irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $114KJEWISH OBSERVER - IS THE MAIN SOURCE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK OF LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL JEWISH NEWS. EVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION USES THE "JEWISH OBSERVER" AS A MEANS OF PROMOTING ITS ACTIVITIES AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS. THE PAPER SEEKS TO BUILD AND ENHANCE A SENSE OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL JEWISH CONNECTION.
- #2 $551KOTHER PROGRAMS - JEWISH FEDERATION OF CENTRAL NY,INC. - FEDERATION OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR, DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNITY. SOCIAL, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND FUNDRAISING PROGRAMS ARE JUST SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR PARTICIPATION.
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Camperships
Offers $1,000 grants plus need-based scholarships to help Central New York families afford overnight Jewish camp
Community Calendar
Shared hub for Jewish events, learning, and cultural happenings across agencies and synagogues in Central New York
Community Happenings
Weekly newsletter connecting the Central New York Jewish community with upcoming events, programs, and announcements
Community Security Program
Leads safety initiatives including threat assessments, training, and coordination with law enforcement and the Secure Community Network
Hebrew Interest-free Loan Program
Provides zero-interest personal loans up to $7,500 to Jewish residents of Central New York for medical bills, debt consolidation, education, and other needs; funds are recycled as loans are repaid
NextGen CNY
Hosts social and cultural programs for Jewish young adults (21+) to build relationships and leadership in Central New York
The Jewish Observer
Monthly print and online publication covering local, national, and international Jewish news and community updates
activities · 13 groups
What they do
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Jewish Community Media Production 2 activities
- Distributing weekly community newsletters and maintaining shared event calendarDistributes a weekly email bulletin and maintains a shared community calendar to connect members of the Central New York Jewish community with local events, learning opportunities, and cultural happenings.
- Producing and distributing The Jewish Observer publicationProduces and distributes a monthly print and digital community newspaper, The Jewish Observer, covering local, national, and international Jewish news and issues in Central New York.
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Jewish Religious Institution Support 2 activities
- Funding enriched General and Judaic Studies program at Syracuse Hebrew Day SchoolProvides funding and support for an enriched program of General and Judaic Studies for children in grades K–6 at Syracuse Hebrew Day School.
- Funding local, national, and overseas Jewish philanthropic agenciesProvides financial support to local, national, and international Jewish organizations through grantmaking, including funding for community programs, education, and overseas Jewish communities.
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Jewish Holiday and Shabbat Community Events 2 activities
- Organizing annual community commemorations and celebrationsSupports and organizes community-wide observances and cultural events including Yom HaShoah, Yom Ha’atzmaut, Chanukah, and other festivals to strengthen Jewish identity and collective experience in Central New York.
- Organizing social, cultural, and educational programs for Jewish young adultsOffers social, cultural, and holiday programs for Jewish young adults aged 21 and over in Central New York to build relationships and leadership.
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Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 1 activity
- Advocating for Israel and Jewish civil rightsAdvocates for the security of the State of Israel and the civil, economic, and religious rights of the Jewish people, and represents the Jewish community in inter-faith matters.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Central planning and leadership development for Jewish communal servicesConducts central planning, coordination, and leadership development to strengthen local Jewish communal services in Central New York.
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Women's Empowerment and Leadership Development 1 activity
- Developing leadership and engagement among women donorsOrganizes and engages women donors through the Pomegranate Society (annual giving of $1,800+) and the Lion of Judah program (annual giving of $5,000+), offering leadership development and social action opportunities to support Jewish continuity.
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Community Safety Patrols & Security Support 1 activity
- Operating community security program and emergency communicationsLeads a coordinated community security program including safety assessments, Active Threat Response training, law enforcement collaboration, and operation of SCN Alert, an emergency communications platform for timely security alerts.
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Producing historical exhibits and oral history projectsDeveloped a permanent exhibit documenting Jewish contributions to Syracuse and Onondaga County, collected oral histories from descendants of Jewish-owned businesses, and produced a short film featuring Jewish families’ contributions to local business and community life.
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Interest-Free Loan and Grant Support 1 activity
- Providing zero-interest personal loans to Jewish residentsOffers zero-interest personal loans of up to $7,500 to Jewish residents of Central New York for medical expenses, debt consolidation, small business needs, and education costs, with repaid funds recycled to support future borrowers.
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Disaster Relief and Recovery Services 1 activity
- Raising crisis funds for Israelis in conflict-affected areasRaises funds during crises to support safety and post-trauma counseling for Israelis in conflict-affected areas.
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Structured Jewish Text Study Programs 1 activity
- Supporting Jewish education programs for children and teensOperates the Rabbi Jacob H. Epstein School of Jewish Studies for teens in grades 8–12, supports a weekly after-school Hebrew education program for grades 3–7, and offers supplemental programs including Teen Taste of Israel, a yearlong educational program culminating in a low-cost two-week trip to Israel.
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Summer Camp Access Scholarships 1 activity
- Supporting access to overnight Jewish summer campsProvides $1,000 grants and need-based scholarships to increase access to overnight Jewish summer camps for children and families in Central New York.
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Fundraising and Financial Support for IDD Services 1 activity
- Supporting early childhood education through grantsFunds the Jerome and Phyllis Charney Early Childhood Development Program, a comprehensive childcare facility and preschool serving infants through pre-K children.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.62M
Contributions & grants$1.48M91%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$128K8%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$1.78M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$289K
Grants paid out$970K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.32M
Cash$176K
Investments$3.94M
Liabilities$1.11M
Net assets$3.21M
Liquid reserves27.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -16.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA DAVIS | INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 24 | $107K |
| DON CRONIN | TREASURER/CFO | 18 | $43K |
board members · 22
- ADAM FUMAROLA — DIRECTOR
- BROOKE RAPHAEL GERWITZ — DIRECTOR
- CARL ROSENZWEIG — DIRECTOR
- CHERYL SCHOTZ — DIRECTOR
- ELLEN WEINSTEIN — DIRECTOR
- ELYSSA BECKER — DIRECTOR
- JULIET MALOFF — NEX GEN CO-CHAIR
- LEAH GOLDBERG — STRATEGIC PLANNING CHAIR
- MARK FIELD — DIRECTOR
- MARK LEVY — DIRECTOR
- MARTIN FINE — DIRECTOR
- MEGAN COLEMAN SYKES — DIRECTOR
- MELISSA HARKAVY — DIRECTOR
- MIRIAM ELMAN — SECRETARY
- NAN FECHTNER — VICE CHAIR
- NEIL ROSENBAUM — CHAIR, HUMAN RESOURCES
- RABBI EVAN SHORE — DIRECTOR
- RABBI MOSHE SAKS — DIRECTOR
- REBECCA RESIG — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT WEISENTHAL — DIRECTOR
- SARAH HAMMER — NEX GEN CO-CHAIR
- SIDNEY COMINSKY — DIRECTOR
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- BBYO Partner — Recognizes camps sponsored by BBYO as eligible for campership grants.
- Hebrew Interest-free Loan Program of CNY (HILP) Partner — Operates as a program under the Jewish Federation of Central New York to provide interest-free loans.
- JCCA Partner — Recognizes camps sponsored by JCCA as eligible for campership grants.
- Jerome and Phyllis Charney Early Childhood Development Program Partner — Comprehensive childcare and preschool facility supported by the Jewish Federation of Central New York.
- Jewish Community Foundation of CNY Partner — Collaborates on donor advised funds to support charitable giving in the Jewish community.
- Jewish Community Foundation of CNY Partner — Collaborates to administer Donor Advised Funds for charitable giving within the Jewish community.
- Jewish Observer Partner — Collaborates with the Jewish Observer to disseminate news and promote community activities.
- Jewish organizations in Central New York Partner — Collaborates with local Jewish organizations to coordinate events through a shared community calendar.
- Lion of Judah Network — Part of an international network of Jewish women philanthropists raising funds for Jewish causes.
- NFTY Partner — Recognizes camps sponsored by NFTY as eligible for campership grants.
- Onondaga Historical Association Partner — Collaborated to create a permanent exhibit on Jewish contributions to Syracuse and Onondaga County.
- Rabbi Jacob H. Epstein School of Jewish Studies Partner — Partner program providing Jewish education and community for teens in grades 8–12, supported by the Jewish Federation of Central New York.
- Secure Community Network Partner — Partnership to enhance community safety, security, and preparedness through shared resources, training, and intelligence.
- State of Israel Government — Longstanding support and partnership with Israel since its founding in 1948.
- Syracuse Community Hebrew School Partner — Partner organization offering after-school Hebrew education supported by the Jewish Federation of Central New York.
- Syracuse Hebrew Day School Partner — Funded and supported by the Jewish Federation of Central New York for K–6 Jewish and general education.
- USY Partner — Recognizes camps sponsored by USY as eligible for campership grants.
- Young Judea/Hadassah Partner — Recognizes camps sponsored by Young Judea/Hadassah as eligible for campership grants.
- agency partners Partner — Collaborates with agency partners and other institutions to sustain and grow the Jewish community.
- law enforcement Partner — Partners with law enforcement to support community safety and security initiatives.
strategies · 4
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.
- Collective Capacity Building in Core Agenciesmethodology: capacity_investment_in_core_agenciesBy investing in and convening core Jewish agencies, the organization strengthens the resilience and sustainability of the local Jewish community because coordinated infrastructure and shared planning improve service delivery and adaptive response to changing needs.
- Dignity-Preserving Financial Assistance Modelmethodology: dignity-preserving financial assistanceBy providing temporary financial aid through interest-free loans and confidential support, the organization increases access to essential services because this approach upholds personal dignity and encourages responsible stewardship rooted in Jewish ethical principles.
- Investment in Jewish Identity Through Experiential Educationmethodology: experiential-jewish-educationBy supporting Jewish overnight camps and using experiential education methods, the organization strengthens Jewish identity and continuity because immersive, relational experiences foster deeper connection and long-term community engagement.
- Tikkun Olam as Guiding Value for Community Actionmethodology: tikkun_olamBy grounding community initiatives in the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), the organization motivates collective responsibility and sustained engagement in social action, because shared moral purpose strengthens communal participation and philanthropy.