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The Cemetery Department Of The Workmen's Circle Inc

New York, NY · EIN 135493557 · Form 990EZ · FY2024 · Micro (<$100K) · circle.org
revenue
$68K
expenses
$146K
net assets
$-496K
employees
mission · from form 990

THE CEMETERY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FUNERAL AND CEMETERY BENEFITS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Workers Circle is a national Jewish social justice organization founded in 1900 by Eastern European immigrants. It builds progressive Jewish identity through cultural engagement, Yiddish language education, multigenerational programming, and activism. The organization focuses on immigrant rights, economic justice, voting rights, and anti-racism, mobilizing a community of over 150,000 activists through local and national campaigns.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Democracy Circles
Grassroots community groups that engage in voter protection, postcard writing, phone banking, and local activism to strengthen democracy and fight voter suppression.
Freedom Vigils
Weekly protests and vigils held outside immigrant detention facilities, such as 'Alligator Alcatz' in South Florida, to demand humane treatment and closure of inhumane detention centers.
Workers Circle Schools
Child-centered educational programs that build Jewish identity through cultural and historical learning for multigenerational families.
Yiddish Language Program
Offers Yiddish language classes and cultural programming to preserve and revitalize Eastern European Jewish culture and heritage.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Immigrant Rights Advocacy & Policy Reform 4 activities
    • Advocates for federal voting rights and immigration protections
      Advocates for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, opposes voter suppression bills like the SAVE Act (S. 128), and campaigns for the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.
    • Opposes expansion of ICE enforcement and detention policies
      Opposes S. 1404 (Combating Organized Retail Crime Act) due to its expansion of ICE's reach and co-organizes protests against ICE detention facilities, including weekly vigils at Alligator Alcatraz and the Freedom Vigil in Chantilly, VA.
    • Organizes monthly vigils in solidarity with immigrants
      Holds peaceful vigils on the first and third Sunday of each month outside Orlando City Hall to express solidarity with immigrants and protest authoritarian immigration tactics.
    • Organizes weekly democracy and protest gatherings
      Hosts weekly vigils at Foley Square and other locations to oppose threats to democracy and human rights, including protests against the Trump administration’s policies.
  • Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 2 activities
    • Conducts voter engagement and protection activities
      Engages in phone banking and postcard writing campaigns to provide non-partisan voting information to Black voters in states such as Virginia and Wisconsin, and supports voter protection through Democracy Circles.
    • Leads national advocacy campaign for democracy and voting rights
      Operates the Demand Democracy, Fight Fascism Campaign, engaging over 250,000 activists in advocacy, civic education, and youth leadership development to combat voter suppression and protect democratic institutions.
  • Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
    • Organizes large-scale community protests for democracy and rights
      Plans and hosts major public protests such as the No Kings demonstration in Milwaukee, which drew over 1,500 attendees and prioritized accessibility for older adults.
  • Jewish and Cultural Heritage Archives 1 activity
    • Preserves and shares Jewish labor and social justice history through digital archives
      Digitized and made the historic newsletter 'The Call' freely accessible online to preserve and promote understanding of Jewish labor, immigrant, and social justice history.
  • Cemetery and Cremation Services 1 activity
    • Provides funeral and cemetery benefits to members
      Offers funeral and cemetery services as a core benefit to members of the parent organization, Workmen's Circle.
  • Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
    • Supports youth leadership in democratic engagement
      Provides capacity-building programs focused on youth leadership development in civic and democratic participation.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Offers Yiddish language and cultural programs
      Operates the world's largest Yiddish language program, offering classes and cultural activities that contribute to the revitalization of Yiddish culture.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$68K
Contributions & grants
Program service revenue$67K99%
Investment income
Other revenue$185
expenses
Total expenses$146K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$129K
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$447K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$-496K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +7.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 5
  • ANN TOBACK — CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
  • BARRY EISENBERG — Director
  • DANIEL KATZ — DIRECTOR
  • JONATHAN GOLD — DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
  • ZEEV DAGAN — Director
relationships · 10

Who they work with

  • Amnesty International USA Partner — Co-hosted vigils calling for the closure of Alligator Alcatraz.
  • Center for Common Ground Partner — Collaborates with The Workers Circle on phone banking to reach Black voters in Virginia ahead of the primary election.
  • Democracy for the Next Generation Partner — Co-sponsors weekly democracy vigils in New York City.
  • In In Partner — Co-sponsors weekly democracy vigils in New York City.
  • Indivisible Partner — Collaborates with local Indivisible chapters on non-partisan democratic actions.
  • League of Women Voters Partner — Engages alongside League of Women Voters chapters in non-partisan civic actions.
  • The Call Network — Digitized and provides access to the historic newsletter 'The Call' as part of its archival and educational mission.
  • The Workers Circle Partner — Co-sponsors weekly democracy vigils in New York City.
  • We The People Partner — Co-sponsors weekly democracy vigils in New York City.
  • mutual aid organizations Partner — Partners with mutual aid organizations on grassroots democratic engagement efforts.
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.

  • Cultural Engagement as Identity and Activism
    methodology: cultural-engagement-for-identity
    By integrating cultural engagement, Yiddish language learning, multigenerational education, and social justice activism, the organization builds progressive Jewish identity because cultural rootedness strengthens commitment to collective action and values-based organizing.
  • Mutual Aid Framework for Member Benefits
    methodology: mutual_aid
    By offering funeral and cemetery benefits within a mutual aid framework, the organization strengthens community resilience and collective responsibility, because shared financial and emotional support systems enable dignified end-of-life care for members.
  • Public Vigils as Sustained Symbolic Solidarity
    methodology: public_vigil_with_symbolic_action
    By using recurring public vigils with symbolic actions like rotating speakers and cellphone candlelight, the organization sustains visibility and solidarity for immigrant justice because ritualized, participatory demonstrations create emotional resonance and ongoing public pressure.
  • Small-Group Civic Engagement with Educational Scaffolding
    methodology: civic-engagement-through-small-groups
    By forming locally organized small groups supported by shared educational resources and storytelling, the organization builds civic engagement and collective action because accessible, relational structures foster trust, learning, and sustained participation in democratic life.
  • Values-Based Organizing Rooted in Jewish Tradition
    methodology: values-based organizing
    By grounding activism in Jewish values and history, the organization builds inclusive activist communities because ethical and spiritual frameworks provide moral urgency and cultural continuity that motivate sustained engagement in social justice.