Chai Lifeline’s [ http://www.chailifeline.org/ ]mantra
is “Fighting Illness with Love.” It began in 1986 with
its pilot program, a summer camp for children
suffering from cancer called Camp Simcha. The
camp provided resources, staff and an environment
exactly tailored to suit the special needs of these sick
kids. Camp Simcha turned out to be an overwhelming
success. It provided the opportunity for seriously ill
children to have the time of their lives. Chai Lifeline
then evolved rapidly as it identified the various needs
of seriously ill children and their families. Today, it
addresses the full spectrum of needs –social,
recreational, psychological and logistic. Chai Lifeline
reaches out not only to patients, but also to parents,
siblings, classmates, school faculty, and the community
as well. When families feel alone and overwhelmed,
Chai Lifeline extends a helping hand, a listening ear,
a shoulder to cry on - and a loving heart. Because, at the
end of the day, that is what Chai Lifeline is all about –
fighting illness with love.
For Hanukah , Chai Lifeline brought holiday simcha to
7,000 seriously ill children and their families in hospitals
in the United States, Canada, England and Israel. Festive
music, delicious food, and exciting entertainers made
each event memorable. Hanukah gifts were given to all
children. Chai Lifeline created the holiday spirit for
everyone.
On January 27 of this year, 230 members of Team Lifeline
came from around the world to Miami to run 13.1 miles.
They succeeded in raising $1 million to send children to
Camp Simcha. The team of runners included counselors,
parents and campers including three teenage campers who
competed in wheelchairs. Also participating were some elite
runners who have qualified for the Boston Marathon. “But
the true winners are the kids and families of Chai Lifeline,
who are in a marathon for their lives every day of the year.”
According to Charity Navigator
[ http://www.charitynavigator.org/ ], America’s leading
charity evaluator, Chai Lifeline has an overall rating of
four stars (four stars is the highest rating. Charity
Navigator provides the following financial breakdown of
Chai Lifeline based on 990 tax returns through 2006:
Overall Rating ****
Organizational Efficiency
Program Expenses 85.6%
Administrative Expenses 9.0%
Fundraising Expenses 5.3%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.05
(Chai Lifeline spends $.05 to
Raise $1,)
Efficiency Rating ****
Organizational Capacity
Program Revenue Growth 10.4%
Program Expenses Growth 10.7%
Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.14
(Chai Lifeline can sustain itself
for 0.14 years without generating
new revenue.)
Capacity Rating ****
Organizational Capacity refers to an organization’s ability
to sustain itself over time. Charities that exhibit consistent
revenue and expenses growth are more likely to sustain its
programs and services over the long haul.
Chai Lifeline is a highly efficient non-profit organization in
that a large portion of its expenses reach its target – the
children. It has also demonstrated a consistent rate of
revenue and expenses growth, Thus it is likely to sustain
its programs and services over the long haul.
Chai Lifeline had net assets of $6,525,098. Compensation for
its executive director, Abraham Cohen, is $151.912 which is
0.97% of expenses.
For comparison purposes, the Ronald McDonald House of
New York has been given a three star rating by Charity Navigator.
Next Week’s Blog: Drisha Institute for Jewish Education
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
American Friends of Hebrew University
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier center
for higher education and research. It has 24,000 students and
1,200 faculty. American Friends of The Hebrew University (AFHU)
http://www.afhu.org/ is the American arm of the university
that exists to raise awareness of, and support for, the university.
Its mission statement states that it “provides programs, events,
and fundraising activities in support of The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem. By forging a meaningful partnership between American
Jewry and the people of Israel, AFHU helps to ensure the nation’s
well being by nurturing Israel’s greatest asset: the intellectual
strength of its people.”
The research and scholarship done at Hebrew University often
attract international interest. Following are two recent examples
of such cooperation:
1) Last week, the first ever conference on Sino-Israeli cooperation in
water technologies took place at Hebrew University. The conference,
entitled, "Water Management in China: Mitigation of Challenges and
Prospects for Sino-Israeli Cooperation", brought together leading
Chinese officials and experts and Israeli government and industry
representatives to discuss new Israeli investments in the multi-
billion dollar Chinese water sector.” China has a severe water
shortage that is threatening its fast growing economy. As Israel is a
world leader in advanced irrigation, desalinization, and other water
technologies, the conference provided both countries the opportunity
to explore further cooperation and investment in the field.
2) Last December, Five young Hebrew University of Jerusalem
scientists were awarded five-year research grants under the
European Union’s first competition for outstanding starting
independent investigators. The amount awarded to the five Hebrew
University winners totals 6,380,000 euros. The winners were chosen
on the basis of having presented excellent, ground-breaking research
ideas, plus having displayed proven potential to establish
independent research careers and to become world leaders in their
fields. These fields included using optical imaging to examine
neurophysiological changes, how the planets formed and evolved,
and new methodologies for designing drugs for cancer and AIDS.
According to Charity Navigator http://www.charitynavigator.org/,
America’s leading charity evaluator, AFHU has an overall rating of
two stars (four stars is the highest rating.)Charity Navigator provides
the following financial breakdown of AFHU based on 990 tax returns
through 2006:
Overall Rating **
Organizational Efficiency
Program Expenses 73.0%
Administrative Expenses 8.0%
Fundraising Expenses 18.9%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.26
(AFHU spend $0.26 to raise $1)
Efficiency Rating *
Organizational Capacity
Primary Revenue Growth 2.2%
Primary Expenses Growth - 6.5%
Working Capacity Ratio (years) 8.6
(AFHU can sustain itself for 8.6 years
without generating new revenue.)
Capacity Rating **
Organizational Capacity refers to an organization’s ability to
sustain itself over time. Charities that exhibit consistent
revenue and expenses growth are more likely to sustain its
programs and services over the long haul.
To receive a higher efficiency rating from Charity Navigator, AFHU
would need to decrease its fundraising expenses by approximately
10% so that it could increase the amount of funding given to Hebrew
University. To receive a higher capacity rating from Charity
Navigator, AFHU needs to reduce a trend in which its rate of revenue
and expenses growth has been shrinking.
American Friends of Hebrew University has net assets of
$446,995,435. The compensation of its national executive director,
Peter Willner, is $370,253 which is 0.85% of expenses.
For comparison purposes, the New York Philharmonic has also been
given an overall two star rating from Charity Navigator.
Next Week’s Blog: Chai Lifeline
for higher education and research. It has 24,000 students and
1,200 faculty. American Friends of The Hebrew University (AFHU)
http://www.afhu.org/ is the American arm of the university
that exists to raise awareness of, and support for, the university.
Its mission statement states that it “provides programs, events,
and fundraising activities in support of The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem. By forging a meaningful partnership between American
Jewry and the people of Israel, AFHU helps to ensure the nation’s
well being by nurturing Israel’s greatest asset: the intellectual
strength of its people.”
The research and scholarship done at Hebrew University often
attract international interest. Following are two recent examples
of such cooperation:
1) Last week, the first ever conference on Sino-Israeli cooperation in
water technologies took place at Hebrew University. The conference,
entitled, "Water Management in China: Mitigation of Challenges and
Prospects for Sino-Israeli Cooperation", brought together leading
Chinese officials and experts and Israeli government and industry
representatives to discuss new Israeli investments in the multi-
billion dollar Chinese water sector.” China has a severe water
shortage that is threatening its fast growing economy. As Israel is a
world leader in advanced irrigation, desalinization, and other water
technologies, the conference provided both countries the opportunity
to explore further cooperation and investment in the field.
2) Last December, Five young Hebrew University of Jerusalem
scientists were awarded five-year research grants under the
European Union’s first competition for outstanding starting
independent investigators. The amount awarded to the five Hebrew
University winners totals 6,380,000 euros. The winners were chosen
on the basis of having presented excellent, ground-breaking research
ideas, plus having displayed proven potential to establish
independent research careers and to become world leaders in their
fields. These fields included using optical imaging to examine
neurophysiological changes, how the planets formed and evolved,
and new methodologies for designing drugs for cancer and AIDS.
According to Charity Navigator http://www.charitynavigator.org/,
America’s leading charity evaluator, AFHU has an overall rating of
two stars (four stars is the highest rating.)Charity Navigator provides
the following financial breakdown of AFHU based on 990 tax returns
through 2006:
Overall Rating **
Organizational Efficiency
Program Expenses 73.0%
Administrative Expenses 8.0%
Fundraising Expenses 18.9%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.26
(AFHU spend $0.26 to raise $1)
Efficiency Rating *
Organizational Capacity
Primary Revenue Growth 2.2%
Primary Expenses Growth - 6.5%
Working Capacity Ratio (years) 8.6
(AFHU can sustain itself for 8.6 years
without generating new revenue.)
Capacity Rating **
Organizational Capacity refers to an organization’s ability to
sustain itself over time. Charities that exhibit consistent
revenue and expenses growth are more likely to sustain its
programs and services over the long haul.
To receive a higher efficiency rating from Charity Navigator, AFHU
would need to decrease its fundraising expenses by approximately
10% so that it could increase the amount of funding given to Hebrew
University. To receive a higher capacity rating from Charity
Navigator, AFHU needs to reduce a trend in which its rate of revenue
and expenses growth has been shrinking.
American Friends of Hebrew University has net assets of
$446,995,435. The compensation of its national executive director,
Peter Willner, is $370,253 which is 0.85% of expenses.
For comparison purposes, the New York Philharmonic has also been
given an overall two star rating from Charity Navigator.
Next Week’s Blog: Chai Lifeline
Friday, March 14, 2008
American Committee for the Weizman Institute of Science
In its mission statement, the American Committee for the
Weizman Institute of Science (ACWIS, www.weizman-usa.org/)
states that it “develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann
Institute of Science in Israel, one of the world's premier scientific
research institutions. The Weizmann Institute is a center of basic
interdisciplinary scientific research and graduate study, addressing
crucial problems in technology, medicine and health, energy,
agriculture and the environment.” The Institute is home to
more than 2,500 scientists, technicians and research students.
Following are two areas of research currently being conducted
at the Institute:
1)Breast Cancer Metastasis:
Professors Yosef Yarden and Sara Lavi are doing research on
predicting breast cancer metastasis. Metastasis is the main cause
of cancer death. Understanding the mechanisms that cause cells
to migrate from the initial site of cancer to a distant site is
important for developing treatment that will interfere with growth
of the cancer. Yarden and Lavi have identified a mechanism that can
predict the development of metastasis. This discovery is crucial to
developing new drugs that may prevent metastasis in breast cancer.
2)Keeping Memory Alive:
Professor Yadin Dudai, head of the Neurobiology Department,
recently discovered that long-term memory is a dynamic process
sustained by a molecular machine that never rests. They showed
that stopping the machine causes loss of some types of long-term
memory. This research opens new avenues for treating memory
problems. Dudai and his colleagues recently published their study
in the prestigious journal, Science.
According to Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org/,
America’s leading charity evaluator, ACWIS has an overall
rating of three stars (four stars is the highest rating.) Charity
Navigator provides the following financial breakdown of ACWIS
based on 990 tax returns through 2006:
Overall Rating ***
Organizational Efficiency
Program Expenses 77.0%
Administrative Expenses 4.1%
Fundraising Expenses 18.7%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.14
(ACWIS spends $0.14 to raise $1.)
Efficiency Rating **
Organizational Capacity
Primary Revenue Growth 15.0%
Program Expenses Growth 3.3%
Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.66
(ACWIS can sustain itself for 1.66
years without generating new revenue.)
Capacity Rating ****
Organizational Capacity refers to an organization’s ability
to sustain itself over time. Charities that exhibit consistent
revenue and expenses growth are more likely to sustain its
programs and services over the long haul.
ACWIS has net assets of $488,073,000. The compensation
Of its executive vice president, Martin S. Kraar, is $356,400
(0.59% of expenses.)
For comparison purposes, the American Institute for Cancer Research
has been given an overall two star rating from Charity Navigator.
Next Week’s Blog: American Friends of the Hebrew University
Weizman Institute of Science (ACWIS, www.weizman-usa.org/)
states that it “develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann
Institute of Science in Israel, one of the world's premier scientific
research institutions. The Weizmann Institute is a center of basic
interdisciplinary scientific research and graduate study, addressing
crucial problems in technology, medicine and health, energy,
agriculture and the environment.” The Institute is home to
more than 2,500 scientists, technicians and research students.
Following are two areas of research currently being conducted
at the Institute:
1)Breast Cancer Metastasis:
Professors Yosef Yarden and Sara Lavi are doing research on
predicting breast cancer metastasis. Metastasis is the main cause
of cancer death. Understanding the mechanisms that cause cells
to migrate from the initial site of cancer to a distant site is
important for developing treatment that will interfere with growth
of the cancer. Yarden and Lavi have identified a mechanism that can
predict the development of metastasis. This discovery is crucial to
developing new drugs that may prevent metastasis in breast cancer.
2)Keeping Memory Alive:
Professor Yadin Dudai, head of the Neurobiology Department,
recently discovered that long-term memory is a dynamic process
sustained by a molecular machine that never rests. They showed
that stopping the machine causes loss of some types of long-term
memory. This research opens new avenues for treating memory
problems. Dudai and his colleagues recently published their study
in the prestigious journal, Science.
According to Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org/,
America’s leading charity evaluator, ACWIS has an overall
rating of three stars (four stars is the highest rating.) Charity
Navigator provides the following financial breakdown of ACWIS
based on 990 tax returns through 2006:
Overall Rating ***
Organizational Efficiency
Program Expenses 77.0%
Administrative Expenses 4.1%
Fundraising Expenses 18.7%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.14
(ACWIS spends $0.14 to raise $1.)
Efficiency Rating **
Organizational Capacity
Primary Revenue Growth 15.0%
Program Expenses Growth 3.3%
Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.66
(ACWIS can sustain itself for 1.66
years without generating new revenue.)
Capacity Rating ****
Organizational Capacity refers to an organization’s ability
to sustain itself over time. Charities that exhibit consistent
revenue and expenses growth are more likely to sustain its
programs and services over the long haul.
ACWIS has net assets of $488,073,000. The compensation
Of its executive vice president, Martin S. Kraar, is $356,400
(0.59% of expenses.)
For comparison purposes, the American Institute for Cancer Research
has been given an overall two star rating from Charity Navigator.
Next Week’s Blog: American Friends of the Hebrew University
Saturday, March 8, 2008
American Friends of Magen David Adom
Magen David Adom in Israel is the Israeli equivalent of
the Red Cross. Its team of medical emergency responders
depends on the American Friends of Magen David Adom
(AFMDA) for financial support. According to the AFMDA
website www.afmda.org, “Today, MDA and its team of
trained volunteer and professional medical responders
depend on AFMDA support to provide the entire nation’s
pre-hospital emergency needs, including medical, disaster,
ambulance and blood services. The MDA National Blood
Services Center, located in Ramat Gan, provides 100% of
the blood requirements of the IDF and 95% of the blood
needs for Israeli hospitals and the general population.”
As the crisis in Gaza worsens, with Hamas rockets
landing deeper into Israel and threatening an increasing
number of Israelis, Israelis continue to rely on the
emergency services of MDA. They know that MDA
personnel are always on high alert. MDA medical teams
have been racing to scenes of the rocket attacks from
Sderot to Askelon. They have treated casualties on site
and evacuated those with more serious injuries to
Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.
According to Charity Navigator www.charitynavigator.org,
America’s leading charity evaluator, AFMDA has an overall
rating of three stars (four stars is the highest rating.) Charity
Navigator provides the following financial breakdown of
AFMDA based on 990 tax returns through 2006:
Overall Rating ***
Organizational Efficiency
Program Expenses 77.8%
Administrative Expenses 10.9%
Fundraising Expenses 11.2%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.06
(AFMDA spends $0.06 to raise $1)
Efficiency Rating ***
Organizational Capacity
Primary Revenue Growth 12.6%
Primary Expenses Growth - 0.9%
Working Capacity Ratio (years) 1.67
(AFMDA can sustain itself for 1.67
years without generating new revenue.)
Capacity Rating ***
Organizational Capacity refers to an organization’s ability to
sustain itself over time. Charities that exhibit consistent
revenue and expenses growth are more likely to sustain its
programs and services over the long haul.
AFMDA has net assets $34,218,526 and the compensation
of its executive vice president, Daniel Allen is $190,700
(0.94% of expenses.)
For comparison purposes, the American Heart Association has
been given an overall two star rating from Charity Navigator.
Next Week’s Blog: American Committee for the Weizman
Institute of Science
the Red Cross. Its team of medical emergency responders
depends on the American Friends of Magen David Adom
(AFMDA) for financial support. According to the AFMDA
website www.afmda.org, “Today, MDA and its team of
trained volunteer and professional medical responders
depend on AFMDA support to provide the entire nation’s
pre-hospital emergency needs, including medical, disaster,
ambulance and blood services. The MDA National Blood
Services Center, located in Ramat Gan, provides 100% of
the blood requirements of the IDF and 95% of the blood
needs for Israeli hospitals and the general population.”
As the crisis in Gaza worsens, with Hamas rockets
landing deeper into Israel and threatening an increasing
number of Israelis, Israelis continue to rely on the
emergency services of MDA. They know that MDA
personnel are always on high alert. MDA medical teams
have been racing to scenes of the rocket attacks from
Sderot to Askelon. They have treated casualties on site
and evacuated those with more serious injuries to
Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon.
According to Charity Navigator www.charitynavigator.org,
America’s leading charity evaluator, AFMDA has an overall
rating of three stars (four stars is the highest rating.) Charity
Navigator provides the following financial breakdown of
AFMDA based on 990 tax returns through 2006:
Overall Rating ***
Organizational Efficiency
Program Expenses 77.8%
Administrative Expenses 10.9%
Fundraising Expenses 11.2%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.06
(AFMDA spends $0.06 to raise $1)
Efficiency Rating ***
Organizational Capacity
Primary Revenue Growth 12.6%
Primary Expenses Growth - 0.9%
Working Capacity Ratio (years) 1.67
(AFMDA can sustain itself for 1.67
years without generating new revenue.)
Capacity Rating ***
Organizational Capacity refers to an organization’s ability to
sustain itself over time. Charities that exhibit consistent
revenue and expenses growth are more likely to sustain its
programs and services over the long haul.
AFMDA has net assets $34,218,526 and the compensation
of its executive vice president, Daniel Allen is $190,700
(0.94% of expenses.)
For comparison purposes, the American Heart Association has
been given an overall two star rating from Charity Navigator.
Next Week’s Blog: American Committee for the Weizman
Institute of Science
Saturday, March 1, 2008
American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center
In its mission statement, Shaare Zedek (http://www.acsz.org/)
states that “For more than a century, Shaare Zedek Medical
Center in Jerusalem, a 500-bed facility located in the center of
the city, has been known as the Hospital with a Heart. Patients
have consistently streamed to our hospital, seeking top level
treatment in a compassionate, supportive and nurturing environment.
Today, while our reputation as the most exceptional hospital
for health care treatment continues to grow, Shaare Zedek has taken
its commitment to its patients to the next level by providing industry
leading, cutting-edge medical care. From the most advanced
procedures in Laparoscopic Surgery to the latest technology in
robotics, from the treating of victims of terror and IDF soldiers,
to expectant mothers needing advanced prenatal care; from
seniors with tragic illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, to cancer
patients fighting for their lives, we provide a full range of services
at the highest level to every patient who walks through our doors.”
Shaare Zedek is a public non-profit hospital that accommodates
more than 60,000 emergency visits per year. In 2004, it completed
a new ER that was three times the size of its previous ER. 40% of
those injured in terrorist attacks in Jerusalem were treated at
Shaare Zedek. It also has 125,000 outpatient visits per year and
40,000 admissions. And, it is a major employer in the city
employing over 2,000 people.
Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org/),
America’s leading charity evaluator, has given the American
Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem an
overall three star rating (four stars is the highest rating.)
Its organizational efficiency rating is one star as it
spends 70% of its funds on program expenses, 9% on
administrative expenses, and 21% on fundraising expenses. Its
organizational capacity (the ability to sustain itself) rating
is four stars based on primary revenue growth of 20%, primary
expenses growth of 7%, and a working capital ratio of 2.27 years
(it can sustain itself for 2.27 years without any further contributions.)
Based on its 2005 income statement, it operated with an excess of
$4,310,155. It had net assets of $23,727,004. Its national
executive director, Paul Glasser, received a salary of $212,019
which is 1.56% of the total expenses.
Next week's blog: Israel Cancer Research Fund
states that “For more than a century, Shaare Zedek Medical
Center in Jerusalem, a 500-bed facility located in the center of
the city, has been known as the Hospital with a Heart. Patients
have consistently streamed to our hospital, seeking top level
treatment in a compassionate, supportive and nurturing environment.
Today, while our reputation as the most exceptional hospital
for health care treatment continues to grow, Shaare Zedek has taken
its commitment to its patients to the next level by providing industry
leading, cutting-edge medical care. From the most advanced
procedures in Laparoscopic Surgery to the latest technology in
robotics, from the treating of victims of terror and IDF soldiers,
to expectant mothers needing advanced prenatal care; from
seniors with tragic illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, to cancer
patients fighting for their lives, we provide a full range of services
at the highest level to every patient who walks through our doors.”
Shaare Zedek is a public non-profit hospital that accommodates
more than 60,000 emergency visits per year. In 2004, it completed
a new ER that was three times the size of its previous ER. 40% of
those injured in terrorist attacks in Jerusalem were treated at
Shaare Zedek. It also has 125,000 outpatient visits per year and
40,000 admissions. And, it is a major employer in the city
employing over 2,000 people.
Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org/),
America’s leading charity evaluator, has given the American
Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem an
overall three star rating (four stars is the highest rating.)
Its organizational efficiency rating is one star as it
spends 70% of its funds on program expenses, 9% on
administrative expenses, and 21% on fundraising expenses. Its
organizational capacity (the ability to sustain itself) rating
is four stars based on primary revenue growth of 20%, primary
expenses growth of 7%, and a working capital ratio of 2.27 years
(it can sustain itself for 2.27 years without any further contributions.)
Based on its 2005 income statement, it operated with an excess of
$4,310,155. It had net assets of $23,727,004. Its national
executive director, Paul Glasser, received a salary of $212,019
which is 1.56% of the total expenses.
Next week's blog: Israel Cancer Research Fund
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