American Soceity for Yad Vashem

Mission:
The mission of the American Society for Yad Vashem (ASYV),
http://www.yadvashemusa.org/ is to support the Yad Vashem
memorial in Israel. Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, is the Jewish
people's memorial to the murdered Six Million and symbolizes
the ongoing confrontation with the rupture engendered by the
Holocaust. Containing the world's largest repository of
information on the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is a leader in Shoah
education, commemoration, research and documentation.
Over the years, the American Society has worked in partnership
with Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes'
Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem, aiding in education,
commemoration, research, capital improvement, and special
projects.

Financial Efficiency Evaluation:
According to Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org/),
America’s leading charity evaluator, ASYV has an overall rating of
1 star (four stars is the highest rating.) Charity Navigator provides
the followingbreakdown of ASYV based on 990 tax returns through
2006:
Overall Rating: 1 star *
Organizational Efficiency: Efficiency Rating 1 star*
Program Expenses: 69.2%
Administrative Expenses: 6.3%
Fundraising Expenses: 24.3%
Fundraising Efficiency: $0.11 (ASYV spends $0.11 to raise $1.)
Organizational Capacity: Capacity Rating 1 star *
Primary Revenue Growth: -9.2%
Program Expenses Growth: -29.9%
Working Capital Ratio (years): 6.97
(ASYV can sustain itself for 6.97 years without generating
new revenue.)
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.

ASYV has net assets of $17,048,472. The highest compensation
reported on its 990 tax return was for Director of Development,
Sharaga Mekel, was $95,254 which represents 3.89% of expenses.
For comparison purposes, compensation for the President of the
American Jewish World Service, Ruth Messinger, was $191,00
which was 0.79% of expenses. Also, for comparison purposes,
Charity Navigator has given the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum a three star rating.

Recent News:
The ASYV web site does not discuss any recent news events.
It says that its “…achievements are recognized at its Annual
Tribute Dinner, whose guests include survivors, their families,
leading figures in government, the American Jewish community,
and members of the diplomatic corps. The Society publishes an
annual commemorative journal. We also host an annual Spring
Luncheon, to encourage present and future membership.”
The web site also says that its “…Education Department sponsors
an annual Professional Development Conference to bring educators
up-to-date with resources developed by the International School for
Holocaust Studies in Jerusalem. This Conference is co-sponsored
by the Association for Teachers of Social Studies of the United
Federation of Teachers. We also offer assistance in coordinating
commemorative programs on the Holocaust.”

Recommendations:
In order to merit a higher overall rating from Charity Navigator,
ASYV would have to direct more of its funds to the target of its
program expenses, Yad Vashem, and less to to fundraising and to
its net assets. According to its 2006 990 tax return, ASYV raised
$5,240,859 (page 1, line 1b) in “direct public support.” Its “interest
on savings and temporary cash investments” was $780,530
(page 1, line 4). Its “dividends and interest from securities”
(page 1, line 5) was $3,248. Its total revenue was $6,024637. Of
this amount, ASYV made grants to Yad Vashem totaling $1,471,448
and it spent $222,530 on creating videos and publications to inform
and educate the public concerning the holocaust. Its total program
expenses were $1,693,978. This represents 28% of the total amount
of funds raised in direct public support. In 2006 had an excess of
$3,580,116, which represents 69% of the toal amount of funds raised
in driect public support, and this amount was used by ASYV to
increase its net assets. Its 990 tax return says that at the end of
2006, ASYV has net assets totaling $17,048,472. Charity Navigator
stated that its working capital ratio in years was 6.97 years. For
comparison purposes, American Jewish World Service has a working
capital ratio of 0.57 years. Thus, if you want to donate to ASYV, it is
necessary to understand that only 28% of your funds will be directed
to Yad Vashem and 69% of the balance of your donation will be used
to increase the net assets of ASYV.

Next Week’s Blog: Boys Town Jerusalem Foundation of America