American Jewish University
American Jewish University (AJU) advances and elevates the jewish journey of individuals, organizations and our community through excellence in scholarship, teaching, engaged conversation, and outreach. AJU is a thriving center of jewish resources and talent that serves the jewish community of the twenty-first century. A portal for jewish belonging, AJU equips students, faculty, campers, and learners of all ages with the tools to create the ideas, build the structures, and develop the programs to advance jewish wisdom and elevate jewish living.
American Jewish University at a glance
In short: American Jewish University gave $1.0M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $1.0M), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,005,111
- -15.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,005,111
- +236.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,005,111
- Total assets
- $131,488,887
- +0.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who American Jewish University funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Skirball Cultural Center ($1.0M).
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 4 grants of 13 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How American Jewish University gives
- Giving grew 503% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $167K (2022) to $1.2M (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Skirball Cultural Center Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $1,005,111 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $131,488,887 | $21,645,479 | $28,224,189 | $1,005,111 | 1 | $3,291,417 |
| 2024 | $131,254,912 | $58,186,210 | $27,887,064 | $1,193,572 | 4 | $41,802,008 |
| 2023 | $127,737,381 | $27,115,809 | $27,802,819 | — | — | $3,428,547 |
| 2022 | $125,132,947 | $30,365,086 | $26,173,842 | $166,800 | 4 | $8,235,457 |
| 2021 | $141,817,355 | $16,693,635 | $23,936,337 | $168,600 | 4 | $2,099,889 |
| 2020 | $129,826,086 | $22,806,857 | $29,025,870 | $198,600 | 7 | $6,120,701 |
About American Jewish University
Based on IRS filings
American Jewish University is a public charity focused on Education, based in Sherman Oaks, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $131.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.0M. Net investment income was $3.3M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
American Jewish University is led by Jeffrey Herbst, President - since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 14 of 40 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffrey Herbst
President -
President → President -, 2025
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$511K (2020) → $512K (2025)
Bradley S. Artson Vp And
Abner & Roslyn Goldstine Deans Chair
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$164K (2025)
Harold Masor
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron M. Goldberg
Vice President & Director of Camp Alonim
On filings since 2023
35 hrs/week
$135K (2023) → $191K (2025)
Lynn Maria Witherspoon
Senior Director of Advancement
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$168K (2024) → $181K (2025)
Matthew Jeremy Davidson
Senior Director of Advancement
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$162K (2025)
Abner Goldstine
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Breslauer
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dena Schechter
Director
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Francis S. Maas
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Trenton
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerome Coben
Director
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2021
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justine Schreyer Lewin
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Lainer
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Scheinberg
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Ziering
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Murray Pepper
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Norm Levine
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Richman
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Maas
Director
Chair → Past Chair, 2022
Past Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yair Vardi
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Hofheimer
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robbin Steif
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacy Palbaum
Director
Board Member → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elon Spar
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annie Austin
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlotte Skura
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Niki Rezzadeh
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adrian Breitfeld Beder
Vice President for Finance, Administrator & CFO
Vice President - Finance, Administrator & Tech → Vice President of Finance, Administrator & CFO, 2022
Vice President of Finance, Administrator & CFO → Vice President for Finance, Administrator & CFO, 2024
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$159K (2020) → $389K (2025)
Robbie J. Totten
Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs
Associate Professor → Chief Academic Officer, 2022
Chief Academic Officer → Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs, 2025
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$128K (2020) → $181K (2025)
Mark Edward Oppenheimer
Former Vice President of Open Learning
Vice President of Open Learning - → Former Vice President of Open Learning, 2025
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$114K (2024) → $107K (2025)
Michelle Iris Mamane-Starkman
Vice President Communications
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$193K (2024) → $204K (2025)
Suzanne Jones Bookbinder
Vice President of Advancement
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$100K (2024) → $242K (2025)
Tarlan Rahel Rabizadeh
Vice President for Jewish Engagement
On filings since 2024
35 hrs/week
$83K (2024) → $133K (2025)
Bruce Powell Dean Masor
School for Jewish Education & Leader
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$156K (2025)
Cheryl Peretz Vice Dean
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$120K (2025)
Margaret Yung Sr Director
Financial Planning & Analysis
New on the 2025 filing
35 hrs/week
$159K (2025)
David Weiner
Treasurer
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Levine
Secretary
Board Member → Director, 2023
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Platt
Vice Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (39)
- Former: Bradley S. Artson (2020–2024) — Dean of the Ziegler School & Vice President
- Former: Catherine S. Schneider (2020–2024) — Vice President of Advancement & CDO -
- Former: David A. Groshoff (2020–2024) — Professor of Business & Law
- Former: Sherre Hirsch (2021–2024) — Chief Innovation Officer -
- Former: Cheryl Peretz (2023–2024) — Associate Dean
- Former: Cindy Farrington (2024) — Controller -
- Former: Justine Schreyer (2024) — Director
- Former: Ken Salkin (2024) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Warneke (2024) — Senior Director of Human Resources
- Former: Jon Monkarsh (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Liana Kadisha Cohn (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Rachel A. Lerner (2020–2023) — Dean
- Former: Mike Van Wyk (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Russell Dion (2022–2023) — Director of Facilities
- Former: Candace Miller (2023) — Senior & Director of Hospitality
- Former: Michelle Starkman (2023) — Vice President Communications
- Former: Sean Rad (2023) — Director
- Former: Judith Diane Feldman (2020–2022) — Senior Director of Advancement
- Former: Keenan Wolens (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kenneth Kahan (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Leonard Shapiro (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Melissa Held Bordy (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Richard S. Ziman (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Wexler (2020–2022) — President Emeritus & Professor
- Former: Adam R. Greenwald (2021–2022) — Program Director
- Former: Mike Schoenfeld (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Micheal Ziering (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Herbert Glaser (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Louis Miller (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Peter Benudiz (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Rodney Freeman (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Norman Levine (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Joshua Levine (2020) — Camp Alonim Executive Director
- Former: Kevin L. Ratner (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Rothstein (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Mark Rubin (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Schoenfeld (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Richard Sandler (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Zofia Yalovsky (2020) — Vice President - Finance, Administrator & Tech · Filing note: Retired 12/2019
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $512K, to Jeffrey Herbst (President - 05/05/25). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about American Jewish University
How much does American Jewish University give each year?
American Jewish University gave $1.0M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 4 grants.
How large is American Jewish University?
American Jewish University reported $131.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $21.6M.
What is American Jewish University?
American Jewish University is a public charity focused on Education, based in Sherman Oaks, CA. It holds $131.5M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does American Jewish University operate?
American Jewish University has awarded grants in California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania.
What is American Jewish University's EIN?
American Jewish University's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-1684064. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in American Jewish University's focus areas in our free grants database
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American Jewish University down — hundreds of funders to go?