Drisha Institute for Jewish Education

The Drisha Institute for Jewish Education (DIJE)
provides the following mission statement on its
website (www.drisha.org):

A forum for empowering women to be Jewish
scholars and educators, Drisha Institute was founded
in 1979 by Rabbi David Silber as the world's first
center for women's advanced study of classical Jewish
texts. Today, Drisha offers a wide variety of
educational initiatives including full-time programs
with a leadership development track, summer institutes,
a summer high school program, a Bat Mitzvah program,
continuing education programs and community lectures.
Thousands of people — from the New York area as well
as from around the world — participate in Drisha
programs annually.The long-term impact of Drisha on the
worldwide community is reflected in the informed voice
and active leadership of the women who have graduated
from Drisha and now serve as scholars, educators, and
role models in every sphere. They address issues at public
forums, develop curriculum in day schools and after-school
programs, and shape community initiatives that foster
spiritual growth and knowledge. Drisha has played a
leading role in moving the agenda on feminism and
women's leadership in the traditional Orthodox
communityfor the past 25 years.

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

Overall Rating **

Organizational Efficiency
Program Expenses 72.5%
Administrative Expenses 16.1%
Fundraising Expenses 11.2%
Fundraising Efficiency $0.21
(DIJE spend $0.21 to
raise $1.)
Efficiency Rating *

Organizational Capacity
Program Revenue Growth -12.7%
Program Expenses Growth 10.3%
Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.42
(DIJE can sustain itself
for 1.42 years without
generating new revenue.
Capacity Rating ***

DIJE operated with a deficit of $770,464 for the fiscal year
of 2006. It was forced to dip into its net assets in order to
meet expenses.

Charity Navigator has given DIJE the low efficiency rating
of one star because percentage wise it gives too little revenue
to the programs mentioned in its mission statement and it
uses to much of its revenue for administrative and
fundraising expenses. Compensation for its two chief officers
is almost 15% (see below) of expenses. Efficient non-profits
spend approximately 2% of its expenses on their two chief
officers. For example, the compensation of Ruth Messenger,
the president of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS),
is $191,000 which is 0.79% of expenses of the AJWS. Charity
Navigator has given AJWS an overall four star rating.
(See my blog entry of February 9, 2008 for analysis of
AJWS.)

The Drisha Institute for Jewish Education had net assets of
$3,414,884. Compensation for its executive director,
Daniella Weiss, was $170,000 which is 7.58% of expenses.
The compensation for its founder and dean, David Silber,
was $163,400 which is 7.28% of expenses.


For comparison purposes, the New York Landmarks
Conservancy has also been given an overall two star
rating by Charity Navigator.

Next week’s blog: The Blue Card