irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $8KJEWISH RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - KULANU PROVIDES SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES AROUND THE GLOBE BY DISTRIBUTING TORAHS, PRAYER BOOKS, CHILDREN'S BOOKS, AND OTHER RITUAL ITEMS TO COMMUNITIES IN SUB- SAHARAN AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA, AND ASIA.
- #2 $16KTECHNIOLOGY FUNDING - KULANU DISTRIBUTES CELL PHONES, COMPUTERS, SOLAR PANELS, INTERNET ACCESS, TO JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND ASIA.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Global Judaica Distribution
Distributes Torah scrolls, prayer books, talitot, mezuzot, and other ritual items to isolated Jewish communities worldwide
Infrastructure Development
Supports construction of synagogues, mikvahs, and schools in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Tanzania, including solar power and clean water projects
Online Jewish Education Courses
Offers online courses in Hebrew, Jewish holidays, and kosher laws in Spanish, French, and English for students across Latin America and Africa
Online Speaker Series and Podcast
Hosts virtual events and media content featuring partner communities from Indonesia, Cameroon, Tanzania, India, and other countries
Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance (SAJA)
Fosters mutual support and cultural exchange among African Jewish communities, convened by Kulanu and the Commonwealth Jewish Council
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Jewish Religious Education and Outreach 2 activities
- Advocates for Jewish descendants reconnecting with Jewish traditionsRaises global awareness about the history and challenges of Kaifeng Jewish descendants in China and supports their reconnection through educational and religious resources.
- Delivers online educational programming for global Jewish communitiesConducts virtual courses in Spanish, French, and English on Jewish holidays, Hebrew, and Kosher laws for students in Latin America and Africa, and hosts an ongoing Online Speaker Series and Podcast featuring communities in Indonesia, Cameroon, Tanzania, and other regions.
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Jewish Leadership Development 1 activity
- Builds capacity of Jewish communities through leadership and institutional supportProvides access to rabbis, cantors, and Jewish educators; supports agricultural and economic initiatives; and assists in the formation of new communities, including through the beit din process in Nicaragua.
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Jewish Textual and Educational Publishing 1 activity
- Distributes educational and religious materials to remote Jewish communitiesSupplies prayer books, Torah scrolls, talitot, mezuzot, and educational resources to Jewish communities worldwide, including in Brazil, India, the Philippines, and Uganda, reaching over 10,000 students in remote Jewish schools.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Engages volunteers and manages organizational operationsUtilizes volunteers and interns to support daily operations and manages communications, fundraising, online programs, and publication of Kulanu's magazine.
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Jewish Religious Institution Support 1 activity
- Implements infrastructure and development projects in Jewish communitiesFunds and manages construction and improvement projects including synagogues in Zimbabwe and Uganda, a mikvah in Tanzania, solar panel installation in India, toilet renovations in Uganda, and clean water delivery to Lemba villages.
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Jewish Life and Security Support 1 activity
- Supports isolated, emerging, and returning Jewish communities globallyProvides direct support to Jewish communities in over 30 countries, including Zimbabwe, India, Ghana, Peru, and Indonesia, through distribution of religious materials, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange programs.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Establishes and leads regional Jewish alliancesFounded and leads the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance (SAJA) to promote mutual support, cultural exchange, and representation of African Jewish communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$510K
Contributions & grants$489K96%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$21K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$424K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$158K
Grants paid out$147K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$779K
Cash$278K
Investments$448K
Liabilities$226K
Net assets$553K
Liquid reserves20.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +10.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOLLY LEVINE | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $89K |
board members · 12
- BARBARA VINICK — SECRETARY
- BEMJAMIN LEFKOWITZ — BOARD MEMBER
- BONITA NATHAN SUSSMAN — PRESIDENT
- CLIVE LAWTON — BOARD MEMBER
- DR ARI GREENSPAN — BOARD MEMBER
- DR DAVID BREAKSTONE — BOARD MEMBER
- JUDI KLOPER — BOARD MEMBER
- LILI KAUFMAN — TREASURER
- MICHAEL CHERNICK — BOARD MEMBER
- MODRECK MAERSERA — BOARD MEMBER
- RABBI BARBARA AIELLO — SECOND VICE
- RABBI CAPERS FUNNYE — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Abayudaya communities Partner — Network of Jewish communities in Uganda with whom Kulanu collaborates on cultural and religious programming.
- Bene Ephraim Partner — Kulanu supports the Bene Ephraim Jewish community in India through religious, educational, and economic development initiatives.
- Commonwealth Jewish Council Partner — Collaborates with Kulanu to co-found and support the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance (SAJA).
- Lemba Jews Partner — Jewish community in Zimbabwe supported by Kulanu
- Partner Communities Partner — Collaborates with local Jewish communities to support their development and sustainability.
- Shaar HaShamayim Synagogue Partner — Supported with religious texts and ritual items to sustain Jewish life in Indonesia.
- Shavei Israel Partner — Collaborates with Kulanu in supporting the reconnection of Kaifeng descendants with the Jewish community, as evidenced by shared documentation and imagery.
- Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance Coalition — Kulanu is a founding and participating organization in SAJA, which represents African Jewish communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance Partner — Co-founded and supported by Kulanu to connect Jewish communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Tzyon Beit HaMitzvot Jewish Community Partner — Ugandan Jewish community that received infrastructure support from Kulanu for toilet renovation.
- community center Partner — Hosts Kulanu events to share the message of Jewish diversity
- federation Partner — Hosts Kulanu events to share the message of Jewish diversity
- synagogue Partner — Hosts Kulanu events to share the message of Jewish diversity
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.
- Decentralized Community Engagement Through Local Event Empowermentmethodology: decentralized-community-engagementBy enabling individuals to organize local events with institutional support, we expand global participation in Jewish life, because decentralized ownership increases accessibility, relevance, and sustained engagement across diverse contexts.
- Nurturing Jewish Identity in Restricted Contextsmethodology: identity_nurturing_in_restricted_contextsBy focusing on identity formation in environments where religious expression is limited or unrecognized, we sustain Jewish continuity, because targeted, low-visibility support preserves cultural and religious practice under constraint.
- Research-Based Support for Marginalized Jewish Communitiesmethodology: research-based community supportBy partnering with academic institutions to research and document emerging or isolated Jewish communities, we improve targeted support and global recognition, because evidence generation strengthens advocacy, funding, and program design for underrepresented groups.
- Story-Based Engagement to Foster Global Jewish Identitymethodology: story-based_engagementBy sharing stories of diverse Jewish communities through digital and traditional media, we inspire global engagement and strengthen collective Jewish identity, because narrative builds empathy, visibility, and connection across geographical divides.
- Support and Reconnection Through Resource Distributionmethodology: resource_distribution_for_identity_reclamationBy distributing educational, religious, and digital resources to isolated or assimilated communities, we strengthen Jewish continuity and identity reclamation, because access to materials enables practice and belonging where formal structures are absent or restricted.