Agudath Israel of America
Agudath Israel of America is a New York-based public charity that describes itself as an umbrella organization and advocate for American Orthodox Jewry. Founded in 1922 according to its website, it works on religious and civil rights, education, social services, youth programs, and community needs.
Key facts about Agudath Israel of America
In short: Agudath Israel of America gave $1.5M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $66K), top state New Jersey. 83% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 13-5604164
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,512,953
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- Average grant
- $65,781
- Median grant
- $43,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 83% first-time grantees (19 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $26,171,872
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (7% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$26.2M
-6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-60.2% YoY
Grant Count
23
+91.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
-79.2% YoY
Is Agudath Israel of America open to new grantees?
83%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 23 grantees (83%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $70K; repeat grants $47K. How we count
Medians: $44K first-time, $38K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to promote and foster the ideals of Orthodox Judaism, and to develop and maintain interest in Judaism’s religion, culture, and traditions. Its filing describes support for synagogues, educational programs, camps, religious services, youth activities, social services, emergency and international relief, and Torah projects. Its website also describes advocacy for religious and civil rights, public affairs, and support for Orthodox schools through Yeshiva Services.
In 2024, the organization reported grants for general charitable purposes. Among the recipients described in their own filings, Tikva Corp says it provides services to Jewish children and the community of Odessa, Ukraine, and relocated most of its community, programs, and services to Romania after the 2022 war. Agudath Israel of Illinois says it supports and provides financial relief to Orthodox Jewish children and families in the Chicagoland area. Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel says it coordinates Jewish religious teaching and practice programs for communities in the Commonwealth of Independent States, other countries, and among refugees and immigrants. Yad Yisroel says it provides general welfare, emergency assistance, and Jewish education through programs including schools, camps, and food assistance.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Agudath Israel of America reported 23 grants totaling $1,512,953. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $337,475, with a median of $43,500. The largest reported grants included $337,475 to American Friends of Ya-adir Torah, $202,120 to Lev L’Achim, $200,000 to American Friends of Yad Eliezer, $105,000 to Tikva Corp, and $100,000 each to American Friends of Migdal Ohr and Kupat Givat Hamitvar. The filing listed general charitable purposes for these grants.
The organization reported that it reviews grantees to confirm they are recognized tax-exempt entities with required financial filings in order, and that grants are made only to organizations listed on a generally accessible website of recognized organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Agudath Israel describes its advocacy and services as national in scope, with offices and regional branches serving communities across the country. Its 2024 grants included recipients in New Jersey, New York, and Illinois, as well as organizations whose locations were not specified in the filing data.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $277K (2021) to $11.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Friends of Ya-adir Torah ($337K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 83 (65%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Friends of Ya-adir Torah | to support general charitable purposes | $337,475 |
| Lev L'Achim | to support general charitable purposes | $202,120 |
| American Friends of Yad Eliezer | to support general charitable purposes | $200,000 |
| Tikva Corp - DBA Tikva Childrens' Home West Caldwell, NJ | to support general charitable purposes | $105,000 |
| American Friends of Migdal Ohr | to support general charitable purposes | $100,000 |
| Kupat Givat Hamitvar | to support general charitable purposes | $100,000 |
| American Friends of Zichron Eliezer | to support general charitable purposes | $75,000 |
| Friends of Yad Sarah | to support general charitable purposes | $75,000 |
| Congregation Shivisi Hahem | to support general charitable purposes | $74,508 |
| Agudath Israel of Ohio | to support general charitable purposes | $67,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $26,171,872 | $24,595,439 | $28,668,018 | $1,512,953 |
| 2023 | $28,015,460 | $31,861,585 | $31,717,655 | $3,800,788 |
| 2022 | $28,856,197 | $46,064,903 | $43,241,268 | $11,609,890 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,171,872 | $28,015,460 | $28,856,197 |
| Revenue | $24,595,439 | $31,861,585 | $46,064,903 |
| Expenses | $28,668,018 | $31,717,655 | $43,241,268 |
| Net Investment Income | $166,983 | $164,467 | $-23,522 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following trustees: Abraham Biderman, Chaskel Bennett, Shlomo Chaimovits, David L. Diamond, Dov Fishoff, Jacob I. Friedman, Mordechai Friedman, Moshe Gold, Leon Goldenberg, and Shlomo Gottesman.
Agudath Israel of America is led by Labish Becker, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 9 of 68 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Labish Becker
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
45 hrs/week
$107K (2019) → $131K (2024)
Shimon Lefkowitz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$66K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Shimon Newmark
Director Camp Division
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$126K (2020) → $172K (2024)
Ad Motzen
National Director of Govt Affairs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$191K (2024)
Avi Schnall
Director of Federal Educational Affairs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$150K (2024)
Abraham Biderman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Avi Schron
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Binyomin Berger
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chaim Kuperwasser
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chaim Leshkowitz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chaskel Bennett
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Gross
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David L. Diamond
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Singer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dov Fishoff
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dovid Scharf
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dovid Schnell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elliot Brecher
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elly Kleinman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Torgow
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gedaliah Weinberger
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hashi Herzka
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard Tzvi Friedman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irving Lebovics
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Itche Rosenbaum
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob I. Friedman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Rubin
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leon Goldenberg
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leon Melohn
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meir Meinicke
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Menachem Lubinsky
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Menachem Shayovich
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mordechai Friedman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mordechai Kutoff
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mordechai Mandelbaum
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Moshe Gold
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Moshe Zafir
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nachum Stein
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ralph Herzka
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raphael Zucker
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reuven Dessler
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reuven Wolf
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rivie Schwebel
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shlomo Chaimovits
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shlomo Gottesman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shlomo Werdiger
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shmuel Yosef Rieder
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sruly Orzel
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Goldschmidt
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yaty Weinreb
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yitzchok Fuchs
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yoily Edelstein
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yussi Rieder
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barry Lebovitz
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eli Rubin
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Brachfeld
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mordy Herzog
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Moshe Netzer
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nechemia Hoch
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reuven Hellman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phillip Werdiger
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronald Wilheim
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abba Cohen
Vice President for Government Affairs
Vice President for Federal → Vice President for Government Affairs, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$138K (2019) → $145K (2024)
David Zwiebel
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$232K (2019) → $260K (2024)
Naftali Miller
Chief Development Officer
Director of Development → Chief Development Officer, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$248K (2021) → $151K (2024)
Moshe Danzger
CFO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$199K (2024)
Yitzchok Ehrman
COO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$298K (2024)
Sholom Schochet
Educator
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Andrew Weinstock (2019–2023) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Aron Tessler (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Rabbi Reuven Feinstein (2019–2023) — Presidium Member
- Former: Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin (2019–2023) — Presidium Member
- Former: David J. Thaler (2020–2023) — Comptroller
- Former: Rochel Miller (2021–2023) — Development Coordinator
- Former: Shlomo Gertzulin (2019–2022) — Former Executive Vice President
- Former: Esther Zazulia (2021) — Bookkeeper
- Former: Abraham D. Motzen (2019–2020) — National Director of State
- Former: Jan Loeb (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Mendel Zilberberg (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Rabbi Elya Fisher (2019–2020) — Presidium Member
- Former: Shia Markowitz (2019–2020) — Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Shlomo Y. Rechnitz (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Yosef Davis (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Daniel Biser (2020) — Special Counsel
- Former: Daniel Baumann (2019) — Director of Cope
- Former: Shmuel Lefkowitz (2019) — Vice President for Communications
- Former: Yeruchim Silber (2019) — Director of Ny Gov't Relations
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $298K, to Yitzchok Ehrman (COO). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 42 Broadway 14 Fl, New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 797-9000
Frequently asked questions about Agudath Israel of America
How much does Agudath Israel of America give each year?
Agudath Israel of America gave $1.5M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.8M across 12 grants.
What is Agudath Israel of America's typical grant size?
Agudath Israel of America's median grant in 2024 was $43,500, and its average grant was $65,781, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Agudath Israel of America that year got $70K on average.
Where does Agudath Israel of America give grants?
Agudath Israel of America's top state is New Jersey, with 7% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Does Agudath Israel of America give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Agudath Israel of America's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Agudath Israel of America's largest grantees?
Agudath Israel of America's largest 2024 grantees include American Friends of Ya-adir Torah ($337,475), Lev L'Achim ($202,120) and American Friends of Yad Eliezer ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Agudath Israel of America?
Agudath Israel of America reported $26.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $24.6M.
What does Agudath Israel of America fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to promote and foster the ideals of Orthodox Judaism, and to develop and maintain interest in Judaism’s religion, culture, and traditions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Agudath Israel of America?
Agudath Israel of America has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Agudath Israel of America's EIN?
Agudath Israel of America's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5604164. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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