Jewish Graduate Student Initiative
To support jewish life on graduate school campuses and to connect jewish graduate students, alumni, and executives to their heritage and the greater jewish community.
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative at a glance
In short: Jewish Graduate Student Initiative gave $80K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $80,295
- +33.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +150.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,059
- -46.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,563
- Total assets
- $3,874,926
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (62% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Jewish Graduate Student Initiative funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Los Angeles Mesorah Project ($50K). Together the top 5 received $80K.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 7 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2022) to $80K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $80K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Mesorah Project Santa Monica, CA | Jewish Religious Education Programs | $50,000 |
| Student Clubs of HBS Inc Boston, MA | Jewish Graduate Student Programs | $9,450 |
| Hillel at Cornell Inc Ithaca, NY | Jewish Graduate Student Programs | $7,563 |
| NYU School of Law New York, NY | Jewish Graduate Student Programs | $7,275 |
| Boston University Hillel Boston, MA | Jewish Graduate Student Programs | $6,007 |
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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 | $3,874,926 | $3,842,268 | $3,233,096 | $80,295 | 5 | $97,602 |
| 2024 | $3,786,670 | $2,614,802 | $2,462,156 | $60,000 | 2 | $55,852 |
| 2023 | $3,538,853 | $2,129,738 | $1,883,496 | — | — | $12,802 |
| 2022 | $3,262,755 | $1,351,202 | $1,635,334 | $4,999 | Total only | $2,715 |
| 2021 | $3,612,030 | $1,559,882 | $1,074,212 | — | — | $351 |
| 2020 | $2,516,959 | $1,419,202 | $915,189 | — | — | $423 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Jewish Graduate Student Initiative
Based on IRS filings
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative is a public charity focused on Education, based in Beverly Hills, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $80K. Net investment income was $98K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative is led by David Sorani, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Sorani
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $126K (2025)
Jamie Kleinman
Director Executive Leadership
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$119K (2025)
Matthew J. Rosenberg
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$85K (2020) → $103K (2025)
Benjamin Brandler
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessie Reder
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Reich
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Shaaya
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Prager
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Vaynerov
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kevin Fried (2024) — Managing Director
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 $126K, to David Sorani (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Jewish Graduate Student Initiative
How much does Jewish Graduate Student Initiative give each year?
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative gave $80K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $60K across 2 grants.
What is Jewish Graduate Student Initiative's typical grant size?
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative's median grant in 2025 was $7,563, and its average grant was $16,059, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Jewish Graduate Student Initiative give grants?
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative gives mostly in California: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (19%) and New York (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Jewish Graduate Student Initiative give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Jewish Graduate Student Initiative's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Jewish Graduate Student Programs" (4 grants).
Who are Jewish Graduate Student Initiative's largest grantees?
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative's largest 2025 grantees include Los Angeles Mesorah Project ($50,000), Student Clubs of HBS Inc ($9,450) and Hillel at Cornell Inc ($7,563), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Jewish Graduate Student Initiative?
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What is Jewish Graduate Student Initiative?
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative is a public charity focused on Education, based in Beverly Hills, CA. It holds $3.9M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Jewish Graduate Student Initiative's EIN?
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0716359. 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
Live grants for the work Jewish Graduate Student Initiative funds
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