Project Ezrah Needs Inc.

“The executive director reviews the form 990. A draft of the form 990 is distributed to all board members via email or at a board meeting. If there are any comments or concerns they are to be addressed by the executive director, who shall then consult with the trustees on resolution of such comments or concerns.”

“The conflict of interest policy is regularly circulated, conspicuously posted and all prospective candidates are cleared for compliance. Members of the board or committee and officers must disclose their relationship to any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest. At each meeting if a member feels they have a conflict with the agenda the member must abstain from voting.”

“The compensation committee meets yearly and decides the appropriate compensation for the executive director based on the salaries of executive directors of similar organizations. Once approved by the compensation committee it reports to the executive board. Total compensation and budget are approved and ratified by the board. This process was last conducted on 8/22/23 for the executive director and 3/22/22 for all other staff.”

“Policies are private internal policies and are not made available to the general public, but are available to contributors upon request. Financial statements and governing documents are available upon request.”

“To provide assistance to individuals in need and to raise funds via contributions and various events.”

“Project Ezrah Needs, Inc. founded in 2005, utilizing a specifically developed multi-faceted program, guides and assists each client family in creating a lifestyle that enables them to be financially and emotionally self-sufficient as well as productive members of their community. There are many avenues that are traversed to reach these specific goals; therefore, a Project Ezrah counselor stands by and assists throughout the process and continues to work with and mentor the family until the identified goals have been reached. Case workers, financial counselors and employment counselors create individualized programs for client families. Each unique program is based on specific needs and identifies attainable goals. Helping the client navigate through the family's financial situation is addressed first. Clients are then taught fiscal responsibility and appropriate management and budgeting skills, all with the ultimate goal of building up self-esteem and mending and rebuilding the marriage. Lastly, the client's employment status and capabilities are assessed and addressed so that appropriate and meaningful employment is within reach. Incorporated into the program are various paths which may include: personal job search strategies, career counseling and support for job placement, fiscal planning, budget management training and financial assistance for critical living expenses and food, yearly school supplies for client's children and health and mental health care intervention. Project Ezrah has also designed a module specifically developed to help client families better differentiate between necessary and discretionary expenditures: Counselors review, analyze and then, using the family's income, make the appropriate disbursement for payment of bills. Though the process is very detailed and time consuming, it has proven to be enormously beneficial to the client families' understanding and utilization of appropriate financial management and budgeting techniques. This has accounted for approximately $450,000 of client funds administered by Project Ezrah Needs, Inc., during the year ended December 31, 2023. Interaction between client and case workers/staff is never limited to the pre-determined weekly meetings. Within all programs and options, clients are encouraged to reach out to and sustain an on-going dialogue with their Project Ezrah liaison. Professionals and staff members work in unison toward the family's ultimate goal. At the same time, each concentrates on specific areas. Numerous hours are dedicated to helping each family work toward a sustainable lifestyle.”

“Project EZRAH administers three programs within this category. Internally the programs are called Spark, Boost and Partner. All three provide varying levels of support. Hours of preparations for a client family begin even before the client is accepted into any of the Financial Assistance programs starting with an initial intake meeting to understand the issues and try to assess what the right program for the family would be. It then moves onto analysis of required financial documents, review and verification of financial need, evaluation of probable compliance to the program's principles and, finally, acceptance into one of the three programs and the creation of a unique-to-that-family path toward success. An extended initial meeting acquaints the new client family with the program, sets the family's goals, outlines their individual course of action and reviews in detail the family's financial assistance package. The family's first month in the program usually requires extended interaction hours so that both spouses, and even children when appropriate, are fully comfortable with and possess an understanding of the program. Throughout the course of a family's program, case workers, mental health professionals and health care professionals work in areas as needed. Additionally, staff members are available to assist clients with bookkeeping, financial planning, in finding appropriate and meaningful employment, computer-training, school supplies before the beginning of each year as well as planning appropriate simchas. The Partner Program (formerly known as the Managed Salary Program) assists client families with critical living expenses, medical bills, approved invoices as well as a cash allowance for food and weekly incidentals. In 2023, the Managed Salary program assisted 11 families; by year's end, approximately 27% of these families either graduated out of the program or, with minimal assistance from Project Ezrah, managed on their own. The Boost Program works with families who do not have the same level of need as our Partner clients or who have graduated out of that program as a step down program. Our Spark Program assists families who look to Project Ezrah for pre-approved, singular needs assistance and/or pro-bono services. There were over 267 additional families who received consistent support in 2023. An additional 422 families received scholarships, grants and other forms of one time assistance during 2023.”

“The Employment department connects candidates with appropriate employment opportunities. After a specific in-take process, an initial meeting allows counselors to assess a candidate's job readiness and make suggestions for targeted area improvements; resumes are reviewed and revised, interview skills are evaluated, job-search strategies are analyzed and appropriate goals are established. Candidates continue to work directly with their employment counselor until they have found meaningful and appropriate employment. The employment department spends many hours cultivating potential employers in order to develop a broader spectrum of available employment opportunities for the Project Ezrah client/candidate. In 2023, the employment team worked directly with 238 in-house candidates and was instrumental in placing 48 candidates (24%). Additional and complimentary services have been implemented to augment the job-search experience: (1) A LinkedIn group promotes networking. Over 2,500 candidates and community members use this format to expand each candidate's own network of contacts and answer appropriate industry-specific questions. (2) Seminars are held to assist, encourage, enlighten and broaden a candidate's knowledge in a variety of subjects. 2023's seminars were: Career Summit * Freakonomics of Resume Customization * How to Successfully Get in Front of Companies. Recent Initiatives: In an effort to keep current with community needs, the organization has initiated a program to identify new areas that will support its mission goals: Help Ezrah Help. In an effort to reduce some financial expenditures on behalf of its clients, the organization has made a concerted effort to avail itself of pro bono services donated by community members and has thus created a base with a broad range of donated services (e.g. legal assistance, medical and dental care, financial planning, tax preparation and accounting, tutoring.) By the end of 2023, the organization was able to draw from over 200 pro bono providers, which enabled the organization to distribute funds in areas of greater need. (At the end of 2022 the organization was able to draw from over 180 pro bono providers.) The Aisle: A Pathway to Financial Fidelity. A specialized training seminar, targeting engaged or newlywed couples, to teach money management and budget preparation. This specific group has been selected in order to prevent financial collapse prior to the onset of the yeshiva tuition avalanche. Passover Grant Program. For families who might not need the intensive services during the year that Project Ezrah offers, but do need support during various points in the year. A grant application is open to the public and allows families to apply through an online portal. This is also used as an entryway into the organization for families who might be in need of our comprehensive programming but might have been reluctant to access it. Day Camp Scholarships. For many in our community day camp is not a luxury but an important form of child care during the summer months. To help make this more affordable Project Ezrah created a day camp scholarship open to the community.”

“Project ezrah has established distinct guidelines for application and eligibility criteria for each of its specific grant programs. The individual who applies for funding must exhibit demonstrated financial need as well as verify that funds will be used solely for the purposes delineated in the original award announcement. A procedure of follow-up and evaluation further assists in monitoring the approved grants.”