Yes, the JFR is an incorporated nonprofit organization and was granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service of the Federal Government in 1994. Please see our Financial Information page for more on this subject.
The JFR spends approximately 86% of each donation on program-related activities - direct support of rescuers and Holocaust teacher education - and 14% on administration and fundraising. Of the funds that go to programs, 85% goes directly to rescuers and 15% goes to the JFR's Education Program.
We send funds to rescuers three times during the year, in March, July, and November/December.
We support individuals living in 11 countries around the world, but most live in Eastern Europe. The largest number lives in Poland.
Rescuers are referred to the JFR by Yad Vashem, by the Jewish survivors they saved, by other rescuers, and by organizations and individuals from the countries in which they live.
A rescuer must be recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority in Israel, must have been born before 1934, and must be in need of financial assistance. The JFR does not give financial support to rescuers’ spouses or other family members.
In order to attend the Summer Institute or any other JFR education program, a teacher must be affiliated with one of the Holocaust centers or museums in the JFR’s Holocaust Centers of Excellence Program. If you are not affiliated with a Holocaust Center of Excellence and are interested in attending The Summer Institute for Teachers, contact the JFR at jfr@jfr.org to see if there are any available guest spots.