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Non-profit

B’nai B’rith International (B’nai B’rith)

Website:

www.bnaibrith.org/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

53-0179971
Budget (2020):

Revenue: $5,894,967
Expenses: $5,790,314
Assets: $4,669,956
Founded:

1843 1

References

  1. “B’nai B’rith.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/b’nai-b’rith-international/
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $7,292,422
Expenses: $5,555,302
Assets: $5,666,005 1

References

  1. “B’nai B’rith.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bnai-brith-international,530179971/

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B’nai B’rith International (B’nai B’rith) is a religious-based interest group first established in 1843 in New York that promotes Jewish unity and continuity. 1 B’nai B’rith is involved in disaster relief, advocates for senior citizens, and supports the State of Israel. 2

The BBI also supports business and industry programs by members of the organization across the United States and 50 other countries. 3

Background

B’nai B’rith International is an international Jewish organization that says it is dedicated to security and continuity of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. 4 “B’nai B’rith” means “children of the covenant” in Hebrew. 5

The group focuses on defending human rights, combating antisemitism and bigotry, uniting people of the Jewish faith and enhancing Jewish identity through strengthening Jewish family life and the education and training of youth. 6

The organization maintains offices in Washington, D.C.; New York City; Brussels, Belgium; and Montevideo, Uruguay. 7

B’nai B’rith asserts on its website that U.S. presidents “from Grover Cleveland to Donald Trump” have recognized the accomplishments of the organization. 8

Public Policy Advocacy

B’nai B’rith International says it is involved in human rights, public policy, and social action through its International Center for Human Rights and Public Policy. 9

The group focuses on policies affecting Jewish people at the United Nations (UN), the European Union, the Organization of American States, and other international organizations. Inside the United States, B’nai B’rith advocates for policies with Congress and federal agencies, as well as in state legislatures. 10 It says it communicates regularly with the White House and State Department to promote the Jewish interests in the Middle East. 11

The organization opposes the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel. 12

B’nai B’rith has an office of UN Affairs with accredited representation at United Nations agencies worldwide. This includes representatives at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Paris. The organization advocates for holding the UN accountable for fair treatment of Israel. 13

The organization says it hosted and advised more than 40 senior United Nations diplomats to Israel. 14

The organization also has a fulltime presence in Brussels, Belgium to advocate for Jewish issues to the European Union. 15

B’nai B’rith says it supports Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks. The group promotes the rights of Jewish refugees from Arab and Muslim countries. It also supports direct negotiations between the parties to the Middle East conflict. 16

B’nai B’rith supports Congress passing the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act and the Iran Freedom Support Act, both bills that would enhance security for Israel. 17

In September 2023, the organization spoke out against a proposal in the United Nations to refer Israel to the International Court of Justice. Millie Magid, chair of the B’nai B’rith Office of U.N. Affairs, said, “if the forces demonizing, delegitimizing and assaulting Jews, including Israeli Jews, are to be stopped, the ICJ must draw a line in the sand and not abet political prosecution of Israel.” 18

A delegation from B’nai B’rith met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in May 2022 for interfaith dialogue. 19

Charity and Disaster Relief

B’nai B’rith International’s Center for Senior Services advocates on matters such as aging-in-place, healthcare, Social Security, transportation, and income protection. 20

The group has sponsored 38 U.S. Housing and Urban Development-assisted apartment buildings, providing housing resources to more than 5,000 low-income seniors in the United States without regard to race or religion. B’nai B’rith says it is the largest national Jewish sponsor of subsidized housing in the country. 21

The B’nai B’rith Youth Commission for Teens and the Foundation for Jewish College Students are also tied to B’nai B’rith as charities with chapters across the United States. 22

B’nai B’rith International established its World Center in Jerusalem, which promotes strong Israel-Diaspora relations, and sponsors cultural programs and interchange. BBI’s World Center works with many other Israeli relief organizations providing aid to disaster-stricken parts of the world. 23

The organization has been involved in disaster relief since 1865. In some cases, this includes distributing holiday-appropriate food for elderly Jewish residents; collecting and distributing day-old baked goods to shelters and schools; and providing stuffed “Buddy Bears” to comfort hospitalized children. 24

History

Henry Jones and 11 other German-Jewish immigrants in New York formed B’nai B’rith in 1843 to address what the founders called “the deplorable condition of Jews in this, our newly adopted country.” 25

The first action by B’nai B’rith in New York was to establish an insurance policy that awarded members’ widows $30 toward funeral expenses. It also provided a stipend of one dollar a week for the rest of their lives. Each child would get a stipend. The condition for a male child to get a stipend was the assurance the son would learn a trade. 26

From there, various fraternal lodges were established across the United States. Eventually, new chapters were established around the world. 27

In 1851, B’nai B’rith helped to establish Covenant Hall in New York as the first Jewish community center in the United States. In 1852, the group opened the New York Maimonides Library, the first public Jewish library in the country. 28

After the Civil War, B’nai B’rith founded the 200-bed Cleveland Jewish Orphan Home. 29

After a flood devastated Baltimore in 1868, B’nai B’rith provided disaster relief. The organization was in existence 13 years before the American Red Cross. 30

In 1868, the organization also raised $4,552 to aid the victims of a cholera epidemic in what is now Israel. 31

When anti-Semitism became a significant problem in Romania in the 1870s, the U.S. government set up a consulate in the country and appointed former B’nai B’rith president, Benjamin Peixotto, as the group’s first consul. 32

The organization opened 40 senior homes in more than 25 communities across the United States in 1971. 33

In 2011, Wayne State University Press published professor Cornelia Wilhelm’s book, The Independent Orders of B’nai B’rith and True Sisters: Pioneers of a New Jewish Identity 1843-1914, about the origins and early years of the group. 34

Leadership

Daniel S. Mariaschin is the CEO of B’nai B’rith International. He has met with prime ministers, foreign ministers, opposition leaders, and religious leaders on behalf of the organization. Mariaschin was a member of the U.S. delegation to several Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe conferences on anti-Semitism. In 1973 he was a community relations associate for the Jewish Community Council of Boston. He later worked for the New England office of the American Zionist Federation and Zionist House in Boston. 35

In 1977, Mariaschin joined the Anti‑Defamation League as director of its Middle East Affairs Department. From 1979 to 1986, he was the assistant to ADL’s national director. He went on to become the director of the political affairs department of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. He was the communications director for former Secretary of State Alexander Haig’s unsuccessful 1988 campaign for the Republican Party presidential nomination. 36

Mariaschin was paid $425,765 according to B’nai B’rith’s 2022 tax returns. 37

Mark D. Olshan is the associate executive vice president of B’nai B’rith International and director of the B’nai B’rith International Center for Senior Services. He previously was the BBI director of the senior citizens housing program. 38 Olshan was paid $196,628 in 2022, according to B’nai B’rith’s tax returns. 39

References

  1. “B’nai B’rith.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/b’nai-b’rith-international/
  2. [1] “B’nai B’rith.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bnai-brith-international,530179971/
  3. “B’nai B’rith.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 13, 2023.  https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bnai-brith-international,530179971/
  4. “B’nai B’rith.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/b’nai-b’rith-international/
  5. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  6. “B’nai B’rith.” LinkedIn. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/b’nai-b’rith-international/
  7. “Israel and the Middle East.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/israel-and-the-middle-east1/
  8. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  9. “B’nai B’rith.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bnai-brith-international,530179971/
  10. “B’nai B’rith.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bnai-brith-international,530179971/
  11. “Israel and the Middle East.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/israel-and-the-middle-east1/
  12. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  13. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  14. “By the Numbers.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/
  15. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  16. “Israel and the Middle East.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/israel-and-the-middle-east1/
  17. “Israel and the Middle East.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/israel-and-the-middle-east1/
  18. “B’nai B’rith calls on court not to ‘abet political prosecution of Israel’” JNS. September 13, 2023. https://www.jns.org/world-news/bnai-brith-international/23/9/13/318790/
  19. Nahmius, Omri. “In meeting with Pope Francis, B’nai B’rith calls for expansion of the Abraham Accords.” Jerusalem Post. June 1, 2022. https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-708314
  20. “B’nai B’rith.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bnai-brith-international,530179971/
  21. “B’nai B’rith.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bnai-brith-international,530179971/
  22.  “B’nai B’rith.” Cause IQ. Accessed October 13, 2023.  https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bnai-brith-international,530179971/
  23. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  24. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  25. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  26.  “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  27. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  28. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  29. “About.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/about-us/
  30. “B’nai B’rith International.” Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/b-nai-b-rith-international
  31. “B’nai B’rith International.” Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/b-nai-b-rith-international
  32. “B’nai B’rith International.” Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/b-nai-b-rith-international
  33. “B’nai B’rith International.” Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/b-nai-b-rith-international
  34. “B’nai B’rith International.” Jewish Virtual Library. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/b-nai-b-rith-international
  35. Daniel Mariaschin. B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/team/daniel-mariaschin/
  36. Daniel Mariaschin. B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/team/daniel-mariaschin/
  37. IRS Form 990. B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BBI-FY-2022-990-Public.pdf
  38. “Mark D. Olshan.” B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 14, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/team/mark-d-olshan/
  39. IRS Form 990. B’nai B’rith International. Accessed October 13, 2023. https://www.bnaibrith.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BBI-FY-2022-990-Public.pdf
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 1997

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Jun Form 990 $5,894,967 $5,790,314 $4,669,956 $4,968,808 Y $5,834,285 $16,140 $56,592 $1,066,256
    2018 Jun Form 990 $7,935,450 $7,005,749 $4,144,898 $4,465,631 Y $7,796,237 $175,536 $30,643 $1,045,726 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $7,205,928 $7,934,468 $3,798,801 $5,080,284 Y $6,802,865 $400,801 $20,850 $852,358 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $6,379,590 $7,379,358 $3,850,326 $4,516,376 Y $5,704,445 $428,905 $120,212 $842,457 PDF
    2015 Jun Form 990 $8,136,944 $8,012,285 $3,722,864 $3,320,613 Y $7,270,272 $583,487 $141,809 $782,311 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $7,002,140 $7,491,633 $4,132,446 $4,296,399 Y $5,513,545 $583,512 $49,099 $760,448 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $9,668,190 $13,323,298 $5,036,031 $18,581,030 Y $8,742,006 $992,986 $38,790 $707,677 PDF
    2010 Jun Form 990 $15,933,982 $17,351,680 $7,235,455 $22,075,681 Y $14,969,583 $1,087,250 $154,412 $694,575 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    B’nai B’rith International (B’nai B’rith)

    1120 20th St NW, Suite 300 N
    Washington, DC 20036-3413