by Shimon Arbel All who are involved in fundraising and the third sector are familiar with the "Giving Pledge". Led by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet, the "Pledge" invites America's wealthiest citizens to commit more than half of their wealth to philanthropy and charitable causes either during their lifetime or following their death. Since its announcement two years' ago, nearly seventy of America's wealthiest individuals have committed to the "Giving Pledge", viewing their philanthropic leadership as key to addressing some of society's most pressing problems as well as encouraging others to follow their example. The list of "Giving Pledge" benefactors includes some of American Jewry's most respected philanthropists. While one may want that a greater proportion of these … Continue Reading
Increasing Demands on Israeli Charities, but is it Fair?
by Shuey Fogel I was dismayed when I heard that some American (and European) Foundations are requiring amutot [Israeli nonprofit organizations] to have the Se’if [Paragraph] 46a status, which declares donations to a charity to be tax-deductible. This latest phenomenon demonstrates a lack of understanding of the intricacies of international nonprofit regulations and makes it harder for worthy Israeli charities to raise money abroad. Why Demand the extra level of tax-deductible (Se'if 46) status? Simply put, people are scared. As a result, Foundations, in particular, are subjecting their recipients to increasing levels of scrutiny; in this case, requiring Se’if 46 to provide an additional measure of protection. An “additional measure” because Israeli nonprofits are assumed to … Continue Reading
Rethinking Foundation Spending Policies
Filed under American Philanthropy, Local Israel, Managing Your Nonprofit, Philanthropy in Israel
by Ehud Zion Waldoks The financial crisis of the last few years has forced many foundations to radically rethink their spending policies. Many organizations had their capital wiped out; others have found it hard to maintain the high return rates they were dependent upon. A one-day conference at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev brought together many notable names to present some original thinking on the new situation. A crowd comprised of foundation directors, consultants, donors, government officials and students from Israel participated in the “Endowment and Asset Management Conference: Payout Policies and their Financial, Managerial and Intergenerational Implications,” organized by the university’s Israeli Center for Third-Sector Research on November 7, 2011. Conference speakers laid … Continue Reading
Bialik-Rogozin Model to Role Out in Israel’s Periphery
A new nonprofit entity dedicated to empowering dynamic public elementary and high school principals in Israel's social and geographical periphery to transform their schools has launched. The Educational Initiatives Center (EIC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and local municipalities, looks to demonstrate measurable improvement in the educational and social achievements of participating schools. Conceived by former Bialik-Rogozin Campus principal Karen Tal - who just this week received the prestigious Charles Bronfman Prize - and sponsored by a group of supporters/funders - EIC will be guided, led and supported by leading educational experts and Israeli business leaders and volunteers. The EIC is based on the demonstrated success of the Bialik-Rogozin model and will enable … Continue Reading
Rambam Medical Center Receives $10m Gift from Weill Family
Rambam Medical Center and the American Friends of the Rambam Medical Center have announced a commitment of $10 million to support and name the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Pediatric Hematology - Oncology Department within the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital at Rambam, and the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Israeli-Palestinian Friendship Center at Rambam. The gift is from Joan and Sanford I. Weill and the Weill Family Foundation. Sanford I. Weill is Chairman Emeritus of Citigroup Inc. The Joan and Sanford I. Weill Pediatric Hematology - Oncology Department will comprise Rambam’s current Pediatric Hematology - Oncology Department and its Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit, which will be merged into a single, upgraded entity housed within the new Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital. The latter … Continue Reading
Israel Reawakened
by Yonatan Ben-Dor There is a revolution happening in Israel, have no doubt about it. It won't end in bloodshed and probably won't bring down a government, but it is going to change the face of Israel. Get ready, because it's going to impact you too. We Israelis all know what we don't like about our country, and many of us in the non-profit sector work tirelessly to change those things. For many, many years, we tried to tell the public that things could be changed, could be made different. But they didn't believe us, or were too tired to help us create that change. It is not a secret that the Israeli non-profit sector has been cut off from the public for too many years, and that our jobs were often thankless and lonely. Now, all this has changed. For the first time in too long, the public … Continue Reading
The Implications of the Tent Protests for the Third Sector in Israel
by Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman Anyone trying to understand why Israel does not have a fundraising culture needs to look no further than the tents on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv. I know that the demonstrations are not about charity and non-profit life. But the events of these past weeks offer some vital insights into the future of the Third Sector and philanthropy in Israel. On the most obvious level, what Israelis are saying is that they simply cannot make ends meet. I don’t know how much American Jews fully grasp the appalling status of Israelis salaries. The average monthly salary in Israel is somewhere in the range of $2000-2500 gross. Even two people working full time with those salaries, with say two or three small children and an average mortgage of $1500-2000 a month, will have a … Continue Reading
Characteristics of Israeli Philanthropy in the 21st Century
Characteristics of the Israeli Philanthropy in the 21st Century: Motives and Barriers for Giving and Future Developments by Prof. Hillel Schmid A. Introduction This paper describes and analyzes the characteristics of philanthropy in 21st century Israel. It presents the scope of contribution, the motives and barriers for giving as well as the dilemmas, challenges and future developments. Philanthropy is not a new phenomenon within the traditional Jewish society or the modern Israeli society. The moral decree of contribution can be found in the Jewish sources and sages, philosophers, religious scholars, leaders, researchers and public opinion makers refer to the ideological and philosophical aspects of contribution (Haski- Leventhal, 2009). Contribution in the Israeli society, as well as in … Continue Reading
First Jewish Federation in Israel to be Launched in Ramat Hasharon
Breaking new ground in philanthropy in Israel, the first community “Federation” in Israel, based on North American and international models, will be officially launched in Ramat Hasharon on May 30, 2011. Named Takdim* - The Ramat Hasharon Community Foundation (*Precedent in Hebrew), the Foundation will be led by local lay leaders, and will raise funds from residents and local businesses for projects in the community, throughout Israel and worldwide. The Foundation, an apolitical independent non-profit organization, enjoys the active support and cooperation of the Ramat Hasharon Municipality and Migvanim - Multidisciplinary Centers, the local network of community centers. Takdim has already generated great interest among residents of Ramat Hasharon and has attracted dozens of activists. … Continue Reading
Israel’s Government Set to Encourage Giving
For the first time, the State of Israel will recognize the importance of philanthropic funds as a vital element in financing non-profit associations and social activities. The joint Government, business sector and third sector round table has submitted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a plan to promote both individual and corporate philanthropy in Israel. The goal - to increase the percentage of contributions. According to data presented to the Prime Minister, the State of Israel is not realizing the contribution potential of its citizens, relative to that of other countries. The steps were formulated by Prime Minister's Office Director-General in coordination with the Finance and Justice Ministries, the Revenue Division, the Tax Authority and business and third sector representatives. … Continue Reading
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