Active today in some 70 countries, we work to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life, and help Israel overcome the social challenges of its most vulnerable citizens, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Our reach extends beyond the global Jewish community by providing high-impact disaster relief and long-term development assistance worldwide.
Ruling year info 1933 Executive Vice President & CEO Ariel Zwang Main address 220 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017 USA Show more contact info
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Physical Address 220 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017
Payment Address 220 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017
Donation Payable Legal name of organization: American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee EIN for payable organization: 13-1656634
EIN 13-1656634 NTEE code info International Relief (Q33) Community Improvement, Capacity Building N.E.C. (S99)
IRS filing requirement This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ. Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2020.
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Our mission is simple: care for the most vulnerable, develop innovative ways to fight poverty and build community, and partner with the Jews we serve throughout the world, from Budapest to Birobidzhan and Buenos Aires to Mumbai. In the former Soviet Union, JDC's largest area (both in geographic scope and in number of people served) the network of Hesed social welfare centers JDC founded in 15 countries across nine time zones work tirelessly, delivering aid to the neediest Jews. In Europe, and other parts of the world, JDC works in partnership with local Jewish communities and JDC created agencies to implement this aid program.
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Tens of thousands of elderly Jews go to bed hungry every night, homebound in dilapidated apartments. And tens of thousands of Jewish families struggle to make ends meet and secure a future for their children. We bring life-saving relief to Jews living in dire conditions in places where nearly no other social services exist.
Our mission is simple: care for the most vulnerable, develop innovative ways to fight poverty, and partner with the Jews we serve throughout the world, from Budapest to Birobidzhan and Buenos Aires to Mumbai. In the former Soviet Union, the network of Hesed social welfare centers we founded catalyzes the spirit of strength and resilience that has defined the Jewish people for centuries.
Population(s) Served Jewish peopleIsraelis on the margins seek the chance to participate fully in the nation they love. We make it possible, increasing independence, opportunities, and support for the most vulnerable people. Our investment in Israel’s human capital uniquely strengthens her future.
We partner with the Israeli government to develop innovative solutions to social challenges, tapping into Israel's famous entrepreneurial spirit to help close the achievement gap. Here's our model: We effectively pilot research-backed social experiments in key locations, testing and optimizing our initiatives, and then hand them over to the government, which scales them up to run nationwide.
Population(s) ServedAn earthquake. A tsunami. A civil war. A public health crisis. The lives of millions annually are irrevocably altered in an instant when natural disasters or other calamities strike. We leverage more than a century of experience helping Jewish communities to provide expert, immediate humanitarian aid for communities in crisis around the world.
From Haiti to Nepal and from Ecuador to the Philippines, we're on the ground when disaster strikes, working with communities to not just rebuild but truly recover — crafting innovative, sustainable solutions to help ensure that the towns and cities hit hardest bounce back stronger than ever before.
Population(s) ServedAt this chaotic and critical moment in time, Jews around the world still choose to connect — or reconnect — to their cultural heritage. JDC makes it possible. We're fostering inspiring Jewish experiences for children, teens, and families, and investing in exciting young leaders from nearly every continent who are committed to shaping their communities’ futures. (Examples of countries highlighted below)
Through Jewish Community Centers, summer camps, family retreats, young leadership training and more, we're harnessing the energy and passion of Jews worldwide. And as Jewish communities across the globe confront rising anti-Semitism, far-right political extremism, and heightened terror, we're ensuring they are resilient — ready to take on whatever challenges come their way.
Population(s) ServedFor thousands of the world's most impoverished and elderly Jews in the former Soviet Union, weekly visits from a home care worker are their only social contact.
Partnered with the local Jewish communities in Romania and throughout Europe, JDC is helping Jews to reclaim their heritage and rebuild self-sustaining Jewish life.
In Israel, JDC works to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. In honor of Israel's 60th anniversary in 2008, JDC celebrated with Israelis of all ages and backgrounds.
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Helping the World's Neediest Jews
Output - describing our activities and reach
Around the world, JDC, often in partnership with the local Jewish community, serves thousands of elderly, children and families in need with home care, food & medicines, and other life saving care.
Helping the World's Neediest Jews
Output - describing our activities and reach
JDC provides life-saving home care to thousands of elderly Jews in Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Helping the World's Neediest Jews
Output - describing our activities and reach
JDC provides food aid to elderly in Jewish communities around the world.
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
Helping the Worlds Neediest Jews\r\nJDC delivers life-saving relief and social services to tens of thousands of needy -- mainly elderly and poor families-- living in dire conditions in places where nearly no other social services exist. JDC mainly does this through a network of JDC founded and funded Hesed social welfare centers across the former Soviet Union and in partnership with local Jewish communities across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. \r\n\r\nBuilding Jewish Life and Leaders\r\nThrough Jewish Community Centers, summer camps, family retreats, cultural and educational programming, and leadership training, JDC works to build rising generations of Jewish leadership who can contribute to their own communities' self sufficiency, their neighbor's welfare, and global needs. As Jewish communities across the globe confront rising anti-Semitism, far-right political extremism, heightened terrorism, and economic tumult, JDC deploys a program of resilience activities to mitigate these challenges, prepare for future crises or issues, and also ensure continued investment in building Jewish life in post-Communist societies, Western Europe, and in historic Jewish communities in Africa and Asia with more traditional constructs. \r\n\r\nEmpowering All Israelis\r\nJDC works to improve the lives of Israel's most vulnerable populations through innovative programs that increase access to social services, education, employment, and opportunities to more fully integrate into Israeli society. JDC partners with the Israeli government, local NGOs, civil and society leaders, and the populations themselves to research, pilot, and scale-up solutions to the challenges these groups face. \r\n\r\nResponding to Global Emergencies\r\nThe lives of millions annually are irrevocably altered in an instant when natural disasters or other calamities strike. JDC leverages more than a century of experience helping Jewish communities to provide expert, immediate humanitarian aid and long-term rebuilding efforts for communities in crisis around the world. In addition, we often partner with local Jewish communities to deploy this response or with Israel to bring first in class Israeli capacity to global emergencies.
JDC supports local Jewish communities to enhance their capacity to independently serve their neediest and ensure their own community longevity and interconnectedness. We build Jewish experiences that inspire Jewish identity and values among children, teens, and families and also invest programs to train Jewish young leaders and professionals from nearly every continent. \r\nAmong our flagship programs for achieving this are: Jewish Community Centers serving as central hubs of Jewish engagement, energizing young and old; Jewish street festivals and cultural programming in spaces outside the Jewish community to engage people where they are; camping programs engaging young Jews and their families around the world, including the Szarvas international camp that for nearly 30 years has fostered Jewish identity and shaped Jewish leaders in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond; and leadership training programs in the former Soviet Union and Europe which have contributed to the strengthening of Jewish community life and proliferation of innovative programming to respond to community needs. \r\nAdditionally, JDC's Entwine platform annually engages hundreds of young Jewish adults, mainly from the U.S., in volunteerism/service, educational programing, and leadership development all with the aim of building Jewish community life abroad and at home when the Entwine participants return inspired. \r\nEmpowering All Israelis\r\nWe partner with the Israeli government to develop innovative solutions to social challenges, tapping into Israel's famous entrepreneurial spirit to help close the achievement gap. Partnering with more than 20 Israeli government ministries, our programs touch hundreds of thousands of Israelis. The JDC model is: We effectively pilot research-backed social experiments in key locations, testing and optimizing our initiatives, and then hand them over to the government, which scales them up to run nationwide. Our Leadership and Governance Institute trains the next generation of passionate, impactful Israeli mayors and community advocates.\r\nResponding to Global Emergencies \r\nFrom Haiti to Nepal and from Ecuador to the Philippines, JDC is rapidly on the ground after a disaster strikes, working with communities to not just rebuild but truly recover — crafting innovative, sustainable solutions to help ensure that the towns and cities hit hardest bounce back stronger than ever before. \r\nJDC has a long history of disaster response, in a wide variety of contexts — so when new calamities strike, we can share proven solutions in real time. Moreover, JDC focuses on sustainable rebuilding efforts, ensuring that there's a real path forward for communities in crisis. JDC is also particularly focused on empowering the most vulnerable – women and children, seniors, and people with disabilities,– in times of disaster through work in areas of health and livelihood as part of our robust relief and recovery effort.
JDC has been operating in extremely challenging environments continuously since 1914, from war zones to famine-hit regions, to areas where genocide was perpetrated. JDC has more than a century of experience helping distressed Jewish communities worldwide and has honed expertise, built and refined models of intervention, and spent countless hours working with local, international, North American and Israeli partners to ensure maximized impact. JDC's worldwide reach, and partnership model, enables it to ensure deep engagement with local communities, and by embedding itself in these communities and drawing staff and ideas from local community members, JDC understands and can respond to local needs in customized, highly relevant ways. \r\n\r\nJDC programs touch people — communities in crisis and Jews around the world — on six continents. JDC's long institutional history, expert professional staff, and creativity in solution-oriented programming ensures that we are continually learning and innovating to meet the ever evolving needs of those we serve. In fact, many JDC staff were once in need themselves, participated in JDC's community based programs or had family members that were, in some way, served by JDC over the organization's long history. This creates a cadre of professionals who are second to none in their dedication to, and understanding of, their work.
Beyond JDC's historic record of life-saving care and investments in building Jewish life and communities, JDC touches over 1 million lives across the world annually.\r\n\r\nThrough our service and direct care work, JDC aids elderly Jews and Jewish families in need in societies lacking a social safety net and successful economies. JDC continually refines our models or creates new tools to ensure service provision that is effective and efficient and aims to continue to serve the largest number of needy Jews. As an example, JDC is currently testing the use of volunteer cohorts to engage in the provision of basic goods and socialization programs for elderly Jews. \r\n\r\nIn our community development work, JDC has seen great success in contributing to strong vibrant Jewish communities. We continue to strengthen that work and engage with communities to identify what comes next and how they want to implement it. In communities that are in flux, whether due to history or current socioeconomic environmental realities, we work to address emergent needs, while at the same time supporting community infrastructure to grow and develop. For example, JDC is currently running a grassroots innovation hub in Budapest that is mentoring rising Jewish leaders and providing seed funds for new programs. \r\n\r\nIn Israel, we continue to innovate; turning successful programs over to the government for scale up and designing new solutions to emerging social issues. As innovation is part of the very nature of JDC's work in Israel, JDC's new Social Impact Accelerator harnesses the can-do spirit of Israel's best and brightest, to develop their own solutions. \r\n \r\nIn the last year, JDC has responded to dozens of disasters and development challenges, deploying a wide-range of aid and support; developing new local partnerships to ensure the most effective provision of aid; and staying active in the global professional community of disaster response and development provision. JDC is currently working on pilot efforts in the impact investment space to address poverty among small holder farmers in the developing world by combining philanthropic dollars, private capital, and Israeli and local AgTech.