About
HIAS is a Jewish humanitarian organization that provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers and advocates for the fundamental rights of displaced people. Founded by the Jewish community in New York City in the 1880s as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and formally incorporated in 1903, HIAS has been a lifeline for people seeking safety for more than 140 years. Today it is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, and works across five continents to help refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity.
Mission
Drawing on Jewish values and history, HIAS seeks a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity, providing vital services to displaced people and advocating for their fundamental rights.
What they do
- Legal services for refugees and asylum seekers, including help reuniting families
- Refugee resettlement support in the United States
- Mental health and psychosocial assistance
- Economic empowerment programs, including support for business development
- Protection services for displaced and at-risk populations
- Advocacy for refugee rights through legal challenges and policy work
History
HIAS traces its origins to the 1880s, when the Jewish community founded the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society in New York City in response to persecution and poverty facing Jews in Eastern Europe; it was formally incorporated in 1903. In 1904 it established a bureau on Ellis Island offering translation and legal assistance. After restrictive US immigration quotas in the 1920s, it helped open HICEM in Europe, which helped 250,000 men, women, and children escape Nazi persecution. In 1954 it merged with other organizations to form United HIAS Service, reverting to the HIAS name in 1975. Following the Refugee Act of 1980, HIAS began a formal partnership with the US government on refugee resettlement, and since 2002 it has expanded internationally to countries including Kenya, Ecuador, Chad, and Greece.
Scale and impact
HIAS operates across five continents, with offices in the United States, Europe (Greece, United Kingdom), Latin America (Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela), Africa, the Middle East, and Israel. The organization reports allocating 84 percent of its resources to program services, 13 percent to management, and 3 percent to fundraising.
Financials
According to ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, HIAS Inc (EIN 13-5633307) reported revenue of $140.6 million and expenses of $151.9 million for the fiscal year ending September 2024, and revenue of $107.6 million against expenses of $113.4 million for the fiscal year ending September 2025, with net assets of $34.1 million. Contributions account for roughly 98 percent of revenue in recent years.
Governance
HIAS is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit; its IRS tax exemption was issued in September 1954. Dr. Beth Oppenheim is President and CEO, with 23 years of experience in refugee resettlement and international development, and Tamar Newberger chairs the Board of Directors.
