Executive Compensation at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (2022)

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 7 independent voting members (directors) of the governing body, although 8 are listed on the most recent Form 990 (2022) with 1 director, Keith Frankel related, which appears to be due to timing differences. 7 of the 8 directors listed are male while 1 is female (note:  the Form 990 does not report gender; determinations were made based on name and google searches).

Based in Chicago, Illinois, IFCJ raised $228 million in 2022 and reported $229 million in expenses with the three largest expenses reported to be grants ($132 million – primarily to Hakeren L’Yedidut, an organization that operates as the Israeli representative of the IFCJ), fundraising and advertising ($62 million), and compensation ($16 million).

136 employees received $16 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $118,000.  37 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 11 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $797,547:  Yael Eckstein-Farkas (daughter of the founder of IFCJ)
• $438,602:  Robin Van Etten, Global Chief Operating Officer
• $325,034:  Laurel Simkovich, VP of Finance
• $276,250:  Eric Frans, VP of Philanthropy
• $257,750:  Lucas Puzan, CIO (beginning 1/22)
• $211,881:  Kristen Henning, Sr Director of Finance
• $204,321:  Erica Prescott, Sr Director Integr FR and Donor Retention
• $200,415:  Tewahedo Seyoum, Director of Information Services
• $191,289:  Travis Deramcy, Sr Director Integration FR and Donor Retention
• $190,659:  Christine Jespersen, Philanthropy Advisor
• $182,514:  Geraldine Tolbert, Associate VP of HR (thru 2/22)

7 of the 11 (64%) most highly compensated employees are female while 4 of the 11 (36%) are male.  The 11 most highly compensated employees received $3.3 million in compensation.  The most highly compensated employee was Yael Eckstein-Farkas, the President and CEO received nearly $4 million in compensation from 2017-2022:

• 2022:  $797,547
• 2021:  $776,301
• 2020:  $696,072
• 2019:  $625,980*
• 2018:  $496,547
• 2017:  $347,600

“*”:  Rabbi Eckstein, the father of Yael Eckstein-Farkas received $2.9 million in compensation, as reported on the Form 990, Schedule J, Part II

IFCJ paid for first class or charter travel  and companion travel (historically, the organization has not incurred these expenses.)

IFCJ made gross up payments or provided tax indemnification:  “Tax gross-up payments were paid to all employees, excluding Yael Eckstein-Farkas, to provide a de minimus anniversary bonus to employees.  Yael Eckstein receives tax gross up on some of her Israeli benefits as is customary in Israel.” It is interesting to note that IFCJ is a US non-profit based in Chicago.

A loan of $119,846 was made to Eric Frans, an officer for “tax withholding timing differences;” the balance due is $71,846.

33 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation in 2022 with the five (5) most highly compensated reported to be:

• $24.1 million:  Production Solutions, of Vienna, VA for print and postage
• $15.0 million:  Cannella Response Television, of Burlington, WI for tv ad placement
• $ 5.8 million:  Google, of San Francisco, for internet search and advertising
• $ 3.8 million:  LaMark Media Group, of Boca Raton, FL for digital marketing
• $ 2.5 million:  RKD Direct Point Group, of Richards0n, TX for marketing services

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022), 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.“