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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF POLIN MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF POLISH JEWS INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 141937011 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A23 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · afopm.org
revenue
$778K
expenses
$875K
net assets
$795K
employees
1
volunteers
16
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

WE SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE LEGACY OF POLISH JEWS.

profile · synthesized from sources

American Friends of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews supports the preservation and promotion of the legacy of Polish Jews through educational, cultural, and public programs. The organization sustains the work of POLIN Museum in Warsaw, which presents the thousand-year history of Polish Jews and fosters dialogue on memory, identity, and tolerance. It operates as a U.S.-based nonprofit with a focus on fundraising, advocacy, and transatlantic cultural engagement.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Daffodil Campaign
National educational initiative commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, engaging hundreds of thousands annually in remembrance activities.
Jewish Cultural Heritage Project
Educational outreach program reaching over 6.6 million people between 2020 and 2024, aimed at preserving and promoting Jewish history and culture in Poland.
Marek Edelman Award
Annual award recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to combating antisemitism and promoting civic courage, named after the leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Holocaust and Genocide Remembrance Education 2 activities
    • Conducting historical research and publishing findings
      Facilitated the discovery of photographic negatives from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and published a two-volume set titled "What the Others Cannot See: Photographic Testimonies from Both Sides of the Warsaw Ghetto Wall 1943."
    • Supporting institutional development and governance
      Co-founded the North American Council of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2005 to support the museum’s establishment, and changed its name to American Friends of Polin Museum in 2018.
  • Ukrainian Cultural Preservation Programs 1 activity
    • Enhancing accessibility and international outreach
      Provided museum programs in Ukrainian to increase accessibility and express solidarity during the war in Ukraine.
  • Jewish Life and Security Support 1 activity
    • Funding operations and development of POLIN Museum
      Funds the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews through donations transferred to the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland, a strategic partner and co-founder of the museum, supporting its establishment and ongoing initiatives.
  • Historic Preservation Support Grants 1 activity
    • Funding reconstruction of the Gwoździec synagogue
      Funded the reconstruction of the timber-frame roof, painted ceiling, and bimah of the Gwoździec wooden synagogue at POLIN Museum through a foundation grant.
  • Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
    • Operating POLIN Museum with public access and exhibitions
      Operates the POLIN Museum with regular public hours, free entry on Thursdays, and extended hours on Saturdays, hosting a Core Exhibition that includes a "Forest" installation and seven historical galleries covering 1,000 years of Polish Jewish history.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Delivering educational and public engagement programs
      Reached over 6.6 million people from 2020 to 2024 through the Jewish Cultural Heritage project, including educational initiatives and the annual Daffodil Campaign, which engaged 450,000 individuals commemorating the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
    • Expanding museum collections and preserving artifacts
      Has expanded the museum’s permanent collection to over 28,000 objects, including the Helena Rubinstein Collection and photographs by Zbigniew Leszek Grzywaczewski and Rudolf Damec.
    • Funding infrastructure modernization at POLIN Museum
      Secured nearly 22 million PLN (over 6 million USD) from FEnIKS for infrastructure modernization at POLIN Museum, the largest investment grant in the museum's history.
    • Presenting historical and temporary exhibitions
      Hosts temporary exhibitions such as "Around Us a Sea of Fire" for the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which attracted over 130,000 visitors, and supports documentary premieres like "33 Photos from the Ghetto" on HBO Max.
    • Supporting leadership continuity at POLIN Museum
      Supported leadership continuity by reappointing Dariusz Stola as Director of POLIN Museum for a five-year term starting March 1, 2026, following his prior service from 2014 to 2019.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$778K
Contributions & grants$767K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$10K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$875K
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$169K
Grants paid out$635K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$807K
Cash$187K
Investments$465K
Liabilities$12K
Net assets$795K
Liquid reserves8.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -18.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
BARBARA KIRSHENBLATT-GIMBLETT BOARD MEMBER 10 $112K
board members · 16
  • ANDRZEJ ROJEK — PRESIDENT
  • ANITA FRIEDMAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • CANTOR JOSEPH MALOVANY — BOARD MEMBER
  • DAVID GOLDMAN — SECRETARY (THRU MARCH 2023
  • ELIZABETH SZANCER — BOARD MEMBER
  • HILDA CHAZANOVITZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • IRENE PLETKA — BOARD MEMBER
  • IZABELA GROCHOLSKI — BOARD MEMBER
  • JERZY WARMAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • RABBI ARTHUR SCHNEIER — BOARD MEMBER
  • ROMAN REWALD — TREASURER
  • SAMANTHA ROLAT ASULIN — BOARD MEMBER
  • SHANA PENN — BOARD MEMBER
  • SIGMUND ROLAT — CO-CHAIRMAN
  • STUART SCHEAR — BOARD MEMBER
  • VICTOR MARKOWICZ — CO-CHAIRMAN
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Partner — Irene Kronhill Pletka is a supporter of the organization.
  • Association of Jewish Veterans and Victims of World War II Partner — Awarded the “Warsaw Ghetto Uprising” Honorary Medal during the Marek Edelman Award ceremony.
  • Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland Partner — Co-founded and co-managed the POLIN Museum as part of a public-private partnership.
  • Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland Partner — Co-founder of POLIN Museum and strategic partner in Poland
  • Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland Partner — Co-organizes the Marek Edelman Award.
  • Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland Partner — Collaborates with the initiating organization of the POLIN Museum project.
  • Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland Partner — Partner organization that oversaw and financed the design and creation of the Core Exhibition.
  • Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland Partner — Strategic partner in Poland through which donations are transferred to support POLIN Museum.
  • Center for Jewish History Partner — Irene Kronhill Pletka serves on its Board of Directors.
  • City of Warsaw Government — Partnered with in the establishment of the POLIN Museum.
  • City of Warsaw Government — Public partner in the establishment of POLIN Museum, contributed land and co-financed building construction.
  • FEnIKS Funder — Provided nearly 22 million PLN for infrastructure modernization at POLIN Museum.
  • HBO Max Partner — Collaborated with HBO Max to premiere the documentary film "33 Photos from the Ghetto" globally.
  • Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Government — Partnered with in the establishment of the POLIN Museum.
  • Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Government — Public partner in the establishment of POLIN Museum, responsible for funding and overseeing construction of the building.
  • POLIN Museum Partner — Supports POLIN Museum through leadership engagement and collaboration.
  • POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Government — Primary institutional affiliate and beneficiary of the American Friends of POLIN Museum.
  • POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Partner — Primary cultural institution supported by American Friends of POLIN Museum.
  • POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews Partner — Primary institutional partner supporting the museum's mission and programs.
  • YIVO Institute for Jewish Research Partner — Board member Hilda Chazanovitz and Stuart Schear have worked with YIVO; Irene Kronhill Pletka serves on its Board of Directors.
strategies · 2

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 Memory Preservation through Immersive Education
    methodology: cultural_memory_preservation
    By using immersive, multimedia storytelling and historical exhibitions to present the history of Polish Jews, the organization fosters public understanding, dialogue, and resilience, because experiential engagement strengthens remembrance and promotes social responsibility.
  • Recognition as a Catalyst for Civic Courage and Advocacy
    methodology: civic_courage_recognition
    By honoring individuals who resist intolerance and promote public dialogue, the organization advances education and combats antisemitism, because public recognition inspires moral responsibility and strengthens societal commitment to open discourse.