The Blue Card

The mission of The Blue Card is to provide
direct financial assistance, with a minimum
of obstacles, in a caring and dignified manner
to needy Jewish survivors of Nazi persecution
and their families in the United States. There
are 175,000 Holocaust survivors living in the
United States and approximately one-half live
at or near the Federal poverty level. The Blue
Card offers its help in three types of programs:
emergency cash assistance, monthly stipends,
and Jewish holiday gifts. Most of the Holocaust
survivors served by The Blue Card are part of
this group. Many of these survivors never
received any restitutions or pensions, or were
not "qualified" to receive any of the other
payments administered by The Claims
Conference. Some live on small Social Security
payments and, though they may be insured
under Medicare, they are unable to pay for
Medigap coverage and prescription drugs.
Those who qualify for Medicaid often need the
care of specialists or drugs not covered by
Medicaid, and are frequently desperate for
uncovered services such as dental care. It is
impossible for Holocaust survivors to receive
such services and assistance without our help.

The Blue Card recently initiated a program
in which it provides survivors with a device,
the Personal Emergency Response System
(PERSYS), that is worn around the neck
and could mean the difference between life
and death for homebound seniors living alone.
With one click on the device, a senior is able
to summon emergency personnel. PERSYS is
provided by the Amcest Corporation of
Rochelle, New Jersey.

According to Charity Navigator
www.charitynavigator.org,
America’s leading charity evaluator,
The Blue Card as an overall rating of
four stars (four stars is the highest rating.)
Charity Navigator provides the following
financial breakdown of The blue Card
based on 990 tax returns through 2006:

Overall Rating ****

Organziationl Efficiency
Program Expenses 89.3%
Administrative Expenses 5.4%
Fundraising Expenses 5.2%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.05
(The Blue Card spend $0.05
to raise $1.)
Efficiency Rating ****

Organizational Capacity
Program Revenue Growth 8.6%
Program Expenses Growth 14.6%
Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.92
(The Blue Card can sustain
Itself for 1.92 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.

The Blue Card is a highly efficient non-profit
organization in that a large portion of its
expenses reach its target – Holocaust
survivors. 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.

The Blue Card has net assets of $2,186,127.
Compensation for its executive director,
Elie Rubinstein, was $47,489 which is 4.18%
of expenses.

For comparison purposes, Charity Navigator
has given the Community Services Society
of New York an overall rating of three stars.

Next week’s blog: Yeshiva University.