Executive Compensation at the Fellowship of Christians and Jews (2021)

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 3 founded by a rabbi in 1983 as a way to “bless Israel and the Jewish people around the world with humanitarian care and life-saving aid” while “building bridges between Christians and Jews.”

There are 8 independent voting members (directors) of the governing body, although 9 are listed on the most recent Form 990 (2021) which appears to be due to timing differences. 7 of the 9 (78%) directors listed are male while 2 (22%) are female (note:  the Form 990 does not report gender; determinations were made based on name and google searches).

Based in Chicago, Illinois, IFCJ raised $220 million in 2021 and reported $177 million in expenses ($43 million less than the organization raised) with the three largest expenses reported to be grants ($104 million – primarily to Hakeren L’Yedidut, an organization that operates as the Israeli representative of the IFCJ), fundraising and advertising ($41 million), and compensation ($15 million).

133 employees received $15 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $113,000.  26 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 11 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $776,301:  Yael Eckstein-Farkas (daughter of the founder of IFCJ)
• $461,516:  Robin Van Etten, Global Chief Operating Officer
• $286,043:  Laurel Simkovich, VP of Finance
• $276,715: Eric Frans, VP of Philanthropy
• $231,272:  Katherine Rovani, Associate VP of Ops (as of 1/1/20)
• $213,881:  Geraldine Tolbert, Associate VP of HR (as of 1/1/20)
• $205,517:  Kristen Henning, Sr Director of Finance
• $198,149:  Erica Prescott, Sr Director Integr FR and Donor Retention
• $193,815:  Tewahedo Seyoum, Director of Information Services
• $185,528:  Christine Jespersen, Philanthropy Advisor
• $164,721:  James Ray, Director of Gift Planning (as of 10/20)

8 of the 11 (73%) most highly compensated employees are female while 3 of the 11 (27%) are male.  The 11 most highly compensated employees received $3.3 million in compensation. The most highly compensated employee was Yael Eckstein-Farkas who received nearly $3 million in compensation over the past 5 years:

Yael Eckstein-Farkas

• 2021:  $776,301
• 2020:  $696,072
• 2019:  $625,980*
• 2018:  $496,547**
• 2017:  $374,600***

*In addition, Rabbi Eckstein, founder and father of Yael Eckstein-Farkas received $2.9 million

**In addition, Rabbi Eckstein, founder and father of Yalel Eckstein-Farkas received $875,239

***In addition, Rabbi Eckstein, founder and father of Yael Eckstein-Farkas received $867,734

George Mamo, the former Global COO, is reported to have received $100,721 in payments from IFCJ, which appears to be a severance payment.

IFCJ made gross up payments or provided tax indemnification but no detail is provided.

IFCJ made a $119,846 loan to Eric Frans for “tax withholding timing difference” which has a balance due of $119,846.

39 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation in 2021 with the five (5) most highly compensated reported to be:

• $16.7 million:  Production Solutions, of Vienna, VA for print and postage
• $12.7 million:  Cannela Response Television, of Burlington, WI for tv ad placement
• $ 1.9 million:  Google, of San Francisco, for internet search and advertising
• $ 1.7 million:  ForwardPMX, of NY, NY for donor acquisition services
• $1.4 million:  Causeworx, of Ontario, Canada, for telemarketing

As illustrated above, more than $37 million was spent compensating five outside vendors for services related to fundraising.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2021), please click here.

To read about previous Executive Compensation, and specifically about the founder’s executive compensation to him and his family, click on “Executive Compensation at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.“