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ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 135600421 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Large ($10M-$50M) · agbu.org
revenue
$34.6M
expenses
$29.4M
net assets
$322.4M
employees
102
volunteers
1,520
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

ENSURING THE PROSPERITY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL ARMENIANS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) advances the prosperity and well-being of Armenians worldwide through cultural, educational, and socio-economic development initiatives. The organization supports Armenian identity via arts, music, literature, and religious institutions, while also funding nation-building programs in Armenia. AGBU operates globally with regional centers across multiple continents.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $10.40M
    CULTURAL-ENRICHING THE MULTIFACETED ARMENIAN EXPERIENCE ARMENIAN CULTURE THRIVES ACROSS THE WORLD AS A KEY MARKER OF OUR UNIQUE NATIONAL IDENTITY. MUSIC AND THE ARTS, LITERATURE AND ARCHITECTURE, AS WELL AS ANCIENT, FOLK AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS HELP DRIVE THE AGBU MISSION TO UPLIFT ARMENIAN LIVES THROUGH CREATIVE EXPRESSION. OVER THE DECADES, AGBU HAS LAUNCHED AN ARRAY OF CULTURAL INITIATIVES THAT CONNECT ARMENIANS IN EVERY GENERATION ACROSS THE WORLD. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE RISING TALENTS TO EXPLORE THEIR POTENTIALS, AND WE PARTNER WITH WORLD-CLASS INSTITUTIONS TO SHARE OUR GIFTS WITH GLOBAL AUDIENCES.
  2. #2 $2.29M
    SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE HOMELAND IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, THE STAKES FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRESS ARE FOREMOST TO ENSURE A LIVING MANIFESTATION OF OUR COLLECTIVE IDENTITY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF A LAND THAT IS AT ONCE A SOVEREIGN NATION STATE AND AN ANCESTRAL HOMELAND. AGBU WORKS TO STRENGTHEN THE COUNTRY BY PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURES AND RESOURCES TO CARVE A PATH TO UPWARD MOBILITY. THESE NATION-BUILDING STRATEGIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO FUELING THE ECONOMIC GROWTH CRITICAL TO LONG-TERM NATIONAL VIABILITY. WITH OUR SAFETY NETS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, OUR STEPPING STONES FOR JOB SEEKERS AND AMBITIOUS ENTREPRENEURS, AND OUR BRIDGES THAT CONNECT KEY INDUSTRIES TO WORLD MARKETS, AGBU'S COMMITMENT TO HELPING ARMENIA IS REFLECTED IN WELL-DESIGNED STRATEGIC PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS AIMED AT STEADY ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Cultural-Enriching the Multifaceted Armenian Experience
Supports Armenian cultural expression through music, arts, literature, architecture, and religious traditions; connects Armenians globally and nurtures emerging talent.
Global Young Professionals Network
Operates 36 young professionals groups worldwide to engage Armenian youth in leadership, networking, and community service.
Homeland Voluntourism
Organizes volunteer tourism experiences in Armenia and France for Armenians to contribute to community development projects.
Internship Programs
Offers internships in cities including Yerevan, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, London, and Buenos Aires to connect Armenian youth with professional opportunities.
Religious Institutions Support
Funds repairs, renovations, and educational support for Armenian Christian houses of worship and clergy worldwide.
Socio-Economic Development - Building a Sustainable Homeland
Strengthens socio-economic infrastructure in Armenia through job creation, entrepreneurship support, and economic development programs aimed at long-term national viability.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
    • Cultural preservation and arts initiatives
      Supports community arts initiatives including theatre, dance, music ensembles, and visual arts collectives; operates cultural programs such as art and music academies, performance groups, and WebTalks to promote Armenian creative expression across generations.
  • Integrated Community-Led Development Programs 1 activity
    • Economic development and infrastructure investment in Armenia
      Invests in agricultural initiatives, infrastructure projects, and industry development in Armenia to promote financial independence, economic sustainability, and community empowerment, including village rebuilding, irrigation improvements, and school construction.
  • Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
    • Emergency and humanitarian relief for Armenian communities
      Provides emergency relief through an international network, responding to crises such as war, displacement, famine, and natural disasters by distributing food, seeds, supplies, and essential aid to affected populations in Armenia and the diaspora.
  • Women's Rights and Empowerment Grants 1 activity
    • Funding domestic violence support services
      Funds the Women’s Support Center to provide services for victims of domestic violence.
  • Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
    • Historical and educational archiving
      Operates the AGBU Nubar Library, which maintains an archive of 19th and 20th century Armenian resources and disseminates information to support research and education.
  • Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
    • Hosting forums and conferences on Armenian topics
      Hosts forums and conferences featuring authors, historians, and thought leaders on topics including human rights, politics, culture, and history to promote public discourse and intellectual engagement.
  • Facility-Based Service Delivery 1 activity
    • Operation of community centers and regional offices
      Operates regional centers and offices in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and Cyprus to serve local Armenian communities through cultural, educational, and social programming.
  • Senior Congregate Centers 1 activity
    • Public health and social welfare programs in Armenia
      Operates Senior Dining Centers providing daily meals to low-income pensioners and Hye Geen Centers supporting pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns across Armenia.
  • Indigenous and Diaspora Cultural Preservation 1 activity
    • Support for Armenian education globally
      Supports Armenian weekend and day schools worldwide, provides after-school programs, virtual classrooms, and educational resources in Armenian language, history, and culture through digital platforms and traditional curricula.
  • Armenian Community and Institutional Support 1 activity
    • Support for Armenian religious institutions
      Provides financial and institutional support for the construction, renovation, and repair of Christian Armenian houses of worship worldwide, and offers scholarships, housing, vestments, and support for clergy and seminaries.
  • Youth Scouting Leadership Programs 1 activity
    • Youth development and leadership programs
      Runs scout programs, mentorships, leadership development initiatives, camp programs, and athletics to foster community engagement, skill development, and lasting relationships among Armenian youth globally.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Repatriation and diaspora engagement
      Facilitates collaboration between the Armenian Diaspora and Armenia, including historical repatriation efforts and ongoing programs to strengthen transnational ties.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$34.56M
Contributions & grants$23.88M69%
Program service revenue$1.30M4%
Investment income$9.20M27%
Other revenue$180K
expenses
Total expenses$29.38M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$6.01M
Grants paid out$14.06M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$327.47M
Cash$4.42M
Investments$260.48M
Liabilities$5.03M
Net assets$322.44M
Liquid reserves108.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -9.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MARK GITLEN CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40 $305K
KAREN ALINE PAPAZIAN DIRECTOR- OUTREACH & DEVEL 40 $186K
KATHRYN V MANUELIAN DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS 40 $185K
NAHEED ELYASI DIRECTOR OF MARKETING 40 $179K
NATALIE GABRIELIAN DIRECTOR OF CHAPTERS & CENTRAL BOARD ADMINISTRATIO 40 $173K
GOHAR STOMBOLYAN DIRECTOR WEST REGION 40 $166K
board members · 19
  • ANI MANOUKIAN — MEMBER-OFF 10/24, SECTY ON 10/24
  • ARDA NAZERIAN HARATUNIAN — ASST SECTY-OFF 10/24, V.P. ON 10/24
  • ARI LIBARIKIAN — MEMBER
  • ARNAUD ATTAMIAN — MEMBER
  • CAMILIO AZZOUZ — MEMBER
  • ERIC ESRAILIAN — MEMBER
  • HAIG ARIYAN — MEMBER
  • JOSEPH OUGHOURLIAN — VICE PRESIDENT-OFF 10/24
  • LENA SARKISSIAN — MEMBER
  • LEVON NAZARIAN — MEMBER
  • LORI MUNCHERIAN — MEMBER
  • NADIA GORTZUNIAN — MEMBER
  • NAZARETH FESTEKJIAN — TREASURER
  • SAM SIMONIAN — PRESIDENT-ON 10/24
  • SARKIS JEBEJIAN — SECTY-OFF 10/24, MEMBER ON 10/24
  • VAHE GABRACHE — MEMBER
  • VARTKES KNADJIAN — MEMBER
  • VASKEN YACOUBIAN — MEMBER
  • YEGHICHE MANOUKIAN — MEMBER
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • AGBU Central Board Partner — Designates Life, Donor, and Benefactor Members and oversees membership status.
  • AGBU Chapter Network — Local chapters of the Armenian General Benevolent Union that operate in various regions.
  • AGBU Nubar Library Partner — Operates and maintains an archive of 19th and 20th century Armenian resources.
  • Allied forces Partner — Collaborated with AGBU to provide relief aid to Armenian refugees in the Middle East after World War I.
  • Armenian Embassy to US Partner — Co-hosted the “Armenians in America 250” celebration.
  • Armenian Virtual College Partner — Provides online courses as part of AGBU's virtual classroom offerings.
  • British forces Partner — Relied on AGBU to gather and assist Armenian refugees in Petra, Salt, and Jerusalem, providing joint relief aid.
  • European Union Partner — Collaborated with AGBU on training and capacity-building initiatives for civil society organizations in Armenia.
  • Performance Groups Partner — Local arts groups supported by AGBU in theatre, dance, music, and visual arts.
  • Soviet Republic of Armenia Government — Recognized AGBU as the only all-Armenian benevolent organization allowed to operate humanitarian projects within Soviet Armenia starting in 1923.
  • TUMOxAGBU Partner — Collaborative program in Artsakh focused on education and youth development.
  • Women’s Support Center Partner — Funded by AGBU to support victims of domestic violence.
  • World-Class Institutions Partner — Collaborates with world-class institutions to share Armenian cultural contributions with global audiences.
  • Young Professionals Group Network — Young professionals groups affiliated with AGBU that engage younger members in organizational activities.
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.

  • Civic Unity for National Development
    methodology: civic unity for national development
    By fostering unity and civil discourse within Armenia and the global Diaspora, the organization enables the country to leverage its human capital for innovation, economic growth, and national security, because shared purpose and dialogue strengthen collective capacity for progress.
  • Crisis-to-Long-Term Relief Model
    methodology: crisis-to-long-term-relief-model
    By initiating humanitarian aid during immediate crises and transitioning to long-term investments in community care, the organization ensures sustainable recovery, because combining emergency response with development programming addresses both acute needs and systemic resilience.
  • Diaspora Engagement as National Development Strategy
    methodology: diaspora-engagement-as-development-strategy
    By strengthening ties between the Armenian Diaspora and Armenia, the organization fosters collaboration that drives national development, because sustained engagement mobilizes resources, knowledge, and investment from a globally dispersed community.
  • Industry-Based Economic Development
    methodology: industry-based economic development
    By building and sustaining key industries—such as tourism, technology, culture, and agriculture—the organization drives economic growth in Armenia, because sector-specific development creates jobs, empowers communities, and integrates Armenia into global markets.
  • Integrated 360° Education and Cultural Expansion
    methodology: 360-degree education
    By integrating traditional and innovative platforms across learning stages and partnering with world-class institutions, the organization advances Armenian education and cultural expression, because comprehensive, globally connected programming sustains identity and expands reach.