Action for Post Soviet Jewry

What Action for Post Soviet Jewry does

Action for Post-Soviet Jewry (Action-PSJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in 1974 during the Refusenik era, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. The organization provides direct community support to vulnerable elderly Jewish populations and conflict-affected individuals in Ukraine through six core programs: the Adopt-a-Bubbe & Zayde Program (monthly stipends and nourishment), the Telehealth Program (surgery facilitation and rehab in partnership with the Jewish Medical Center of Dnipro), the Humanitarian Aid Program (survival items such as blankets, heaters, power banks, and food), the Jewish Heritage Initiative, the Warm Houses Program (community gatherings for Shabbat and holidays), and Partnership Community Aid. In 2023, Action-PSJ established a sister foundation, Action for Ukraine, based in Ukraine to enable on-the-ground delivery with transparent financial management.

The organization operates a direct-to-donor fundraising model through its website (actionpsj.org), Amazon Wishlist, event-based campaigns (Act-A-Thon, Annual Meeting, 50th Anniversary events), and a Times of Israel blog authored by the Executive Director. Revenue is derived entirely from charitable donations, likely supplemented by grants from foundations and institutional donors. Direct support is delivered through a network of in-country coordinators in 15+ Ukrainian cities, including 3 communities under Russian occupation, plus 10+ local and 24+ US-based partnerships. The organization reports 650+ donors, 230+ seniors supported, 1,500+ beneficiaries served, and 30 tons of aid delivered.

The organization has been led since 2024 by Debbie Kardon, its first full-time Executive Director, succeeding founding Executive Director Judy Patkin who served for 45 years. Action-PSJ has no technology platform, proprietary software, or AI/ML capabilities; its competitive advantage rests on 50 years of community trust, deep coordinator networks in Ukrainian Jewish communities, and personal donor relationships. It is wholly independent, with no parent company, no venture capital backing, and no institutional investors.

Name

Action for Post Soviet Jewry

Legal name

Action For Post-Soviet Jewry

Website

https://actionpsj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Action for Post-Soviet Jewry is a 50-year-old nonprofit providing direct humanitarian aid, monthly stipends, telehealth, and community support to vulnerable elderly Jews across 15 Ukrainian communities, funded by 650+ US-based donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAKAE

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYHLAJAKAD

International & Local Implementing NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Jewish community support
• Elder care programs
• Ukraine relief donations
• Nonprofit fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Waltham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Revenue is generated entirely through charitable donations from individuals, likely supplemented by grants from foundations and institutional donors. The organization disburses funds as direct aid to beneficiaries in Ukraine.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Action for Post-Soviet Jewry is a US-based nonprofit humanitarian organization that delivers direct aid and community support to elderly and vulnerable Jewish communities in Ukraine, primarily through monthly stipends, survival supplies (blankets, heaters, lamps, power banks, food), telehealth services, and community gatherings. Donor contributions from US supporters are channeled through a grassroots coordinator network in 15+ Ukrainian cities and a sister foundation (Action for Ukraine) established in 2023.

Product overview

Action for Post Soviet Jewry is a humanitarian nonprofit organization operating as a single, unified program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization provides direct community support to post-Soviet Jewish communities, primarily in Ukraine, through multiple interconnected programs: the Adopt-a-Bubbe & Zayde program for elderly support, Telehealth Program for healthcare access, Humanitarian Aid for survival supplies, Jewish Heritage Initiative for cultural continuity, Warm Houses for community gatherings, and Partnership Community Aid for collaborative support delivery. The organization also operates a sister NGO, Action for Ukraine Foundation (established 2023), which extends these services with enhanced local capacity within Ukraine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adopt-a-Bubbe & Zayde Program (Tzedakah Sustenance) Provides monthly stipends, nourishment, and targeted aid to elderly Jewish individuals ('bubbes' and 'zaydes') to ensure their sustenance, well-being, and dignity. Program supports 230+ seniors across 15+ Ukrainian communities.
• Telehealth Program Healthcare support program providing surgery facilitation, short-term rehabilitation stays, and health services to 50 elders, supported through the Jewish Medical Center of Dnipro. Enables vulnerable seniors to access medical care amid the war.
• Humanitarian Aid Program Provides survival items including food, blankets, rechargeable lights, heaters, and power banks for individuals affected by conflict and adversity. Donors can directly purchase items via Amazon Wishlist.
• Warm Houses Program Community-based gatherings for nourishment, connection, and celebration of Shabbat and Jewish holidays in isolated communities, demonstrating the resilience of Jewish life amid war.
• Jewish Heritage Initiative Provides real-time war updates, shares educational resources, and ensures the continuity of local and global Jewish community connections through content and outreach.
• Partnership Community Aid Strategic collaborations to provide humanitarian aid and deliver essential items for individuals through local and international partnerships with trusted non-profits.
• Action for Ukraine Foundation Newly established foundation in Ukraine (founded 2023) dedicated to serving people and communities with enhanced capacity, transparent financial management, and direct support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 650+ donors, $200,000+ in direct support, 230+ seniors supported, 30 tons of aid delivered, 1,500+ beneficiaries across 15 communities

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jewish Medical Center of DniprocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jewish Medical Center of Dnipro supports Action-PSJ's Telehealth Program, providing surgery facilitation and short-term rehab stays to approximately 50 elders. This partnership enables vulnerable seniors to access medical care amid the war.
• Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCJP is a major Boston-area Jewish philanthropy. Dr. Sarah Abramson, CJP's Senior Vice President for Strategy and Impact, has spoken at Action-PSJ events. CJP represents a key partner in the Boston Jewish philanthropic ecosystem that Action-PSJ engages with.
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (the Joint)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Joint is a major international Jewish humanitarian organization. APSJ worked alongside JCRC to encourage the Jewish community in Dnipropetrovsk to organize under a secular leader as a prerequisite to receiving Joint aid. The Joint subsequently opened an office in Dnipro and supplied the Jewish library with items like canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and food packages.
• Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCRC partnered with the Jewish community in Dnipropetrovsk as part of the Kehillah Project of the National Conference for Soviet Jews. APSJ and JCRC together encouraged the Jewish community to organize under a secular leader, which was a prerequisite for receiving international aid.
• Project KesherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElla Goncharova, a key community leader in Dnipro, has been involved with Project Kesher and leads the 'Mom-to-Mom' program. Project Kesher focuses on Jewish community development and women's leadership in the former Soviet Union.
• Israeli Cultural Center (Embassy of the State of Israel in Ukraine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElla Goncharova served as director of the Sunday Jewish School at the Israeli Cultural Center (Embassy of the State of Israel in Ukraine) from 1996 to 2016, and also led the Business Club, Young Leaders, and Talmud Torah project through this center.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Jewish World Service (AJWS): Jewish international development and humanitarian organization supporting grassroots activism in the developing world. Overlapping model as a Jewish values-driven humanitarian NGO but with a broader geographic focus.
• The Jewish Agency for Israel: The Jewish Agency connects Jewish communities worldwide with Israel and supports Jewish heritage and aliyah. Comparable mission in sustaining Jewish life in the diaspora, particularly post-Soviet Jewry, though operating at much larger scale and broader scope.
• International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ): Major humanitarian organization funding welfare programs for Jewish populations in need worldwide, including the former Soviet Union. Comparable as a Jewish humanitarian aid funder with similar beneficiary base.
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC): The JDC is the largest Jewish humanitarian organization worldwide, providing rescue, relief, and renewal to Jewish communities globally, including active operations in Ukraine. Direct peer as a Jewish humanitarian NGO serving post-Soviet Jewish populations, but at vastly greater scale.
• HIAS: Jewish refugee resettlement and humanitarian aid organization assisting displaced populations including those from the former Soviet Union. Highly relevant peer given the refugee and conflict-affected populations served.

Direct peers

• World Jewish Relief: UK-based Jewish humanitarian organization providing emergency aid and community development to Jewish populations in crisis, including Eastern Europe. Highly comparable as a Jewish diaspora-focused aid NGO serving post-Soviet communities.
• Project Kesher: Jewish organization focused on women's leadership and Jewish community development in the former Soviet Union. Direct peer in serving post-Soviet Jewish community development with overlapping coordinator networks in Ukraine.

Others

• National Conference on Soviet Jewry: US-based advocacy organization supporting Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union and their descendants. Adjacent peer as the parent framework under which Action-PSJ operated the Kehillah Project for Ukrainian Jewish community development.
• Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP): Major Boston-area Jewish federation and Action-PSJ partner. Comparable as a US-based Jewish philanthropic organization but functions as a federation aggregator rather than direct aid implementer.

Emerging players

• Leket Israel: Israeli food rescue and humanitarian aid organization. Adjacent peer in humanitarian aid delivery model for vulnerable populations, though focused on Israel rather than diaspora.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ActionPSJ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/actionpsj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Action for Post Soviet Jewry