lendkey ( formerly fynanz inc. ) is a lending platform and online marketplace that allows consumers to apply for and receive private student loans , student loan refinancing and home improvement loans from their local credit unions and community banks .

lendkey 's cloud-based tools and infrastructure enable the nation 's 13,000 + community financial institutions to enter online lending and offer lower-rate loans for various asset classes .

lendkey

lendkey <EOT> appa member gift when refinancing with lendkey , and the endorsement is effective immediately .

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lendkey helps you find a local credit union that can provide you a student loan .

if you’re ready to refinance with lendkey , apply on its website . here’s how :

! here is a sneak peak into lendkey ' s data engineering department from one of our team members bhavana . watch and apply to join lendkey ' s data engineering team !

lendkey is a platform that connects borrowers with community banks and credit unions that provide private loans for undergraduate and graduate students . we’ll focus here on lendkey’s options for undergraduate student loans .

lendkey 401k plan is a defined contribution plan with a profit - sharing component and 401k feature . lendkey 401k plan currently has over 100 active participants and over $ 1 . 1m in plan assets .

have a credit score of at least 660 . approved lendkey borrowers have credit scores of 757 on average .

where lendkey ' s svp of regulatory compliance counsel , david mark , gives you the inside scoop . thank you to

lendkey works with financial institutions to enable dreams for borrowers on this preview of the # abapodcast where @ lendkey ' s svp of regulatory compliance counsel , david mark , gives the inside scoop . thank you to @ ryanrasske for hosting . # abarcc

wait for the loan to be disbursed . the typical time from approval to funding is 27 days , according to lendkey .

both lendkey and earnest are very different in how they function and operate . lendkey is very unique in that it manages all of its lending relationships with borrowers through over 13 , 000 financial institutions and credit unions in borrowers’ communities . earnest differs from lendkey in that their relationships with their borrowers are primarily faceless with seamless online application , approval , lending , and repayment processes .

both lendkey and earnest are very reputable companies for any graduates looking to consolidate their student loans . though earnest offers more unique options , particularly for repayment terms , than lendkey , borrowers with more tumultuous financial histories may find a better fit for approval in lendkey . additionally , some borrowers may prefer to tackle their student loans online through earnest while others may think that working with a community lender through lendkey is the better option . though the companies differ vastly , both are excellent options to consider for loan consolidation .

do not live in maine , nevada , north dakota , rhode island or west virginia . lendkey does not lend to borrowers in these states .

lendkey technologies , inc . has received 3 . 68 out of 5 stars based on 4 customer reviews and a bbb rating of a + .

lendkey , a cloud - based lending technology company , has raised $ 12 . 5 million in series b funding . led by updata partners and ttv capital and joined by existing investor draper fisher jurvetson and gotham ventures , the round brings lendkey to a total of $ 22 million in funding .

lendkey offers great customer support . we emailed all of the private student loan providers on our list , assessing how long their customer service teams took to respond to our questions . lendkey was the first to respond , and they took the time to provide an accurate and comprehensive answer to our questions .

do not live in maine , nevada , north dakota , rhode island or west virginia . lendkey does not refinance loans for borrowers in these states .

lendkey , a lending technology firm that serves credit unions and other lenders , said it has raised an additional $ 12 . 5 million in venture funding .

lendkey is a platform that connects borrowers with community banks and credit unions that provide private loans for undergraduate and graduate students and refinance loans for college graduates .

when you refinance student debt , a private lender replaces multiple student loans with a single loan at a lower rate . consider refinancing with lendkey if you :

, founder and ceo of lendkey . " refinancing student debt can be one of the largest financial savings opportunities available to doctors , who spend an average of

in the world of private student loans , lendkey is one of the best private student loan providers . it works with credit unions and small community banks to find the best rates for its customers . the maximum that lendkey will loan is $ 175 , 000 . it also offers a longer forbearance period of 18 months and a short cosigner release period of 12 months . because of these student loan options , lendkey is the winner of our top ten reviews bronze award .

not all of the 280 lenders on lendkey’s marketplace work with every borrower . credit unions often have eligibility rules based on where you live or work . to use a community bank , you typically have to live in the geographical area that bank serves . lendkey will help you find the loans for which you’re eligible .

lendkey is one of the best student loan providers in our review because of their loan limit of $ 175 , 000 , their short cosigner release period and their fast email response time . though they only offer variable - rate student loans , lendkey is a solid option if you need a student loan to complete your education .

to search for , compare and complete student , auto and home improvement loans online from trusted financial institutions . financial institutions work with lendkey to stay competitive with the online lending ecosystem , to better reach customers and to avoid the cumbersome process of launching an in - house online lending platform . for more information on lendkey , visit

customized decisioning criteria : lendkey lets you choose the risk and pricing criteria that’s right for your business , with the added flexibility to change the parameters at any time .

both lendkey and earnest are standout lending companies because of their dedication to exceptional customer support . however , their approaches to providing this support for their clients varies dramatically .

earn at least three times your debt load . the minimum debt - to - income ratio lendkey will accept is 33 % , not including housing costs . that means your monthly debt payments should equal no more than 33 % of your monthly income . the typical lendkey borrower has a debt - to - income ratio of 19 % .

lendkey invested $ 30 million dollars to create and continually innovate a lending - as - a - service platform to help lenders build and run a profitable digital lending business .

lendkey differs vastly from earnest in that their repayment options for borrowers are very much standard . borrowers can choose between five , seven , 10 , and 15 - year repayment options . for borrowers who have the financial merit to be approved for consolidation with earnest , their flexibility and unique customizable repayment options might be a better fit compared with lendkey’s repayment options .

formerly known as fynanz , lendkey switched its branding at the beginning of this year to distinguish itself from its previous services . it started as a peer - to - peer lending platform like prosper and lending club , but has since taken its platform to the institutional level . lendkey currently serves 253 lending partners and manages about $ 400 million in student loans through its service .

lendkey ' s website features a well - designed student loan calculator to help you estimate your monthly payment based on current interest rates , the size of the loan and your repayment period .

secure platform : lendkey’s web - based application processes are secure , fully compliant and auditable so that any lending institution can easily trace its origination process , review loan files and track performance .

stop by the lendkey booth at # nasfaa2018 to learn how we provide low private student loan rates for your students through community lenders . @ nasfaa # peopleoverprofit # privatestudentloans # communitylenders # finhealth urltoken

. " this relationship with lendkey will directly relieve that pressure for our members and provide them with access to lower rate loans from an organization that matches our passion for service and member satisfaction . "

additionally , once you ' ve paid off 10 % of the principal , lendkey will reduce your interest rate by 1 % . we didn ' t see this with the other student loan providers we evaluated .

choose an offer . lendkey will show you loans only from credit unions and community banks whose eligibility rules you meet , or that are free to join . borrowers see four to five loan options on average .

choose a loan term . lendkey will show you loans only from credit unions and community banks whose eligibility rules you meet , or that are free to join . borrowers see four to five loan options on average .

complete an application . like many lenders , lendkey doesn’t offer a soft credit check that shows you what interest rates you qualify for . fill out a full application that includes your education , citizenship and income information .

you don ' t have to begin paying back your lendkey student loan until six months after graduation . this grace period is designed to give students enough time to find a job before they begin paying back their loan .

check your interest rate . after entering some basic personal details , lendkey will do a soft credit check and let you know what interest rate you qualify for . this takes about three minutes and won’t affect your credit .

complete a full application . when you’re ready to officially apply , lendkey requests your id , proof of income , proof of college graduation and documentation from your loan servicer showing how much loan debt you plan to refinance .

lendkey was founded in 2009 after the great recession , during a difficult time for financial institutions facing the triple threat of high capital requirements , increased regulatory scrutiny and nascent fintech companies focused on disrupting banks and credit unions .

the expansion of services will help lendkey stand out among other competitors that offer student loan financing solutions , such as first marblehead . passione tells me a large advantage is that the service takes care of the entire loan procedure . another way the company mitigates work for its clients is by offers services instead of finance management software like fiserv and jack henry . lendkey charges an origination fee on all loans originated , as well as an annual servicing fee .

the requirements below are reflective of loans available to all borrowers . but once you choose a loan , make sure you understand that lender’s specific terms . we’ll focus here on lendkey’s options for refinancing and borrowing undergraduate student loans .

as is true for other lenders , more than 90 % of college loans funded by lendkey are co - signed . that means if you can’t qualify on your own as an undergrad , you’ll need to add someone with a credit score of at least 660 to the loan . you can take your co - signer off the loan after you’ve made 24 on - time monthly payments . a lendkey student loan might be a smart move if you :

the startup provides a comprehensive solution for managing lending transactions , from creating and scoring credit applications to pulling funds from lending institutions to issuing electronic invoices . “it’s your brand and it’s your balance sheet , ” lendkey founder and ceo vince passione says . “it’s our technology and our people , and we take care of the entire end - to - end process . ” this approach cuts out any unnecessary staff , since lendkey takes care of most of the processes .

lendkey offers 18 months of forbearance . unlike some other loan providers we reviewed , lendkey doesn ' t limit how many months of forbearance you can apply for at a time . this is a great option if you lose your job or run into financial difficulties , because you can postpone your loan payments and not be considered delinquent . you need to be careful with forbearance , however , because the interest on your student loan is still accruing during this period .

lendkey functions as the student loan servicer for all the loans its members fund . that means borrowers have access to strong , modern customer service along with the borrower - friendly loan terms credit unions and community banks are known for .

lendkey pioneered lending - as - a - service ( laas ) to credit unions and banks in 2009 , and is currently the leading laas provider in the u . s . , with over 300 financial institution clients . located in

while you can use a co - signer to refinance student loans with lendkey , the company says only 17 % of customers do ; the vast majority qualify on their own . you’ll be in the best position to refinance if you :

as a downside , though , lendkey doesn ' t offer online chat . instead , you can reach the lender by phone monday to friday , 9 a . m . to 8 p . m . eastern time , or by email .

we shared valuable insights on how banks mitigate risks that may exist by partnering with fintech companies at @ ababankers # abarcc this week . looking forward to hearing lendkey ' s feature on the # abapodcast # fintechpartner # fintech # banks # wednesdaywisdom urltoken

even with federal student loans , many students need additional funding to complete their college educations . with lendkey , you can borrow up to $ 175 , 000 to pay for your undergraduate education . the limits are even higher for graduate and professional loans .

lendkey offers just one 10 - year loan term , and borrowers must pay a flat fee of $ 25 a month while in school . you’ll pay the full amount — principal plus interest — after your 6 - month post - graduation grace period has ended .

lendkey’s approach is completely different from earnest . though they also value a high level of customer service , their entire company set - up is based on outsourcing their borrowers to lending companies in their own communities . lendkey is simply the conductor of these relationships , guiding borrowers to the right financial institution or credit union for their specific situation . though they manage the lending relationships between borrowers and their network of over 13 , 000 lending institutions , they have a primary focus of excellent customer service that is brokered through these intentional lending relationships .

“since 2013 , lendkey has partnered with wsfs bank in providing digital solutions to our customers . they have successfully helped us accelerate our online student lending and refinance product offerings , while allowing us to maintain control over the credit criteria and keep the loans on our balance sheet . ”

earnest takes some interesting factors into consideration when looking to approve borrowers , such as bank account balances and financial history , and lendkey is similar in that they consider unique aspects such as a history of academic success and the presence of a cosigner when making their decision to approve a candidate .

another drawback with lendkey is that it only offers variable - rate student loans . variable interest rates are based on market rates and can fluctuate , meaning the amount you pay per month can go up or down . other private student loan providers offer you a choice between variable and fixed interest rates .

of all the private student loan providers that we reviewed , lendkey offered one of the best cosigner release periods . if you make 12 on - time payments , you can apply to have the cosigner on your student loan removed . this is great for students who need parents or grandparents to cosign on their loans .

if you have federal and private loans , lendkey offers to consolidate those loans . consolidation can be useful if you ' re juggling multiple student loan payments and don ' t mind having a longer repayment term . ( however , consolidating your federal student loans with a private student loan can disqualify you from some federal student loan forgiveness plans . )

forbearance : lendkey offers a tiered system for granting hardship forbearance if you have trouble making payments . for 5 , 7 - and 10 - year loans , borrowers receive 12 months of forbearance total in up to 4 - month chunks . for 15 - and 20 - year loans , it increases to 18 months total in up to 6 - month chunks .

a main point of difference between most student loan consolidation companies is the profile of their ideal borrowers . earnest is very traditional in that they approve candidates that are in excellent financial situations with very few exceptions . their typical borrowers have outstanding credit history , consistently growing bank accounts , a clear history of financial stability , and a full - time job with a high income . candidates with a financial or credit history containing a few surprises might be better off with a company like lendkey for their consolidation needs . though lendkey also values candidates with a history of smart financial decision - making , they are much more likely to approve potential borrowers with a less - than - stellar credit score or those in a slightly less stable financial situation .

the appa is committed to providing its medical , dental , and osteopathic doctor members with information , benefits and financial services that enhance their professional careers and personal lives . saving money by refinancing student loans into lower fixed or variable rates with lendkey is among the many resources that the appa provides to its members . as an added benefit , all appa members will also receive a

lendkey helps you launch , scale , and maximize your consumer lending with our cloud based digital lending - as - a - service platform . create your online loan offerings based on your risk policy , underwriting guidelines , and pricing . with our turnkey solution , you also receive marketing support , compliance assistance , balance sheet management and digital servicing to efficiently grow your business and serve your customers .

as more and more college students begin to graduate and face their student loan payments , many people are turning to student loan consolidation companies in order to lower their interest rates and potentially decrease their total amount of debt . there are many consolidation companies with varying benefits for their borrowers as well as different criteria for approval . two well - known companies in the lending market are earnest and lendkey .

/ prnewswire / - - lendkey , the leading lending - as - a - service platform that connects borrowers with credit unions and banks , today announced that it has been exclusively endorsed by the american professional practice association ( appa ) . the partnership allows appa member doctors the opportunity to refinance existing federal and private undergraduate and graduate school loans at lower rates and save tens of thousands of dollars , on average .

passione says the funding will go to expanding the company’s tech , sales and operational teams as well as a new office in ohio . the startup’s first product was managing in - school student loans in 2009 , and moved into student consolidation loans in 2011 . passione tells me lendkey will be adding a green loan service by the end of the year , to finance loans for high - efficiency home retrofits and solar panels .

formerly fynanz , company says it now has 250 lending partners on its platform .

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there is a new way to spell peer - to - peer lending : fynanz . while you or i might not entrust the financing of our college education to a company that cannot spell , the txt - happy generation might go for it . and if they can find college loans at lower rates than at a bank , who cares ?

fynanz launched quietly on monday . it wants to apply the peer - to - peer lending model ( see prosper , zopa , lending club , and qifang in china ) to student loans . right now , only students who are residents of florida or new york can apply for a loan , but that will expand to the entire country later this year . anyone can become a lender .

unlike prosper or other p2p lending sites , fynanze guarantees each loan . and since they are qualified educational loans , the students can deduct the interest from their taxes once they start paying back . to reduce its risk , the startup looks at other factors in addition to credit scores when evaluating each student borrower , including grade point averages and what school the student is attending . says ceo chirag chaman , a former banker who put up $ 500 , 000 in seed money to get the startup off the ground :

we looked at 15 years worth of data to create an underwriting model specific to student loans . we now what are the factors that reduce default rates . i was doing structured loans at citibank .

you can think of it as securitization for the masses , but i am removing investment banks from the process .

the loans are co - payable to the school , and fynanz takes into account tuition and other expenses to make sure students don’t take out more than they actually need . “it is not for your spring break , ” says chaman . by cutting out the banks , he thinks he will be able to find individual lenders willing to offer loans that are 0 . 60 % to 1 . 0 % lower than what a student would get from a bank . ( and that is after fynanze takes a 1 % fee for its guarantee fund ) .

with interest rates coming down , though , in response to the fed’s recent interest - rate cuts , it is going to be tough to compete with the big banks . but the focus on student loans should shelter fynanz in comparison to other p2p startups with a broader loan portfolio ( student loans tend to have lower default rates than most consumer loans ) .

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around 44 . 2 million americans are suffering from student loan debt today . while these numbers rise , so does its ' market opportunity ! learn why investing in the private student loan market is not as risky as you think :

thank you everyone for participating # cunaacuc see you at the # cunagac , and next years # cunaacuc in orlando . safe travels home ! @ cuna @ americascus urltoken

our svp of regulatory compliance counsel , david mark , lead a excellent session at the @ ababankers regulatory compliance conference today . thank you to all the attendees for your participation . # ababankers # abarcc # abaconference # speaker

thank you to diane cheng , @ helenfaith1 , and @ calgaryglen for discussing initiatives to assist their students to make more informed financial decisions . . . leading to a decrease in borrowing ! @ nasfaa # fintech # finhealth # studentloans

great session at # nasfaa2018 hosted by lisa k . mitchell , katherine anderson , and emily sillcocks on the graduate degree battle ! we gained useful insights on how graduate students are paying for their advanced degrees . @ nasfaa # fintech # finhealth # nasfaa2018

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unfortunately , the loan term is 10 years . this means you don ' t have the option of stretching your payments over a longer period of time , which reduces your monthly loan payment . college ave and citizens bank both have shorter loan term options .

if you sign up to have payments automatically deducted from your checking or savings account , you can qualify for a 0 . 25 % interest rate deduction . this discount is smaller than what other providers offer , but it can add up over the length of the loan .

have federal student loans and don’t plan to use federal programs like income - driven repayment or public service loan forgiveness . you won’t be able to take part in those programs if you refinance federal loans .

opt for the shortest repayment term you can handle when refinancing . if you choose a longer term than before , you likely won’t enjoy the savings from a lower interest rate .

$ 5 , 000 minimum . maximum : $ 125 , 000 for undergraduate degrees ; $ 250 , 000 for graduate degrees ; $ 300 , 000 for medical , dental or veterinary degrees .

rates updated april 30 , 2018 . aprs include 0 . 25 % rate reduction that borrowers get for signing up for automatic payments .

earn at least $ 24 , 000 a year . approved borrowers earn $ 63 , 000 a year on average .

graduated from an eligible school . borrowers must have graduated from a school that participates in the federal government’s title iv federal student aid programs .

compare multiple refinancing options to get the best interest rate you’re eligible for . understand not only how much you’ll pay per month and in total , but what options you have for pausing payments in case of job loss or a medical emergency .

agree to a hard credit check . to provide you with final loan offers , lenders must perform a hard credit check . this will slightly impact your credit score .

interest - only payments : borrowers with 15 - or 20 - year loan terms can make lower , interest - only payments for the first four years . that gives you the flexibility to pay less if you want to focus on other financial priorities without letting interest build in the meantime .

but refinance borrowers should choose the shortest term they can manage to get the biggest savings . that means a 15 - or 20 - year term may not be the best choice for you .

is there a co - signer release option ? yes , after 12 on - time payments , and as long as the primary borrower qualifies based on his or her own financial profile .

can i qualify if i’ve filed for bankruptcy in the past ? yes ; after five years .

can i qualify if i didn’t go to a title iv - accredited school ? no .

need to fill a gap in the financial aid you received for college after filling out the free application for federal student aid , known as the fafsa .

have good or excellent credit , or access to a co - signer who does .

like the idea of working with a community bank or credit union that you may have a personal connection to .

$ 2 , 000 minimum . maximum : $ 160 , 000 for undergraduates .

before getting a private student loan , complete the fafsa so you’re eligible for federal loans , grants and work - study . borrow up to the maximum amount of federal loans available first ; they have more repayment options than private loans and don’t require a co - signer .

have access to a creditworthy co - signer . since most borrowers can’t qualify without one , consider adding a co - signer to your application . he or she must have a credit score of 660 or higher , income of $ 24 , 000 or more a year and a maximum debt - to - income ratio of 33 % . approved co - signers typically have a credit score of 774 , income of $ 87 , 000 and a debt - to - income ratio of 14 % .

attend an eligible school . borrowers must attend a school that participates in the federal government’s title iv federal student aid programs .

to make sure you’re getting the best interest rate available , compare multiple private loan options . understand not only how much you’ll pay per month and in total , but what options you have for pausing payments in case of job loss or a medical emergency .

add a co - signer . co - signers will click the “co - sign a loan” button on the application and enter their own personal and financial information .

consent to a hard credit check . while this will affect your credit score , it’s a necessary step in order for lenders to approve you for a loan .

undergraduate borrowers can get up to 18 months of forbearance over the course of their loan terms , in periods of up to six months at a time .

is there a co - signer release option ? yes . the primary borrower must first make 24 consecutive on - time payments .

nerdwallet believes the best student loan is one you can repay at the lowest interest rate you can get . that’s why nerdwallet’s private student loans ratings reward lenders that offer a variety of loan terms , limit their fees and penalties , and extend borrowers multiple options to avoid default . points are also awarded for soft credit checks , underwriting transparency and other consumer - friendly features . use these ratings as a guide , but we encourage you to shop around for the lowest interest rate you can qualify for . nerdwallet does not receive compensation for its reviews . read our

brianna is a personal finance writer at nerdwallet . her work has been featured by the associated press , usa today and wnyc . read more

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private student loans – attract students and families looking to bridge the ever increasing gap in the cost of education and federal financing options .

student loan refinancing - get immediate cash flow and attractive returns by tapping into this $ 1 . 4 trillion market . attract and develop lasting relationships with millennials looking to better manage college debt .

home improvement loans - provide your customers with an attractive alternative financing source to home equity loan , credit card or personal unsecured loan . our national network of contractors promote the loans and feed traffic to your brand .

end - to - end digital experience : enables customers to complete the entire borrowing experience , from application to loan servicing , digitally .

full service capabilities : our expert servicing includes all of the customer facing functionality as well as remittance and loan level detail reporting .

enhance your lending : our lending - as - a - service solution provides a fully compliant , turnkey platform so you can start lending online in as little as four weeks , at the risk level that’s right for you .

grow your business : acquire new customers and serve your existing customers in multiple asset classes and get the consumer marketing support , data and analytics you need to drive performance .

boost returns : put your capital to work as you diversify , manage and optimize your loan programs . obtain portfolio liquidity through participation networks and secondary market partners .

reduce risk : our dedicated regulatory and compliance team protects your business from point of origination through disbursement , servicing and repayment .

due diligence reports are currently available on select solutions and for bank members only . get report .

in a rapidly changing landscape , banks turn to the proven expertise of aba endorsed solutions for the most advanced technologies and products to grow their business , cut costs , and transform the customer experience .

consumer lending market by connecting thousands of banks and credit unions with millions of borrowers online . consumers can go to

about appa since its inception in 1963 , appa has continuously served its members with educational options , training , and services . our goal is to provide our medical , dental , and osteopathic doctors with information , benefits and financial services that enhance their professional careers and personal lives . the current dynamics in healthcare offer many challenges for the healthcare professional . appa is positioned to help its members meet those challenges . we are committed to meeting your development needs by offering comprehensive , relevant programs while providing courteous informed service by professionals , for professionals .

with an average rate of 7 . 25 % apr before refinancing and 5 . 25 % apr ( with ach auto - pay discount ) after refinancing on a 15 - year loan .

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oorah , or sometimes oorah kiruv rechokim , hebrew for " awaken and bring in those who are far " ( a reference to educating non-observant jews ) , is an incorporated orthodox jewish kiruv ( outreach ) organization founded in 1980 " with the goal of awakening jewish children and their families to their heritage . "

it is a united states based 501 ( c ) 3 non-profit organization .

oorah ( organization )

oorah ( organization ) <EOT> and memorable campaigns for any jewish organization are no doubt those produced by and for oorah . but who are the people behind oorah ? do you ever wonder ?

independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary ( i . e . , not affiliated with a national , regional , or geographic grouping of organizations ) .

oorah staten island is a program of the larger oorah organization . oorah’s various programs and events enrich the lives of jewish families throughout the us with meaning and values . and staten island is where it all began .

non - jewish workers shorted weeks of pay . haredi outreach organization oorah claims contactors owe workers the money , but oorah also admits to owing those contactors at least $ 30 , 000 .

© 2018 jewish little star preschool is a division of oorah , inc . ; a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) tax exempt organization .

copyright © 2018 kars4kids is a 501c3 organization . your donation will benefit kars4kids , a national organization dedicated to addressing the educational , material , emotional and spiritual needs of jewish children and their families .

due to an error on this organization ' s form 990 , we are unable to display program information .

haredi kiruv organization and its bogus subsidiary for ' at risk ' youth are again linked to shady dealings .

the group ' s board of directors does not provide adequate oversight of the charity ' s organization and staff .

oorah owns cucumber communications , and claims that " every penny " of profit goes to oorah ' s activities .

" if you donate to an organization called kars4kids , it ' s a huge red flag that the money isn ' t going to an organization with that name , " said lindsey nichols , spokesperson for guidestar , a national charity information websites .

haredi missionary organization under investigation for not paying workers hired to remodel its boys camp . oorah claims a subcontractor is the true employer but it also admits it owes that subcontractor money .

we should commend oorah for establishing an organization of this magnitude which sustains itself by maintaining a high level of professionalism and fundraising , permitting it to exist on small donations through grassroots efforts .

where does the money go ? ninety percent of the monies donated go to a sister organization , oorah , a new jersey - based charity that operates jewish youth summer camps in new york .

the attorney general’s report also highlighted the relationship between kars4kids and oorah . as our website clearly states , much of our charitable programming is done in conjunction with our sister charity oorah , also a nationally recognized jewish nonprofit organization . oorah’s programs include mentorship and youth programs , school placement and tuition assistance , summer camp , holiday and family events .

oorah declined to respond directly to these allegations while litigation is pending . however , in court documents the organization’s attorney , israel vider , argued that congregation oorah is operating as a religious corporation by running educational programming at the synagogue . oorah runs a preschool and kindergarten in the building , as well as weekly religious programming for adults and teens .

since its humble beginning , oorah developed into a multifaceted nonprofit organization offering social , educational , and religious services to thousands of families throughout the world . oorah’s dozens of programs have broadened rabbi chaim mintz’s impact , continuing each year to carry out his vision with care and dedication .

little star is a project of oorah , a non - profit organization serving the jewish community for more than three decades . oorah was established by rabbi chaim mintz , a pioneer in jewish education and outreach who continues to oversee oorah’s many important and highly regarded programs . oorah cares for men , women , and children of all jewish backgrounds and affiliations , providing for the physical , emotional , and educational needs of our community .

we should recognize how unique , in our age of hype and self - promotion , is the kind of avodas hakdoesh performed under the radar that defines this organization . hiding under our noses in plain sight is a remarkable organization that is bringing thousands of men , women and children tachas kanfei hashechinah .

oorah’s public image couldn’t be farther from the truth . a successful educational and outreach group , the only area in which this organization is lacking , ironically , is public relations . they spend considerable amounts on marketing strategies but forget to include an important piece of the picture : who are the individuals behind this unusual organization ? what are they doing when they aren’t playing fiveish ?

the lakewood , nj - based kars4kids is a front for joy for our youth , which itself is a front for oorah , a haredi missionary organization . the saint louis post dispatch reports on the deceptive advertising used by kars - for - kids , and the questionable business practices of oorah :

the trial portion of the jewish foundation school / rabbi joseph jacob orthodox day school ' s federal lawsuit against haredi kiruv organization oorah is ended today in brooklyn with a victory for rjj . rjj – which previously won a beit din decision that oorah ignored – sued oorah for almost $ 400 , 000 in back tuition the beit din ruled oorah owes for non - orthodox students it entolled in rjj by promising students ' families free tuition .

will oorah lose its irs 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) status ? will oorah ' s board be prosecuted ? only time will tell .

again , j . o . y . gifts all of its money to oorah . oorah is a sectarian missionary organization whose sole declared purpose according to it ' s irs filings is " kiruv , " jewish religious outreach , and related educational scholarships to orthodox jewish schools . and oorah gives less than 38 % of its income to those causes and shows extremely high expenses .

kars4kids , they learned , is the primary funder of a new jersey organization called oorah inc . that provides religious - based services to orthodox jewish children . kars4kids paid $ 65 , 000 in fines in each state in 2009 .

continue reading " rjj v . oorah / kars - 4 - kids " »

over the last few days we have been examining a series of articles on kars4kids and oorah , inc . and the potentially fraudulent activities of both organizations . we had been going on a working theory that the entire organization was one big ponzi scheme .

torahmates is a program of oorah , a national jewish outreach organization with dozens of programs for families and individuals at all stages of life . oorah brings together a diverse and vibrant community of growth - oriented jewish families . oorah’s programs include thezone summer camps for boys , girls and teens , chillzone , an afterschool program with groups across north america and in israel , little star preschool in staten island , holiday and weekend events , school placement and yeshiva tuition assistance . learn more about oorah’s programs .

joy for our youth , it turns out , is the legal entity behind kars4kids . it has its own website , which requires donors to do more digging to find the connection to oorah , which is simply described as " a national nonprofit organization . "

a long - running case in the new york state supreme court between a small staten island synagogue and the large charedi outreach organization that operates kars4kids now includes allegations of tax fraud .

the greater oorah family offers many opportunities and programs ! by joining oorah staten island , you’ll also join the larger oorah family with all that is has to offer , from thezone camp to year round events and retreats . learn more about our other programs .

* i label oorah missionary because it targets children below the legal age of consent .

this week , i also turned down an ad , not for harris ' s book , but for oorah , the haredi missionary * organization . i did so because of oorah ' s questionable fundraising tactics . ( please scroll down to the bottom of the linked page and read upward . this post will be at the top , above the other oorah posts . ) perhaps that will get media attention one day , although i doubt it .

a handful of brooklyn - based charities are concerned more about their own bottom line than they are about those who may have hit rock bottom , according to an independent charity evaluating organization .

proceeds benefit joy for our youth . j . o . y . is an international organization providing for the physical , emotional , and spiritual needs of distressed and at - risk youth .

oorah ' s for - profit subsidiary , cucumber communications , is shown with a total income of $ 208 , 609 . even though oorah claims that " every penny of profit " is given to oorah , ooorah ' s irs filing shows that cucumber transferred only $ 144 , 391 to oorah . cucumber also shows assets of $ 367 , 301 .

welcome to the oorah family ! browse our resources and programs to enhance your jewish life .

all thanks to oorah . you have touched our lives like an angel from the sky .

oorah sent the above e - mail to its list today . note what it says :

young israel congregants accuse the nonprofit oorah of using synagogue to hide ‘questionable financial dealings . ’

young israel’s attorney , solomon rubin , calls oorah’s claims “identity theft” and argued that enforcing the $ 1 million arbitration award would amount to the court “assisting” oorah in this alleged fraud .

plaintiff oorah , inc . ( " oorah " ) , a nonprofit organization , brought this action against marvin schick , the jewish foundation school ( " jfs " ) and the rabbi jacob joseph school ( " rjj " ) ( collectively , the " school " ) seeking to enforce an alleged non - disparagement agreement . the school counterclaimed , arguing that oorah had breached an agreement to pay a set tuition over a certain number of years for students it enrolled and , in the alternative , that oorah was unjustly enriched at the school ' s expense . 1

in a years - long dispute between a small staten - island synagogue and the charedi outreach organization best known for its operation of kars4kids , a court ruled this week in favor of the synagogue .

low wage workers brought from lakewood , new jersey to oorah ' s camp in upsate new york in 2010 to renovate the camp were not paid for their labor . oorah claimed a subcontractor was responsible for the wages . but oorah also owed that subcontractor a large amount of money .

the young israel of eltingville , a struggling 40 - year - old modern orthodox congregation , is battling oorah inc . , the lakewood , n . j . - based outreach organization that operates kars4kids , for control of the synagogue building . the two entities first locked horns earlier this year after a 2007 agreement to sell the building to oorah went sour . the synagogue is now fighting to overturn an arbitration award from a religious court stipulating that they synagogue owes oorah $ 1 million .

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that the kars4kids website is registered to rabbi eliyohu mintz , who also heads up oorah . oorah ' s president is rabbi chaim mintz , a senior official at the yeshiva of staten island .

2 . other evidence of oorah ' s understanding that the debt had been satisfied was admitted . oorah ' s witnesses were allowed to testify that they believed that the dispute between the parties had been settled , and oorah ' s attorney was permitted to reference this understanding in his closing argument .

now , concern over oorah’s application to the irs to attain synagogue status is taking center stage . young israel of eltingville is claiming that oorah inc . formed a separate entity , congregation oorah , to falsely obtain tax - exempt status , thereby allowing oorah to shield potential “questionable financial dealings” from public scrutiny . ( according to irs code , religious congregations do not have to file an annual tax return . )

because the jury found oorah liable for breach of contract , it did not reach the alternative unjust enrichment counterclaim . 3 nevertheless , oorah argues that the unjust enrichment counterclaim should not have been presented to the jury , and that the evidence of oorah ' s assets introduced to support it was unfairly prejudicial .

mintz says kars4kids was not trying to hide anything behind the multiple charities . joy for our youth was the original name of the organization founded in 2000 to support jewish youths . but kars4kids turned out to be catchier .

kars4kids is affiliated with oorah , which currently has a moderate concern cn advisory . for this reason , we have issued a low concern cn advisory on kars4kids . for more information , please see the advisory on oorah and the new york post article that describes the events that led to oorah ' s advisory .

kars4kids and oorah inc . , an affiliated not - for - profit organization , lost $ 5 . 25 million – nearly as much speculating on real estate in 2010 as they spent on programming . oorah , the operation’s program arm , spent only $ 6 . 3 million of the $ 29 million collected by kars4kids on program expenses in 2010 , despite the fact that the organizations hold a combined $ 39 million in assets .

only by drilling down will donors learn " your car donation to kars4kids will benefit joy for our youth , an organization dedicated to addressing the educational , material , and emotional needs of disadvantaged jewish children and their families . "

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accordingly , oorah ' s motion for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial is denied .

late last year , the matter was complicated by allegations that oorah was using the synagogue as a front to commit tax fraud . young israel of eltingville claimed that oorah inc . formed a separate entity , congregation oorah , to falsely obtain tax - exempt status , thereby allowing oorah to shield potential “questionable financial dealings” from public scrutiny . ( according to irs code , religious congregations do not have to file an annual tax return . )

oorah is the best ! meeting everyone by the torah mates retreat was amazing and the constant support is great .

throughout the years , oorah sponsored jewish summer camp attendance for oorah tuition scholarship recipients . this enabled the children to remain in a positive jewish environment during the summer months . in 2003 , oorah was offered the keys to a functioning jewish summer camp . the camp was a hit with jewish girls from across new york and new jersey .

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your car donation to kars - 4 - kids™ will benefit joy for our youth . j . o . y . is an international organization providing for the physical , emotional , and spiritual needs of distressed and at - risk youth . …

oorah’s mentorship throughout the year gives kids and teens of all ages the tools and guidance they need to develop into productive and engaged members of the community . the entire family is positively impacted through the oorah family events and programs .

summer camps are a place for children to develop skills and responsibility in a safe and fun environment . in keeping with oorah ' s mission to provide year - round activities and educational programming to jewish children and their families , oorah helps provide this opportunity for your child at a fraction of the cost other camps charge . at an oorah camp , the staff is able to tailor the activities and the educational programming to the unique needs of oorah’s families and children .

founded by a simple tzaddik , rav chaim mintz , mashgiach of the yeshiva of staten island , oorah takes a cradle - to - the - grave approach to kiruv . the mintzes don’t just introduce a jew to torah and leave them there to fend for themselves . they , and the organization they established , remain connected with them and their family , for the rest their lives , providing regular support to those who become frum . in essence , oorah becomes their extended family .

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in its exemption application to the irs , congregation oorah said that its congregational leader is rabbi chaim mintz , the founder of oorah . the application states that mintz is “usually available for shabbath [ sic ] and jewish holiday services . ”

you can read all about oorah / joy for our youth / kars - 4 - kids and their troubles here .

the deceptive children ' s charity , kars - 4 - kids , which presents itself as nonsectarian , claims it helps " children who were on the streets . " yet the money it raises goes to oorah , a linked organization that , according to the ny post , claims an " 80 % success rate " at keeping the children it helps away from goyyim .

the attorney general investigated kars4kids at length and did not see any reason to take legal action against the organization . in fact , the report makes clear that there has never been any question of diversion of funds from the charity . while like any healthy organization - especially one whose revenue stream comes largely from car donations - marketing and advertising is a necessary expense to enable growth , kars4kids’ administrative expenses are low by any standards . our executive salaries are public and show there are no pockets being lined here .

in 2006 , oorah purchased and renovated the former golden acres resort in gilboa , ny creating a fully equipped summer camp with top amenities . in 2009 , oorah purchased the nearby scotch valley resort and created another state of the art camp facility in the former ski resort . oorah now has adequate facilities to service many more jewish girls and boys from across the us , canada and even israel . oorah also sponsors discoveru , a unique program for jewish singles age 18 - 26 .

oorah , the lakewood - based haredi missionary organization whose deceptive advertising practices were exposed by the saint louis post dispatch , distributes less than 38 % * * * of its income to the childrens programs it champions . according to the most recent irs 990 filing available ( download oorah _ 2003 _ irs _ 990 . pdf ) , oorah had gross revenues of almost $ 2 , 000 , 000 yet used only $ 741 , 639 of that revenue for outreach and for underwriting jewish education . almost $ 741 , 000 went to cover expenses and another $ 482 , 000 was held as " assests " and not disbursed .

oorah operates little star preschool on the premises , which it identifies as a parochial school . courtesy of yi of eltingville .

oorah , inc . v . schick | case no . 09 - cv - 00353 . . . | 20120824554 | urltoken

early on july 10 , ice agents arrested 31 immigrant workers doing construction and maintenance jobs for two subcontractors at a children ' s summer camp in gilboa , new york , just north of the catskill mountains and southwest of albany . the camp is owned by oorah inc . , a jewish nonprofit educational organization . ice spokesperson michael gilhooly said on july 11 that the investigation was continuing .

the catchy jingle advertising kars4kids charity began blanketing radio airwaves across the twin cities around thanksgiving . the ditty ends with : " we ' re a recognized 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) charity organization , so you ' ll receive a maximum tax deduction . "

on wednesday , the supreme court of the state of new york granted permission to the young israel of eltingville , a small 40 - year - old modern orthodox congregation , to vacate an arbitration award from a religious court stipulating that the synagogue owes oorah , the lakewood , n . j . - based outreach organization that operates kars4kids , $ 1 million . the arbitration award , had it been enforced , would likely have forced the congregation to foreclose on its building and surrender all of its assets to oorah .

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cuomo subpoenaed 16 organizations and individuals , including kars 4 kids ( oorah ) , lechaim for life , and cars that help .

there have been allegations of financial improprieties against oorah and its closely affiliated charity kars4kids in the past . in 2012 , the organization — which runs summer camps and provides scholarships to jewish families — lost a $ 375 , 000 federal lawsuit over scholarship money that oorah allegedly promised ( but never gave ) to students at the jewish foundation school in staten island . in 2009 , the organization paid tens of thousands of dollars in settlements to the state attorneys general of pennsylvania and oregon over its failure to disclose that the funds raised through its vehicle donation program benefited children of a specific religion . in 2010 , the new york state attorney general announced that his office had subpoenaed joy for our youth — the name under which kars4kids is incorporated — as part of a broader investigation into charities that accept car donations .

for years , oorah , and its closely affiliated charity kars4kids , have faced allegations of financial improprieties . in 2012 , the organization — which runs summer camps and provides scholarships to jewish families — lost a $ 375 , 000 federal lawsuit over scholarship money that oorah allegedly promised ( but never gave ) to students at the jewish foundation school in staten island . in 2009 , the organization paid tens of thousands of dollars in settlements to the state attorneys general of pennsylvania and oregon over its failure to disclose that the funds raised through its vehicle donation program benefited children of a specific religion . in 2010 , the new york state attorney general announced that his office had subpoenaed joy for our youth — the name under which kars4kids is incorporated — as part of a broader investigation into charities that accept car donations .

oorah , j . o . y . and kars4kids are all run by rabbis chaim and eliyohu mintz . kars4kids and j . o . y . serve as front - organizations for oorah , allowing oorah to raise money from non - jews and from jews who would not support oorah ' s programs . kars4kids and j . o . y . gets those people to give money to what appears to be a non - sectarian charity that aids children who are really in distress – homeless , abused , abondoned , etc . – but in reality all the money is gifted to oorah for orthodox jewish missionary activity . kars4kids is also using a kirbycard e - mail address . kirby card is owned by cucumber communications which is a totally owned subsidiary of oorah . cucumber claims :

the report is a bit unclear , but what oorah / joy for our youth / kars - 4 - kids did ( and still does to some extent ) is portray their organizations – all controlled by the people who control oorah – as helping all needy kids , when in reality almost all of the money goes to oorah – a haredi missionary outreach organization whose aim is to put non - orthodox jewish kids in haredi yeshiva schools . kars - 4 - kids hides this from the public , uses deceptively designed commericals , and practices what many – including at least two state attorneys general – say is illegal bait - and - switch advertising practices to get donations .

there are so many organizations out there competing for the same charity dollar that in order to have a chance of getting those funds , we have to be able to communicate to potential donors what it is about our organization that sets it apart and makes it worthy of support .

oorah started with a distribution to staten island residents ; shabbat packages to provide residents with a shabbat flavor , and holiday packages to enhance their holiday experiences . oorah expanded with various other programs , such as chillzone weekly learning sessions , thezone summer camp and holiday retreats . staten island acquired torahspot , its own building , with on - site programs and events . when you join the oorah staten island programs , you’ll join the larger oorah family and enjoy all that it has to offer . see a full list of programs .

joy has the same new jersey address and the same principal officer , eliyohu mintz , as another charity , oorah . according to the attorney general in pennsylvania , joy " has contributed substantially all of the funds it has raised to oorah in the past . "

oorah , the lakewood , new jersey - based haredi kiruv ( ' outreach , ' missionary ) organization that specializes in convincing non - orthodox jewish families to kids to enroll their kids in haredi yeshivas and day schools , made what was supposed to be a humorous fundraising video that features a haredi comedian , shlomo hadarshan , in blackface playing controversial civil rights activist and msnbc host rev . al sharpton . but the video has now been marked private on youtube , even as a picture of the sharpton blackface character still appears on oorah ' s website .

the 2015 budget for their ads ? seventeen million dollars , according to charitywatch , which is even more than kars4kids gave to oorah .

i am sure that many of you reading this article didn’t know about what i have shared . you probably also didn’t know that at a recent “ shabbat with oorah” family shabbaton , over 600 people attended and enjoyed the blessings of a shabbos together with oorah volunteers .

additionally , as the car donation proceeds get passed along from kars4kids to oorah , oorah itself has fundraising and general administrative costs to pay for , which it does primarily with the grant money it receives from kars4kids . therefore , the proceeds kars4kids generates from car donations get another “hair cut” when they make their way to oorah . fortunately , oorah’s cash - based program spending percentage was 74 % in 2015 , which is above charitywatch’s reasonableness benchmark of 60 % . even with oorah’s very reasonable rate of program spending , though , once oorah’s and kars4kids’ overhead expenses are considered in aggregate , only about 38 % of kars4kids’ donated car proceeds were spent on bona fide programs in 2015 . in other words , based on the average resale value of about $ 365 for a car donated to kars4kids in 2015 , less than $ 139 actually went towards benefitting “kids , ” who , as a reminder , are mostly jewish youth that participate in oorah’s orthodox jewish outreach programs .

according to oorah ' s website , " oorah , which means ' awaken , ' was founded in 1980 with the goal of awakening jewish children and their families to their heritage . " the site is full of articles , stories and testimonials which seem to imply that the physical and spiritual support and private religious education offered by oorah are intended to persuade secular jewish families to take on a more orthodox jewish lifestyle .

oorah - what the marines taught me about fundraising - hire a cfre ! robin l . cabral , ma , cfre | development consulting solutions

posted at 11 : 26 am in crime , litigation , etc . , haredim , oorah kars4kids , outreach , religion , religion & state

oorah , which means " awaken , " was founded in 1980 with the goal of awakening jewish children and their families to their heritage .

young israel president max robek said he has never seen members of congregation oorah attend services . courtesy of y . i . of eltingville .

oorah , inc . , plaintiff , v . marvin schick , the jewish foundation school , and the rabbi jacob joseph school , defendant .

at the jury trial on the counterclaims , the school maintained that oorah had breached a contract to make tuition payments for the 2007 - 2009 school years and , in the alternative , that oorah had been unjustly enriched by using its philanthropic relationship with the school to solicit donations .

we did not want to throw anything out there that might otherwise implicate an organization in untoward activity without a wee bit more information . today we received a letter which was sent from the “public relations director” of urltoken to their employees and friends . while we cannot attest to the providence of the letter , we can state fairly unequivocally that in our view it represents an effort on the part of oorah to control the damage of recent press .

the last time i was in eretz yisroel , i bumped into rabbi mintz . he told me that he was in yerushalayim to check up on oorah’s post - yeshiva program which helps oorah - sponsored students through their yeshiva years as they learn in israel . i had no clue that rabbi mintz maintains a satellite oorah office in israel with a full - time staff and volunteers who arrange trips and shabbatons , and offer their talmidim regular home - away - from - home counseling and guidance . that is the degree to which oorah views its responsibility to bnei ub’nos yisroel .

the court determined that oorah ' s claim would be tried separately from the school ' s counterclaims , the former in a bench trial and the latter before a jury . a three - day jury trial on the counterclaims commenced on january 9 , 2012 , and oorah was found liable for breach of contract in the amount of $ 357 , 100 . a bench trial on oorah ' s claim was held on march 12 , 2012 . after hearing limited testimony , the court determined that no binding non - disparagement agreement existed and the equitable relief oorah sought was improper .

joy ' s 2003 tax filing with the irs - the most recent available - reports that its only only grant that year , for $ 207 , 000 , was made to a nonprofit group called oorah inc . tax records for both joy and oorah list the same new jersey address .

at first blush , jefferson township ' s attempt to block tax free status for oorah ' s kids camp seems unjust and doomed to failure . but that may only be at first blush . a deeper look may favor jefferson township ' s claim that oorah is not a true charity .

oorah simultaneously drafted a similar note to the arbitrators . at the bench trial , counsel explained that , based on this note , oorah was seeking to enjoin the school from disparaging or making false statements about oorah . bench trial tr . at 12 - 13 . the court found that no enforceable non - disparagement agreement was in place and , even if it were , it could not merely enjoin the school from engaging in libel or slander .

the radio advertising spots refer listeners to the group ' s web site at kars4kids . com . as of tuesday , the site said car donations benefit joy for our youth , which it describes as " an international organization providing for the physical , emotional and spiritual needs of distressed and at - risk youth . "

as the founder and director of oorah , rabbi chaim mintz has taught , nurtured , and guided many thousands of families and individuals over the years .

the arrested workers were from mexico , honduras , guatemala , el salvador and the palestinian territories . five were living at the oorah camp , authorities said ; the rest lived at the belvedere country inn , a three - story restaurant , bar and hotel complex in nearby stamford , and were transported to the camp every day in two vans . earlier in the summer , all were living in the camp . eliyohu mintz , a director of oorah , said on july 10 that the organization was not aware that the workers lacked employment authorization . [ the daily star ( oneonta , ny ) 7 / 12 / 07 ]

a few weeks ago , i met with some people at oorah’s headquarters in lakewood , nj . like many of you , i had viewed the organization as a goofy bunch of people with a catchy radio jingle and great advertising . i knew that they were into kiruv and had a camp or two , but i didn’t really know why they needed so much money and what they did with it . intrigued , i took advantage of an opportunity to discover the answers firsthand .

the best thing about urltoken is that all the good phone deals these days you need an internet connection . with cucumber you get an unlimited plan and you don’t need an internet connection . i am very happy with their service and i am happier that the money is going to fund such a choshuve organization . 1800 - cucumber

over 500 jewish children and teenagers attend oorah’s highly subsidized overnight kiruv camps , boyzone , boys teenzone , girlzone , girls teenzone , and discover - u .

# 3 : this is a cop out . no big sponsors started oorah off . rabbi lipschitz’s point is don’t imitate , be creative on your own !

oorah is endorsed by almost every leading rabbi in the orthodox world . in most states , this is criminal fraud , and it certainly violates irs rules .

oorah fired back , arguing that it does use the facility for religious functions because it is connected to a jewish day care that is run on premises .

according to robek , stadler is still a member in good standing at the young israel , despite negotiating the sale agreement with oorah that spurred the lawsuit .

" oorah invested the money and then lost the money . and we think that , too , is something important for people to know , " swanson said .

this dichotomy , whereby oorah is so well - known for its advertising , yet less known for its world - changing and global kiruv efforts , is striking .

oorah is filling a need in kiruv that many other orgs . leave out—accompanying the baalei teshuva on their journey in order to create successful long - term outcome .

“we are still hoping this can all be resolved amicably , ” said robek . “i just don’t believe in a situation where oorah will agree to leave . ”

so , go out and run the race . and , even though it is your organization that is doing the hard work , take some lessons from the marines and treat your donors like the superheroes that they are . after all , the marines are making this sacrifice for our country , just as our donors are making another kind of sacrifice for our organizations .

on this one , oorah and kars4kids wrote the story for us . this is a hat tip to the director of public relations for making our lives that much easier .

joy is a registered international , 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) , non - profit organization providing developmental programs for at risk youth . joy provides food , clothing , shelter , health and wellness , education , after school programs , special training , mentoring , tutoring , private counseling , summer programs , and guidance to children from the ages of six to eighteen .

on . we have been with oorah for about 5 years and just love it ! ! ! always willing to put in that extra mile whether it is learning or listening .

* * * by way of contrast , in 1998 , the last of the five probationary years preceding the irs decision on whether or not to grant permanent tax exempt status , oorah raised $ 262 , 657 and gave away $ 238 , 207 , just over 90 % of what it raised . download oorah _ 1998 _ irs _ 990 . pdf

a federal court has found that oorah failed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars of tuition scholarship money it owed to the jewish foundation school / rabbi jacob joseph orthodox day school .

in the recent decision , a judge agreed that sidney stadler , the synagogue representative who bartered with oorah in 2007 , did not have the authority to enter into the arbitration agreement .

especially costly were kars4kids’ and oorah’s real estate investments in an alleged ponzi scheme in which they were victimized and lost more than a combined $ 7 . 6 million in 2009 and 2010 . to put the $ 7 . 6 million in context , oorah’s total cash spending on jewish youth programs was approximately $ 12 . 2 million over that same period . the real estate developer behind the alleged investment scheme , which reportedly caused $ 200 million in total losses , was sentenced to 22 years in prison . even though kars4kids and oorah were victims , some donors may seriously question the judgment of eliyohu mintz , the principal officer of kars4kids and oorah , and their other respective board members in deciding to risk donated charitable funds on real estate speculation .

in 2013 , a religious court , or beit din , ruled that the synagogue owed oorah $ 1 million after a dispute arose regarding the use of the property for the congregation’s services . congregants later objected to the presence of rabbi chaim mintz , the father of oorah’s acting president rabbi eliyahu mintz , as one of the judges on the beit din . ( a representative from oorah said that rabbi chaim mintz did not serve on the beit din that adjudicated the case , though the court decision says he was one of the arbitrators . ) in an effort to evade the potentially crippling arbitration award , the synagogue petitioned to vacate the award , arguing that the synagogue representative who originally entered into the agreement with oorah in 2007 had no authority to do so . )

for example , tax statements show that joy for our youth raised $ 24 million in 2009 , spending $ 7 million on advertising and $ 12 . 7 million for a grant to oorah .

when money passes from one charity to another , typically an additional layer of overhead cost takes a second bite out of donations , leaving less cash available to be spent on the programs donors intend to support . for example , based on these charities ' 2008 overhead rates , a $ 100 donation to joy that is then granted to oorah would result in $ 35 left to help children . in its 2008 tax form , joy reports spending just over $ 14 . 6 million , or 65 % of its $ 22 . 5 million budget , on programs - - which at face value appears to be a reasonable amount . however , nearly all of this program spending , $ 14 . 5 million , consisted of a grant to the charity ' s affiliate organization , oorah . this grant made up most of oorah ' s funding in 2008 , according to that charity ' s tax form , on which it reports spending 46 % of its budget on overhead . donors who only look at joy ' s reported program spending without taking oorah ' s overhead expenses into account might get the impression that more of their charitable donations are going to benefit kids than is actually the case .

oorah has the endorsements ( download oorah _ rabbinic _ endorsements . pdf ) of many haredi gedolim and rabbinic leaders , including many who sigined the rabbi slifkin ban , and a who ' s who of modern orthodox leaders as well , including yu ' s rabbi modechai willig , the ou and yu ' s rabbi menachem genak , and the beit din of america ' s rabbi michael broyde .

the 2007 agreement said that oorah would pay off the property mortgages and other expenses in exchange for owning the building , with the understanding that the synagogue would continue to run services on the property .

established in 1996 to help those children who were on the streets with no one to turn to for help . the dire situation of many young children was at dangerous levels . joy stepped in to fulfill a need for children who had no where to go and no one to turn to for help . joy has blossomed into an international organization helping to alleviate the problems of hundreds of children , and finding solutions that work .

1 . oorah initially brought claims for breach of contract , promissory estoppel , and confirmation and enforcement of an arbitral award . compl . ¶¶ 57 - 71 . the school counterclaimed for breach of contract , quantum meruit , and unjust enrichment . answer ¶¶ 18 - 28 . only oorah ' s breach of contract claim and the school ' s counterclaims for breach of contract and unjust enrichment survived summary judgment .

kars4kids’ low rate of program spending is also particularly concerning given that the vast majority of kars4kids’ program expenses consist of grants to its “sister charity , ” oorah , which runs the “educational , developmental , and recreational programs for jewish youth and their families” funded by kars4kids , per its mission . about 93 % of kars4kids’ cash - based program spending in 2015 was in the form of a grant to oorah in the amount of approximately $ 16 . 9 million . by comparison , kars4kids reported spending about $ 17 . 1 million on advertising and promotion in 2015 – about $ 150 , 000 more than its cash grant to oorah . furthermore , as a percentage of the funds kars4kids generated from donated vehicles ( including boats & planes ) in 2015 , its grant to oorah represented only about 46 % of those total funds raised .

when organizations like oorah , delineate all the wonderful ways our tzadakah dollars are being used it not only validates the importance of giving tzadakah but shows how transparency in our mosdos can be a true kiddush hashem .

while phone calls placed to oorah also were not returned , that group ' s web site says it was founded in 1980 , " with the goal of awakening jewish children and their families to their heritage .

since 2010 when charitywatch last wrote about kars4kids and the more than $ 100 , 000 it paid related to misleading advertising claims in oregon and pennsylvania , news reports have identified kars4kids and / or oorah in connection with additional cases involving legal accusations or other questionable financial dealings . these include getting caught up as victims in an alleged ponzi scheme related to speculating on real estate development ; oorah losing a federal lawsuit over more than $ 300 , 000 in allegedly unpaid scholarship funds ; an ongoing payment dispute with the young israel of eltingville synagogue that includes tax fraud allegations against oorah ; and kars4kids paying to settle claims of trademark infringement .

the focus of the attorney general’s report was on the fact that less money was spent on children and programs in minnesota than was raised in that state . this is true and we have never claimed otherwise . as a community - based national organization founded and headquartered in the northeast , it is only natural ( and perfectly legal ) for our charity recipients to be concentrated in this area , though we do have children and programs across the country .

in the application , congregation oorah suggests that the current young israel congregation is defunct , stating that the location “was known as the young israel of eltingville” and claiming that no other entity operates in the same facility .

the coats , i ' m told , primarily came from an unrelated charity and oorah , et al , didn ' t even have to pay for many of them . but even if they did pay , the number fo coats given away in this exploitative manner is exceedingly small compared to the money kars - 4 - kids raises every year . the vast bulk of that money goes to oorah , often through joy for youth .

oorah , however , spent $ 6 . 5 million on its programs that year , according to tax returns . another $ 3 . 5 million went to fundraising and administration , and $ 5 . 4 million was not disbursed .

the warmth , the inviting atmosphere , the sense of community . there’s something about the staten island jewish community that will keep you coming back for more . oorah staten island is the number one source for jewish programming here on the island . with our programs and events , you’ll discover the timeless power of our jewish heritage and values . oorah staten island is the center for the jewish community , offering educational and recreational programs , all completely free . come on over !

the site also says oorah enables children to enroll in jewish day schools or yeshivas and brings " adult education opportunities to the parent , as well as all the ritual objects and support they need to live a full jewish life . "

a january 2005 story in new york ' s the jewish week said oorah recruits potential students by going " door - to - door " in search of unobservant jewish families receptive to the idea of sending their children to day school .

“i’ve never seen any member of this so - called ‘congregation oorah’ here for services . i don’t know what they’re talking about , ” said robek , who is 77 and has been a member of the young israel for two decades .

torahspot is the place to be - it’s where it all happens . it’s the hub of the jewish community in staten island , a comfortable gathering and learning spot where the oorah staten island programs take place . it’s where you and your family can go to relax , socialize with and connect to your jewish community and heritage . it’s all about meeting other staten island jewish families and sharing stimulating discussion in a welcoming , homey atmosphere . learn more about oorah staten island programs .

kars4kids funds educational , developmental , and recreational programs for jewish youth and their families . our goal is to foster a generation of well - balanced , productive adults . our means to accomplish this goal is to provide children and their families with a strong network of personal guidance and educational resources , individualized to their needs . our wide array of services is designed to maximize each facet of a child ' s development - academic , social and cultural . kars4kids overall areas of activity consist of educational programming , school placement , tuition assistance , mentorship programs , cultural activities , weekend retreats , religious instruction , summer camps , recreation and guidance counseling . kars4kids is a registered nonprofit jewish organization who , together with oorah , our sister charity , helps thousands of children .

oorah ' s simple , straightforward goal is to give jewish children and their families opportunities to become active and productive members of their community . we accomplish this through our specially developed programs , focusing on education , extracurricular activities , and family enrichment .

you never know . so often we find hype with little substance behind it and sometimes , if we dig deep enough , we can find that elusive diamond in the rough that , like oorah , is waiting to be mined , polished and appreciated .

“when applying for tax - exempt status for its non - existent congregation , oorah falsely told the irs that young israel of eltingville no longer exists and it is holding services at the young israel’s location , ” rubin , who is representing the synagogue pro bono , told the jewish week via email . he says it’s “identity theft” because “oorah adopted young israel of eltingville’s identity to obtain tax - exempt status as a religious congregation . it would not have been able to obtain this tax status without the false representation . ”