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ORT AMERICA INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 135562424 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Large ($10M-$50M) · ortamerica.org
revenue
$15.0M
expenses
$14.8M
net assets
$17.2M
employees
48
volunteers
150
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

THE ADVANCEMENT OF JEWISH AND OTHER PEOPLE THROUGH TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

ORT America supports global education initiatives through a network of schools and training programs, primarily serving Jewish communities and underserved populations worldwide. The organization focuses on advancing education and career training, with an emphasis on technology and vocational skills. It operates through regional chapters across the United States and collaborates closely with World ORT to fund and manage schools in over 40 countries.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $4.12M
    SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL ORT PROGRAM RELIES ON AN ACTIVE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND MOTIVATED LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP BASE. THIS, IN TURN, NECESSITATES A SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURE FOR OUTREACH, AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND NEXT GENERATION INITIATIVES. ORT AMERICA'S MEMBERSHIP BASE INCLUDES SUPPORTERS FROM BOTH OF ITS PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATIONS, AMERICAN ORT AND WOMEN'S AMERICAN ORT.
  2. #2 $325K
    COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ORT AMERICA'S GOAL OF EDUCATING THE OVERALL COMMUNITY ABOUT ORT'S GLOBAL PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS PROMOTING ORT'S VALUES, THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IN TURN IMPACTS COMMUNITIES, AND IMPROVES THE WORLD.
named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

ORT America Missions
Organized delegations to ORT schools in countries including Russia, Ukraine, and South America to strengthen global engagement and support.
The 1880 Society
Elite donors’ group established to recognize and engage major contributors to World ORT’s fundraising efforts.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Building educator capacity in STEM and Jewish education
      Supports thousands of educators across the former Soviet Union, Europe, Latin America, and globally by improving teaching skills, developing educational programming, and strengthening pedagogical leadership within ORT’s network.
  • Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Conducting public outreach and marketing about global education programs
      Engages in communication and marketing activities to educate the public about ORT’s global programs and promote the value of education, including organizing mission trips to showcase programs in locations like Panama.
  • Teacher & Classroom Innovation Grants 1 activity
    • Funding global World ORT educational programs
      Provides financial support to strengthen schools, enhance teaching quality, and expand access to modern technology for STEM education through the global World ORT network.
  • Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
    • Implementing International Cooperation projects for social and economic development
      Conducts skills training and provides resources in struggling communities in South Africa, Cuba, Greece, and Ghana to promote social mobility, economic security, and sustainable development through local capacity building.
  • Jewish Religious Education and Outreach 1 activity
    • Integrating Jewish cultural and religious education into school programs
      Provides structured learning about Jewish holidays, rituals, and traditions—including Passover, Chanukah, and the High Holidays—and encourages families to observe Sabbath and other traditions at home through hands-on, experiential education.
  • Jewish Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Operating international educational programs across 40+ countries
      Runs schools, universities, and vocational training institutions in over 40 countries, offering STEM-focused education and programs that integrate Jewish values and cultural experiences. These programs serve over 200,000 people and aim to expand access to education and opportunity globally.
  • Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
    • Providing high-level STEM education and after-school programs in robotics and cybersecurity
      Delivers STEM education and after-school programs in robotics and cybersecurity to youth from low-income and under-resourced backgrounds, particularly in Israel's geographic and economic periphery. These programs are implemented in schools and community settings to support educational advancement and career readiness.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting student development through holistic educational services
      Offers emotional support, private tutoring, confidence-building opportunities, and global issue engagement—such as war and peace, poverty, and environmental survival—to prepare students for leadership, independent lives, and real-world problem solving.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$14.96M
Contributions & grants$13.43M90%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$521K3%
Other revenue$1.00M
expenses
Total expenses$14.83M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$4.14M
Grants paid out$7.65M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$23.05M
Cash$5.29M
Investments$14.85M
Liabilities$5.86M
Net assets$17.19M
Liquid reserves16.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -3.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 9
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
BARBARA BIRCH PRESIDENT AND CEO (THRU 2/2024) 40 $362K
ALLISON WEINGER CEO (as of 2/2024) 35 $267K
NICOLE MILLER DIRECTOR, MICHIGAN REGION 40 $203K
LILY JOY M SEMBRANO CONTROLLER 35 $185K
ANNA B STEIN CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER 40 $175K
ROBIN ISAACSON NATIONAL DIRECTOR, PLANNED GIVING 40 $167K
JAMES M LODGE SENIOR DEVELOPMENT OFFICER 40 $162K
JONATHAN S MILLER CFO (THRU 8/9/24) 35 $150K
JUDITH ALPERIN CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (AS OF 12/2/24) 35 $14K
board members · 16
  • AUSTIN CENTER — MEMBER - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • BARBARA ROSS — BOARD MEMBER
  • BARBARA SIEGEL — BOARD MEMBER
  • BUBBA URDAN — MEMBER - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • CONRAD GILES — MEMBER - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • DANIELLE WEIZMAN — BOARD MEMBER (AS OF 11/17/24)
  • DAVID EATON — BOARD MEMBER
  • DEBRA KANTER — MEMBER - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • EVA LYNN GANS — BOARD MEMBER (THRU 11/16/24)
  • GAIL LANZNAR — VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
  • GREGORY MARCUS — BOARD MEMBER
  • HOWARD LANZNAR — EX-OFFICIO
  • JAN KUSHNER — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOHN PREGULMAN — BOARD MEMBER (THRU 8/2/24)
  • JON LEVINE — MEMBER - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • JONATHAN LANZNAR — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • American ORT Partner — Draws membership and support from the predecessor organization American ORT.
  • Global ORT Program Partner — Supports the Global ORT Program through leadership development, outreach, and public education initiatives.
  • Isaac Rabin ORT affiliated school Partner — ORT America organizes visits to this affiliated school in Panama City as part of its mission trips.
  • Jewish Agency for Israel Government — Multiple ORT America leaders serve or have served on the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel, indicating a formal organizational affiliation.
  • Jewish Federations of North America Network — ORT America leaders hold leadership roles in Jewish Federations of North America, suggesting a collaborative relationship between the organizations.
  • ORT Network — Member of the ORT global education network, supporting programs and schools worldwide.
  • ORT Network — ORT America is part of the global ORT network that operates educational programs in over 40 countries.
  • ORT Israel Network — ORT America supports ORT Israel's educational programs in science, technology, engineering, and math.
  • Universities in Mexico Partner — Collaborates with universities in Mexico to deliver educational programs.
  • Universities in Uruguay Partner — Collaborates with universities in Uruguay to deliver educational programs.
  • Women's American ORT Partner — Draws membership and support from the predecessor organization Women's American ORT.
  • World ORT Network — Global network partner of ORT America
  • World ORT Network — ORT America is affiliated with World ORT, and several leaders serve on both organizations' boards or governing bodies.
  • World ORT Network — ORT America raises funds to support global programs of World ORT.
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.

  • Adaptive, Context-Responsive Education Model
    methodology: adaptive-education
    By continuously adapting curricula and teaching methods to local contexts, technological advances, and global shifts, the organization maintains educational relevance and effectiveness, because responsiveness to environment and innovation ensures sustained impact across diverse communities.
  • Education as a Pathway to Empowerment and Economic Independence
    methodology: education-for-empowerment
    By expanding access to high-quality, modernized education—particularly in STEM and employability skills—the organization enables professional success and economic independence, because education is seen as a foundational driver of individual agency, community strength, and long-term societal development.
  • Integrated Cultural and Technical Education
    methodology: integrated-cultural-and-technical-education
    By combining STEM education with Jewish studies, the organization prepares students for modern workforce demands while preserving cultural identity, because integrating technical skills with cultural values produces more engaged and resilient learners who are equipped for both professional success and community leadership.