PLATINUM2023

HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON

Houston, TX   |  www.hfla.net

Mission

Our Mission is Gemilut Hesed. The Association was organized in the 1930s to fulfill the Biblical commandment to lend to the poor and needy as found in Devarim (Deuteronomy): \r\nIf there be among you a poor man, …thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother: but thou shalt open they hand wide to him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he lacks.

Ruling year info

1992

Administrator

Mrs. Mireille Chait

Main address

4131 South Braeswood Blvd

Houston, TX 77025 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

76-0069644

NTEE code info

Jewish (X30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES INTEREST FREE LOANS TO JEWISH RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON, TEXAS

Population(s) Served
Adults

Houstonians to the door of HFLA in need of emergency loans to pay for housing, medical bills, food and other basic necessities. As it is well known, the recession has hit many extremely hard and the unemployment rate has risen to levels unseen in decades. The process for attaining a Hebrew Free Loan requires that each potential borrower must complete and submit a written loan application. A loan committee reviews all loan applications to ensure that each loan complies with the Association’s Articles of Association and loan guidelines. Generally, loans can be made within days after loan committee approval. In emergency situations, loans can be approved the same day.

All of our loans are documented by an interest free promissory note. The purpose for a tzedakah fund would allow the Association to make loans with fewer than the required number of guarantors. The Association, unlike a bank, does not charge interest or loan fees to any borrower. The reason why lowering the guarantor rate is so significant is because when people encounter an emergency and need a $2,000 loan, finding four guarantors can be extremely difficult. As such, by the organization having a fund from which it may guarantee $1000 of that particular loan, the borrower need only find two guarantors, which will greatly reduce the time barrier.
The HFLA obtains its funds primarily through contributions from individual members of the community and foundations. Loan repayments also provide funding for new loans. In this manner, HFLA resources are truly renewable.

Population(s) Served
Adults

It's our mission to make Jewish day schools and camps accessible for families in need of financial assistance. Loans are distributed annually to students in grades K-12 and awarded on the basis of financial need.
The Hebrew Free Loan Association grants interest-free loans to Jewish students in Texas. HFLA’s loans are “last dollar” — they supply the final funds that a student needs to attend school. These loans can be used for study at day school or Jewish camps.
To be eligible for a HFLA loan, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
•Applicant must be Jewish.
•Applicant and family must be a resident of Texas for at least one year prior to completing the HFLA loan application.
•Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or have legal immigration status in the U.S.
•Applicant must demonstrate financial need.
•Applicant must be enrolled in a Jewish institution that is accredited.
•HFLA’s interest-free loans provide “last-dollar financing” (i.e., the dollars that bridge the gap between a student’s total financial resources and the cost of attendance.
•Applicant must provide at least one co-signer — one or both parents, a legal guardian or spouse — for HFLA loans. The co-signer must be credit worthy and have the ability to repay the full amount of the loan if the borrower fails to do so. HFLA reserves the right to request a second co-signer. HFLA also reserves the right to contact co-signers and run credit checks on co-signers, with their permission.

Population(s) Served
Jewish people

Since its inception in late 2011 the SBLP has provided interest-free loans to Jewish businesses throughout Houston including those providing medical staffing, kosher food services, oil-based services, and hospitality. The demand, both in size and number, for small business loans has expanded and requires the HFLA to raise additional funds for this much needed initiative.
Activities: The Hebrew Free Loan Association of Houston was founded during the Great Depression and supports small businesses today based on a similar need that existed 90 years ago. The SBLP is distinguished from the other loans HFLA makes by mentoring provided through the Business Advisory Council (BAC) and increased flexibility to make loans that may not fit the collateral or guarantee standards HFLA otherwise requires. The BAC is a sub-committee of the HFLA comprised of members-at-large as well as members of the Board of Directors who are lawyers, accountants, investment bankers, and commercial real estate professionals.

The HFLA’s Loan Committee considers each loan application on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility requirements include; permanent residency in Houston or Galveston, demonstrated need, an ability to repay the loan, and other required documentation. Maximum individual loan size is $35,000. Once the Loan Committee determines the loan is for business purposes the prospective borrower is referred to the BAC to provide mentoring, and, if the typical requirements for collateral or third party guarantors cannot be met, the BAC evaluates the business’ capability to repay the loan providing its opinion to the Loan Committee.

Goals and Objectives: The objective of the SBLP is first to provide help for Houston Jews and second to maximize repayment of loans made. While this may not always be the case, at this time loans made under the SBLP have a 100% repayment rate. This strong repayment rate has supported growth of the program as these proceeds are used to make new loans.

HFLA’s primary goal is to support the mitzvah of tzedakah by providing a Hand Up, Not a Hand Out to Houston’s Jews in need. Support comes both in the form of an interest free loan and mentorship to foster the business’ success. The HFLA is a partner in the success of the borrower to restore them to a successful path or assist them in starting a new path to success.

Population(s) Served
Jewish people

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Dollar amount of total loans written off

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Context - describing the issue we work on

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Number of loans issued to clients

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Total dollar amount of loans issued

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

We consider any year in which total loan amount exceeds $715,000 as a successful year

Number of loans issued

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Hours of volunteer service

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

All Board Members provide services without any compensation

Number of Facebook followers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Averaging an increase of 500 friends per year with an increase of daily views up by 35.5% for 2023

Average online donation

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Average online donation is $100 with total donations averaging $120,000 to $130,000 per annum

Total dollars received in contributions

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Both 2020 and 2017 resulted in higher than average donations but otherwise holding steady at about $10,000+ per month in donations

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The plan is to increase the outreach of the charitable lending provided by the organization. This is outlined in the strategig plan download.

1. Increase the outreach to the Jewish community to increase loans. This is being done by increasing exposure via press releases, reaching out to religious organizations, schools and increasing the use of social media.

Financials

HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON

Board of directors
as of 04/22/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Paul Wainstein

JEFFREY HOROWITZ

LAURENCE KAM

CLIVE FLEISHMAN

JOE BLOG

REUVEN LINZER

MEIR MANDEL

Vicky Richker

Michael Richker

Lou Diamond

Nancy Freed

Marshall Lerner

Marshall Levit

Mosheh Poltorak

Sam Cutler

Stuart Arouty

Melvin Buck

Edward Berzin

Lilly Lazarus

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 4/22/2023

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 04/22/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
Policies and processes
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.