Executive Compensation at the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (2022)

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c) 3 who “collects charitable donations on behalf of the soldiers of the IDF” in Israel. Based in New York City, FIDF has 26 offices in the United States with a remarkable ability to not only raise funds but to accumulate nearly $200 million in net assets. Recently criticized for embarking on a major fundraising effort following the October 7th massacre in Israel sparking a war in the Gaza Strip, FIDF claims the $174 million in net assets has been earmarked for other causes.

The real question is how did FIDF accumulate $174 million in net assets?  The answer:  for many years FIDF did not spend as much as they collected.  From 2013-2018, FIDF added $10-$34 million annually (an average of $25 million annually) to their general fund, meaning they spent significantly less than they raised and therefore added $150 million to net assets (think savings) giving the organization a significant financial cushion.  At the end of 2018, FIDF had $219 million in net assets – a highpoint for the organization.

In 2019, 2020, and 2021 FIDF spent more than they raised which is why net assets are down to $174 million because they relied on their cushion to cover the expenses that exceeded the revenue ($23 million deficit in 2019, $18 million deficit in 2020, and $1 million deficit in 2021 for a total of $42 million).  In 2022, FIDF raised $89 million, spent $85 million leaving $4 million allocated to the general fund (note:  FIDF also reported $7 million in unrealized losses on investments and a positive $4 million adjustment to net assets – meaning net assets were virtually unchanged from 2021 to 2022).

So, to get back to FIDF’s claim that $174 million in net assets are earmarked, I would ask the organization for specific information because I doubt FIDF wants to see a further erosion of net assets (I would assert those net assets are invested and expected to produce investment income for the organization in the future, and are not committed to grants to the IDF).  FIDF has historically awarded $42-$81 million annually in grants (an average of $60,000 annually since 2013) and spent an average of $25 million annually on organization expenses, primarily on compensation.

137 employees received $16 million in compensation in 2022, which equates to an average compensation of $117,000.  However, only 30 employees received more than $100,000 with the 14 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $666,865:  Steven Weil, CEO
• $503,294:  Nadav Padan, National Director (as of 3/21)
• $332,041:  Galit Brichta, VP, NE Region
• $343,671:  Alan Srulowitz, CFO
• $245,561:  Ari Dallas, COO and SVP
• $257,553:  Tamir Oppenheim, VP, Central Region
• $239,414:  Shea Lerner, Chief Development Officer (thru 10/22)
• $202,435:  Dina Ben Ari, VP, Southern Region
• $211,866:  Amarelle Green, Executive Director
• $208,863:  Yehuda Green, Director of Community Engagement
• $196,516:  Seth Baron, Executive Director
• $191,374:  Jeff Klein, National Director
• $199,284:  Jenna Griffin, Executive Director
• $153,926:  Rebecca Rafelson, Director, Brands and Communication

The 14 most highly compensated employees received $4 million in compensation (or an average of $300,000 each) which means the remaining 123 employees received $12 million. 16 of the 123 employees received more than $100,000 (but less than $153,926 while 107 received less than $100,000).

The 5 most highly compensated employees received $5 million in compensation from 2020-2022:

Steven Weil:  Total Compensation 2020-2022:  $1.5 million

• 2022:  $666,865
• 2021:  $632,530
• 2020:  $236,967

Nadav Patan:  Total Compensation 2021-2022:  $1 million

• 2022:  $503,294
• 2021:  $452,637

Galit Brichta:  Total Compensation 2020-2022:  $1 million

• 2022:  $332,041
• 2021:  $310,703
• 2020:  $317,658

Alan Srulowitz:  Total Compensation 2021-2022:  $0.6 million

• 2022:  $343,671
• 2021:  $272,223

Tamir Oppenheim:  Total Compensation 2020-2022:  $0.7 million)

• 2022:  $257,553
• 2021:  $244,371
• 2020:  $216,558

It is important to note highly compensated employees in years prior to 2022 but not in 2022 are not included above (ex:  Meir Klifi-Amir, the former National Director and CEO received $900,000 in 2016, $1.1 million in 2017, $1.2 million in 2018, $1.1 million in 2019, $700,000 in 2020 (he departed in Aug, 2020, and $225,000 in 2021 or a total of more than $5 million from 2016-2021).

FIDF made gross up payments and provided tax indemnifications.  For details, see the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022), click here.