Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center 
The information on this page was last updated 2/10/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
The Pearlstone Retreat Center, Farm and Programs enable and inspire vibrant Jewish life. Engaging Jewish, faith-based, and secular organizations, individuals, and families, Pearlstone serves all ages and backgrounds throughout Baltimore, the Chesapeake region, and beyond!
Contact information
Mailing address:
Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center
5425 Mt. Gilead Rd.
Reisterstown, MD 21136
Website: pearlstonecenter.org
Phone: 410-500-5417
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 432080719
CEO/President: Jakir Manela
Chairman: Emile Bendet
Board size: 23
Founder: Richard Pearlstone
Ruling year: 2006
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Situated on 180 acres of green and serene farmland in the suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, Pearlstone provides loving warmth to people of all ages and backgrounds throughout Baltimore, the Chesapeake region, and beyond. Pearlstone offers a one-of-a-kind, memorable and meaningful experience to all who visit. Our picturesque campus helps create intimate and personal connections between people of all backgrounds and affiliations.
Mission statement
Pearlstone is fertile ground for Living Judaism, embracing the entire range of the Jewish community and forging connections in mind, body, and soul.
Pearlstone ignites Jewish passion, enabling and inspiring vibrant Jewish life through our beautiful retreat center, sustainable farm, and dynamic Jewish educational programs.
Welcoming young Jewish families, young adults, baby boomers, and beyond, Pearlstone cultivates a vibrant and sustainable Jewish community for all, connecting us to Jewish tradition, the earth, and each other.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Camps/Conference Centers
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 169 of 1117 | 9 of 36 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 421 of 1118 | 15 of 37 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 257 of 1118 | 13 of 37 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 282 of 1117 | 12 of 36 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $317,650 in government grants in 2023.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 7% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 2% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 34% | 69% | 54% | 77% | 59% | 53% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 3% | 6% | 2% | 5% | 3% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 66% | 31% | 46% | 23% | 41% | 47% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 86% | 79% | 77% | 82% | 84% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 93% | 85% | 102% | 76% | 86% | 73% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 75% | 73% | 81% | 58% | 70% | 62% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 7% | 15% | -2% | 24% | 14% | 27% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 13% | -1% | 18% | 15% | 41% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 9% | 18% | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.44 | 0.57 | 0.17 | 0.44 | 0.69 | 0.80 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 4.36 | 3.00 | 3.99 | 2.56 | 2.93 | 2.95 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.65 | 1.72 | 0.69 | 1.13 | 2.02 | 2.37 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 5.57 | 4.11 | 4.52 | 3.15 | 2.28 | 1.71 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.18 | 0.24 | 0.22 | 0.32 | 0.44 | 0.59 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.46 | 5.28 | 13.46 | 7.26 | 3.33 | 2.10 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 24% | 39% | 24% | 30% | 28% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 3% | 18% | 12% | 14% | 8% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 196% | 133% | 348% | 171% | 102% | 89% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $2,177,776 | $1,632,470 | $2,320,585 | $1,988,007 | $1,417,137 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $5,962,977 | $3,420,819 | $1,126,602 | $638,547 | $748,777 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $8,140,753 | $5,053,289 | $3,447,187 | $2,626,554 | $2,165,914 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $12,953,354 | $11,270,517 | $5,297,470 | $5,072,472 | $4,195,032 |
| Other long-term assets | $3,344,983 | $3,827,298 | $63,526 | $0 | $28,620 |
| Total long-term assets | $16,298,337 | $15,097,815 | $5,360,996 | $5,072,472 | $4,223,652 |
| Total assets | $24,439,090 | $20,151,104 | $8,808,183 | $7,699,026 | $6,389,566 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $1,980,988 | $526,736 | $458,037 | $308,208 | $406,209 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $590,907 | $635,252 | $841,886 | $861,209 |
| Total current liabilities | $1,980,988 | $1,117,643 | $1,093,289 | $1,150,094 | $1,267,418 |
| Debt | $677,809 | $3,614,209 | $1,063,088 | $1,091,771 | $536,000 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $3,203,268 | $3,203,268 | $0 | $35,235 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $3,881,077 | $6,817,477 | $1,063,088 | $1,127,006 | $536,000 |
| Total liabilities | $5,862,065 | $7,935,120 | $2,156,377 | $2,277,100 | $1,803,418 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $10,105,362 | $9,554,001 | $2,188,186 | $2,951,681 | $2,955,853 |
| With donor restrictions | $8,471,663 | $2,661,983 | $4,463,620 | $2,470,245 | $1,630,295 |
| Net assets | $18,577,025 | $12,215,984 | $6,651,806 | $5,421,926 | $4,586,148 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $11,327,196 | $1,859,226 | $3,958,075 | $3,620,379 | $3,696,818 |
| Program service revenue | $4,906,782 | $1,328,431 | $1,110,430 | $2,503,632 | $3,252,404 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $39,703 | ($4,384) | $0 | $0 | $82 |
| Other revenue | $188,225 | $246,503 | $52,322 | $25,750 | $49,311 |
| Total other revenue | $5,134,710 | $1,570,550 | $1,162,752 | $2,529,382 | $3,301,797 |
| Total revenue | $16,461,906 | $3,429,776 | $5,120,827 | $6,149,761 | $6,998,615 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $12,008,183 | $2,781,511 | $2,992,796 | $4,334,358 | $4,318,453 |
| Management and general | $1,191,305 | $642,468 | $708,295 | $845,581 | $734,918 |
| Fundraising | $788,299 | $85,766 | $189,856 | $134,044 | $84,718 |
| Total expenses | $13,987,787 | $3,509,745 | $3,890,947 | $5,313,983 | $5,138,089 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $2,474,119 | ($79,969) | $1,229,880 | $835,778 | $1,860,526 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $2,474,119 | ($79,969) | $1,229,880 | $835,778 | $1,860,526 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Jakir Manela | President & Chief Exec Officer | $257,406 |
| Eve Wachhaus | Chief Operating Officer | $173,023 |
| David Rendsburg | Chief Finance & Admin Officer | $105,452 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/10/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
https://www.pearlstonecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/history-poster.pdf
Program accomplishments
In 2022
13,000 people participated in Jewish Environmental Education and Immersive Retreats
18,000 people participated in community engagement efforts, including retreat rentals, campus use and farming
Over 100 organizations joined the Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition