES FREE BRAILLE, AUDIO & LARGE PRINT MATERIALS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND, HAVE LOW VISION OR A PRINT DISABILITY.

profile · synthesized from sources

JBI INTERNATIONAL INC provides free accessible reading materials in braille, audio, and large print formats for people who are blind, have low vision, or a print disability. The organization serves both the general visually impaired population and focuses on connecting Jewish individuals with print disabilities to cultural and religious content. It operates nationally and supports international initiatives, particularly in Israel.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $912K
    OUTREACH: JBI ACTIVELY REACHES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE THE WIDEST USE OF ITS FREE AUDIO, LARGE PRINT AND BRAILLE LIBRARY. THIS IS TRUE PARTICULARLY FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED SENIORS, INCLUDING IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS, MANY OF WHICH LIVE A "SHUT IN" EXISTENCE. TO REACH THIS SENIOR POPULATION, AS WELL AS THEIR CAREGIVERS, ADULT CHILDREN AND FRIENDS, JBI MAKES PRESENTATIONS, ADVERTISES IN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS, ENCOURAGES LOCAL PRESS COVERAGE AND FORGES COMMUNICATION WITH RELEVANT INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES. PROGRAMMING ALSO SERVES THIS GOAL.
  2. #2 $324K
    ISRAELI ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: JBI PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR THE CENTRAL LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND IN ISRAEL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR NEW RECORDING STUDIO.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Israeli Assistance Program
Supports the Central Library for the Blind in Israel and provides services such as low vision clinics and mobile screening units in Tel Aviv
JBI Library Collection
Provides free access to over 16,000 audio, braille, and large print titles including fiction, nonfiction, Jewish religious texts, and periodicals for people with print disabilities
Jewish Voices and Cultural Series
Produces audio and braille materials focused on Jewish culture, including news digests, lectures, concerts, and dramatic readings in English and Russian
Nathan L. and Suzanne K. Wolfson Merit Award
Offers educational scholarships to Jewish undergraduate and graduate students who are legally blind and enrolled in accredited institutions
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Accessible Reading Materials Production and Distribution 2 activities
    • Operating a free library of Jewish-interest materials in accessible formats
      Provides free access to a circulating collection of over 16,000 audio, braille, and large print books in multiple languages, including customized liturgical materials and High Holy Days resources, with postage-free delivery and return for patrons who are blind, have low vision, or other print disabilities.
    • Producing custom accessible materials for individuals and organizations
      Produces personalized braille, audio, and large print materials—including liturgical texts, blessings, and educational content—to support participation in Jewish life, learning, and cultural events, and offers custom production services to organizations for accessibility compliance.
  • Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Conducting outreach and support services for patrons
      Conducts community outreach through presentations, advertising, and coordination with institutions; makes outreach calls to assess needs and provide personal connection; operates a national and global ambassador program; and provides direct communication in Russian and Yiddish to support access and inclusion.
  • Support for Israeli Educational Institutions 1 activity
    • Funding accessibility initiatives in Israel
      Funds the construction of a new recording studio and provides ongoing financial and engagement support to the Israel Central Library for the Blind to expand accessible services for visually impaired individuals.
  • Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
    • Hosting educational and social engagement programs
      Hosts virtual and in-person book clubs in English and Russian, author talks, writing workshops, discussion groups, and learning series—including Judaism 101—to foster cognitive engagement, social connection, and community participation for individuals with visual or print disabilities.
  • Comprehensive Eye Care Access 1 activity
    • Operating low vision clinic services in Israel
      Operates low vision clinic services at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, providing customized optometric treatments, pediatric examinations, and mobile screening services for homebound elderly individuals.
  • Jewish Community Media Production 1 activity
    • Providing audio subscriptions and cultural programming
      Offers audio subscriptions to Jewish-interest periodicals and produces bimonthly thematic publications and cultural series; maintains an online archive of program recordings and provides access to cultural and educational content such as JBI Voices and JBI Cultural Series for emotional and intellectual well-being.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Awarding scholarships to legally blind Jewish students
      Funds undergraduate and graduate education for legally blind Jewish students through the Wolfson Scholarship, awarding a minimum of $2,500 per recipient; has awarded $496,288 in scholarships since 2018, including $181,288 for the 2025–26 academic year.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.33M
Contributions & grants$2.08M62%
Program service revenue$12K0%
Investment income$1.03M31%
Other revenue$209K
expenses
Total expenses$4.68M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$2.41M
Grants paid out$354K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$24.16M
Cash$1.42M
Investments$16.15M
Liabilities$408K
Net assets$23.75M
Liquid reserves45.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LIVIA THOMPSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 35 $282K
MICKEY ABOFF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 35 $222K
BETH RUDICH DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 35 $184K
ANDREW GOODMAN CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER 35 $138K
board members · 21
  • ALIZA SPERLING — TRUSTEE
  • ALLAN LOWY — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREA BROWN — SECRETARY
  • BARBARA B FRIEDMAN — HON. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
  • BARBARA G SAIDEL — CO-CHAIR OF THE BOARD
  • CAREN KELLER — TRUSTEE
  • DR ELLIE HENKIND KATZ — TRUSTEE
  • ELLEN DAVID — ASSISTANT TREASURER
  • FLORENCE MILCH — TRUSTEE
  • FRANCES BRANDT — HONORARY TRUSTEE
  • GABRIELLE COHN — TRUSTEE
  • JAY FIALKOFF — TRUSTEE
  • JILL ROTHSTEIN — TRUSTEE (OUTGOING)
  • MARK J ALTSCHULER — TRUSTEE
  • MYRON KAPLAN — VICE CHAIRMAN
  • NANCY I KLEIN — TRUSTEE
  • RABBI MORDECHAI RACKOVER — TRUSTEE
  • SCOTT KESSLER — TRUSTEE
  • STEVE FADEM — TRUSTEE
  • STEVE GOMER — TRUSTEE
  • STEVEN P POLIVY — CO-CHAIR OF THE BOARD
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Central Library for the Blind in Israel Partner — Receives financial and operational support from JBI International Inc for infrastructure development and ongoing services.
  • Chana H. Partner — Patron from Ra'anana, Israel who shared feedback about receiving a Large Print Haggadah for her mother.
  • Hadassah Women’s Zionist Organization of America Partner — Provides audio format access to Hadassah Magazine for JBI patrons.
  • International Scholarship and Tuition Services Partner — Administers the Wolfson Scholarship application process through a third-party platform.
  • JBI Library Network — JBI INTERNATIONAL INC operates JBI Library as its primary service platform for providing accessible Jewish materials.
  • JBI Library patrons Partner — Volunteers include current patrons who contribute time and skills to support JBI's mission.
  • JCCs Partner — Partner organization collaborating to meet the needs of Jewish individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are print disabled.
  • Lilith Partner — Provides audio format access to Lilith magazine for JBI patrons.
  • National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled Government — Associate agency affiliation with the Library of Congress division serving blind and print-disabled individuals.
  • Not specified Partner — Provides materials to organizations that serve people who are blind, low vision, or print disabled.
  • Sourasky Medical Center Partner — Hosts JBI's low vision clinic services in Tel Aviv, Israel, where JBI provides optometric care and mobile screenings.
  • Vimeo Partner — Hosts JBI Library's program recordings on its platform.
  • museums Partner — Partner organization collaborating to meet the needs of Jewish individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are print disabled.
  • schools Partner — Partner organization collaborating to meet the needs of Jewish individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are print disabled.
  • synagogues Partner — Partner organization collaborating to meet the needs of Jewish individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are print disabled.
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.

  • Community-Engaged Programming for Connection
    methodology: community-engaged reading
    By delivering accessible cultural programming, book clubs, and virtual events, the organization fosters social inclusion and sustained cognitive engagement, because participatory activities build community and connection for isolated individuals with visual impairments.
  • Culturally and Linguistically Tailored Access
    methodology: culturally_and_linguistically_inclusive_access
    By offering Jewish materials in formats and editions that reflect diverse denominations, languages, and age groups, the organization increases engagement and relevance, because culturally resonant content strengthens religious and cultural connection among print-disabled individuals.
  • Multi-Format Accessibility for Inclusion
    methodology: multi-format-access
    By providing Jewish texts in accessible formats such as braille, large print, and audio, the organization enables full participation in Jewish life for people with print disabilities, because access to culturally relevant materials in usable forms is foundational to identity and belonging.
  • Partnership-Based Outreach to Expand Access
    methodology: community-partner_distribution
    By collaborating with Jewish communal organizations, the organization extends the reach of accessible resources to geographically dispersed and socially isolated populations, because institutional partnerships amplify access beyond what direct services alone can achieve.
  • Volunteer-Driven Production and Inclusion
    methodology: volunteer-driven inclusion
    By relying on volunteer networks to produce audiobooks and deliver programming, the organization scales accessible content while deepening community ownership and engagement, because peer involvement enhances both output capacity and social integration.