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ARIZONA JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCI
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 860410245 · Form 990 · FY2021 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · www.azjhs.org
revenue
$1.9M
expenses
$825K
net assets
$3.7M
employees
10
volunteers
25
program ratio
75%
mission · from form 990

PRESERVING THE RICH HERITAGE OF ARIZONAS JEWISH COMMUNITIES

profile · synthesized from sources

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society (AZJHS) is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of Jewish life in Arizona. It offers educational programs, exhibitions, and community engagement initiatives focused on Holocaust education and the contributions of Jewish communities. AZJHS operates primarily in Arizona, with a significant presence in Phoenix.

named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

AZ Upstanders
Educational initiative sharing stories of individuals who exemplify integrity and stand against injustice.
Gallery & Traveling Exhibitions
Showcases history and art through rotating exhibits across various venues in Arizona.
Genealogy Programs
Helps individuals explore their Jewish ancestry through workshops and mentoring sessions.
Holocaust Education
Provides resources and programs for students and teachers, including survivor narratives and educational seminars.
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Historical Collections & Archives Management 8 activities
    • Educating the Public on Jewish History and Culture
      Educates the public about Jewish contributions to Arizona and American life through programs, exhibitions, lectures, film series, and author talks, promoting Jewish history, culture, and values to people of all backgrounds.
    • Educating the Public on Jewish History and Culture
      Educates the public about Jewish contributions to Arizona and American life through programs, exhibitions, lectures, film series, and author talks, promoting Jewish history, culture, and values to people of all backgrounds.
    • Operating the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center
      Restored Phoenix's first synagogue in 2009 to establish the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, which serves as a museum, cultural venue, and center for education, culture, and remembrance, housed in the historic 1922 building.
    • Operating the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center
      Restored Phoenix's first synagogue in 2009 to establish the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, which serves as a museum, cultural venue, and center for education, culture, and remembrance.
    • Operating the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center
      Restored Phoenix's first synagogue in 2009 to establish the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, which serves as a museum, cultural venue, and center for education, culture, and remembrance.
    • Preserving Arizona Jewish History and Culture
      Collects, preserves, and exhibits over 50,000 photographs, documents, artifacts, and memorabilia related to Jewish life in Arizona, including over 15,000 photographs from the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix.
    • Preserving Arizona Jewish History and Culture
      Collects, preserves, and exhibits over 50,000 photographs, documents, artifacts, and memorabilia related to Jewish life in Arizona, including over 15,000 photographs from the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix.
    • Public Education and Cultural Programming
      Educates the public about Jewish contributions to Arizona and American life through programs, exhibitions, lectures, film series, author talks, and live concerts, promoting Jewish history, culture, and values to people of all backgrounds.
  • Digitization of Cultural & Personal Histories 3 activities
    • Collecting Oral and Video Histories
      Records and preserves over 300 oral and video histories from local residents, with over 250 oral and 100 video history interviews conducted with local Jewish residents.
    • Conducting Oral and Video History Interviews
      Records and preserves over 300 oral and video histories from local residents, with over 250 oral and 100 video history interviews conducted with local Jewish residents.
    • Conducting Oral and Video History Interviews
      Records and preserves over 300 oral and video histories from local residents, with over 250 oral and 100 video history interviews conducted with local Jewish residents.
  • Genealogy Research Support & Education 3 activities
    • Providing Genealogy Research Support
      Offers genealogy mentoring sessions and meetings led by experts to help individuals research family history and overcome research challenges.
    • Providing Genealogy Research Support
      Offers genealogy mentoring sessions and facilitates genealogy meetings with expert instruction to help individuals research family history and overcome research challenges.
    • Providing Genealogy Research Support
      Offers genealogy mentoring sessions and meetings led by experts to help individuals research family history and overcome research challenges.
  • Holocaust Education and Remembrance Programs 3 activities
    • Providing Holocaust Education Programs
      Offers Holocaust education and awareness programs, including sharing personal stories from survivors and descendants, hosting workshops, and organizing an annual student video contest, with programs archived digitally and on the Arizona Department of Education’s toolkit.
    • Providing Holocaust Education Programs
      Offers educational programs and events on the Holocaust, featuring personal stories from survivors, descendants, and liberators, and constructing a 30,000-square-foot Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center in downtown Phoenix. These programs are archived digitally and on the Arizona Department of Education’s Holocaust and Genocide toolkit for Arizona teachers.
    • Providing Holocaust Education Programs
      Offers educational programs and events on the Holocaust, featuring personal stories from survivors, descendants, and liberators, and constructing a 30,000-square-foot Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center in downtown Phoenix. These programs are archived digitally and on the Arizona Department of Education’s Holocaust and Genocide toolkit for teachers.
  • Live Music Festival & Concert Production 2 activities
    • Hosting Cultural Events
      Organizes live concerts featuring various music genres at the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center.
    • Hosting Cultural Events
      Organizes live concerts featuring various music genres.
  • Youth Civic Leadership Development 2 activities
    • Running the AZ Upstanders Initiative
      Operates the AZ Upstanders initiative to educate about individuals who exemplify integrity and moral responsibility.
    • Running the AZ Upstanders Initiative
      Runs the AZ Upstanders initiative to educate about individuals who exemplify integrity and moral responsibility.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$1.93M
Contributions & grants$1.81M94%
Program service revenue$21K1%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$99K
expenses
Total expenses$825K
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$282K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.70M
Cash$466K
Investments$1.11M
Liabilities$0
Net assets$3.70M
Liquid reserves23.0 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +82.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LAWRENCE BELL EXEC DIRECTOR 40 $79K
board members · 24
  • ANDREW ABRAHAM — VICE PRESIDENT
  • B LEWKOWITZ — DIRECTOR
  • BARB ZEMEL — DIRECTOR
  • C MASON-MOTZ — DIRECTOR
  • CHUCK GEALER — VICE PRESIDENT
  • DENA BENJAMIN — DIRECTOR
  • E GARBER — DIRECTOR
  • GALINDO-ELVIRA — DIRECTOR
  • JAY BYCER — DIRECTOR
  • JERI BENOIT — DIRECTOR
  • JOE SEGAL — DIRECTOR
  • JUDY STERN — DIRECTOR
  • JULEE LANDAU — DIRECTOR
  • L LEVERANT — DIRECTOR
  • LARRY CUTLER — TREASURER
  • LEE SEDROFF — VICE PRESIDENT
  • MARK SENDROW — PRESIDENT
  • MEL KESSLER — FRMR PRESIDENT
  • R KRAVETZ — DIRECTOR
  • RICK NAIMARK — SECRETARY
  • ROBERT MYERS — DIRECTOR
  • STU SIEFER — VICE PRESIDENT
  • VICKI CABOT — DIRECTOR
  • jON bRODSKY — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9

who they work with

  • Arizona Department of Education Partner — Collaborates on educational initiatives related to cultural programs.
  • Arizona Department of Education Partner — Houses archived programs on the Arizona Department of Education’s Holocaust and Genocide toolkit recommended resources for Arizona teachers.
  • Arizona Historical Records Advisory Board Funder — Supported the video history interview and Arizona Jewish Life photo upload projects.
  • Arizona Memory Project Partner — Hosts online access to AZJHS collections including Phoenix Jewish News photos, video histories, and Arizona Jewish Life materials.
  • Center for Jewish Philanthropy Partner — Partners with the Center for Jewish Philanthropy's Life & Legacy program.
  • Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center Partner — Operates the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center as a historic synagogue, museum, and cultural hub.
  • Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix Funder — Provided grant funding and sponsorship for video history interviews and photo archiving projects.
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Funder — Supported the video history interview project.
  • Phoenix Holocaust Association Partner — Joint Speakers’ Bureau presenting Holocaust-related experiences with Arizona survivors.