Moving Traditions emboldens jewish youth to thrive through the pursuit of personal wellbeing(shleimut), caring relationships (hesed), and a jewish and feminist vision of equity and justice (tzedek).

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$661K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $308K a year · 8% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$661K
to officers and key staff · 22% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 22% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $65K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$580K
18% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 18% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.5M
+21% vs prior year
Spent
$3.0M
To programs
81%
Net assets
$2.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.5M
FY2021▲ +21%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$3.5M
FY2022$3.3M
FY2023$4.6M
FY2024$4.3M
FY2025$4.4M
Expenses
$3.0M
FY2021▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$3.0M
FY2022$3.5M
FY2023$3.6M
FY2024$3.8M
FY2025$4.5M
Net assets
$2.6M
FY2021▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$2.6M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$3.4M
FY2024$4.0M
FY2025$3.9M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2004.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $2.4M Management & general 9% · $275K Fundraising 9% · $280K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

17 people listed on the 990; $661K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Founder & CEO
$208,992Pt VII · Sec A
$117,733Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of External Relations
$116,016Pt VII · Sec A
California Director
$109,090Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Chief of Advancement
$108,926Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michelle Karkowsky’s $188K as CEO is at the 87th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1636 $1–10M religion nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Deborah Meyer———$128,352$208,992$208,993
Michelle Karkowsky$187,981$195,481$177,752$151,830——
Brian Mono$145,975$140,094$130,276$125,276$108,926$108,926
Adam Broms$145,557—————
Lisa Gersten$141,000$136,891$130,516$126,236$116,016$115,976
Robin Cohen——$134,170$117,347$117,733$121,524
Pamela Barkley$131,742$127,309$116,731$112,236——
Eve Berger$122,121$117,874$105,516———

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowers youth through self-discovery, challenging sexism, and inspiring Jewish life.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.4M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Moving traditions' four main programs are b'nai mitzvah for 6TH and 7TH graders and their parents; our experiential education teen groups, rosh hodesh, shevet, and tzelem; kol koleinu feminist teen fellowship; and cultureshift, our "train-the-trainer" program for jewish informal education programs.

$2.4Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$65K

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$137K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Money outPt IX
$3.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.4M
Managementcol C$275K
Fundraisingcol D$280K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.3M
Total assetsLn 16$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$580K
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$704K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$8K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$137K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Total revenueLn 12$3.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$182K
SavingsLn 2$2.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$81K
Other assetsLn 15$310K
Total assetsLn 16$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$580K
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 540
VolunteersI 613
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.2M$2.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$68K$81K
Total assetsLn 16$2.8M$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$695K$580K
Net assetsLn 32$2.1M$2.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$329K$206K$90K$32K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$1.4M$99K$160K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$240K$194K$23K$23K
Payroll taxesLn 10$170K$137K$16K$17K
Accounting feesLn 11c$18K$5K$9K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$343K$293K$22K$28K
Office expensesLn 13$58K$48K$5K$5K
Information technologyLn 14$61K$50K$5K$5K
OccupancyLn 16$48K$41K$2K$5K
TravelLn 17$439$389$25$25
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$2K$2K$20$20
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$23K$19K$2K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$6K$6K$3$3
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.0M$2.4M$275K$280K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $4.4M$4.5M−$121K$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.3M$3.8M$557K$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.6M$3.6M$1.0M$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.3M$3.5M−$183K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $3.5M$3.0M$510K$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.9M$2.8M$49K$2.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,463,085 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,733,778$3,315,200
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $129,375$136,941
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $5,104$7,638
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $300$3,306
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,868,557$3,463,085
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,448,558$2,394,728
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $371,111$558,771
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,819,669$2,953,499
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $48,888$509,586
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,463,085 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$704,326
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,610,874
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$7,677
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,315,200
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$136,941
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $7,638$7,638
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $3,306 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$3,306
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $140,247 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $7,638$3,463,085
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,953,499 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $206,421 · Management $90,485 · Fundraising $31,619$328,525
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,397,053 · Management $99,211 · Fundraising $159,820$1,656,084
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $193,795 · Management $23,193 · Fundraising $23,406$240,394
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $136,825 · Management $16,375 · Fundraising $16,525$169,725
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $5,441 · Management $9,068 · Fundraising $3,627$18,136
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $293,004 · Management $22,214 · Fundraising $27,942$343,160
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $47,764 · Management $4,985 · Fundraising $5,031$57,780
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $50,117 · Management $5,197 · Fundraising $5,245$60,559
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $41,293 · Management $1,774 · Fundraising $4,987$48,054
IX-17 TravelPrograms $389 · Management $25 · Fundraising $25$439
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,733 · Management $20 · Fundraising $20$1,773
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $18,571 · Management $2,223 · Fundraising $2,243$23,037
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,827 · Management $3 · Fundraising $3$5,833
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,398,233 · Management $274,773 · Fundraising $280,493$2,953,499
Part X · Balance sheet $3,152,130 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $396,759$181,647
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,765,163$2,128,398
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $419,464$403,776
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $101,788$47,416
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $67,930$80,717
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $6,250$310,176
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,757,354$3,152,130
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $294,254$158,567
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $400,400$421,277
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $694,654$579,844
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,707,616$2,217,202
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $355,084$355,084
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,062,700$2,572,286
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,757,354$3,152,130
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,572,286 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,463,085
XI-2 Total expenses$2,953,499
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$509,586
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,062,700
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,572,286

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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