Executive Compensation at Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (2023)

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 20 offices in the United States and Panama with a remarkable ability to not only raise funds but to accumulate nearly $300 million in net assets. Recently criticized for embarking on a major fundraising effort following the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel sparking a war in the Gaza Strip, FIDF claims the $174 million in net assets has been earmarked for other causes but the growth in net assets from $174 million in 2022 to $288 million in 2023 means a substantial amount of funds were saved rather than spent.

2023 was a banner year for FIDF in that the organization received substantial support from the public. In 2023, FIDF raised $282 million, compared o $89 million in 2022 – nearly $200 million more than the previous year, which many attribute to the war in Gaza.  Nearly half the revenue was not spent and added to the general fund.  About 40% of revenue or $112 million was awarded in grants, while $31 million (11%) was used for organization expenses.  $19 million of the $31 milli0n was used for compensation among 173 employees (an average compensation of $110,000).

40 employees received more than $100,000 with the 14 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $647,055:  Steven Weil, CEO
• $485,412:  Nadav Padan, National Director
• $358,818:  Galit Brichta, VP, NE Region
• $347,367:  Alan Srulowitz, CFO
• $262,856:  Tamir Oppenheim, VP, Central Region
• $258,100:  Ari Dallas, COO and SVP
• $253,846:  Lesley Plachta, Executive director 9thru 9/23)
• $236,585:  Pninit Cole, Executive Director
• $233,861:  Jenna Griffin, Executive Director
• $208,700:  Amarelle Green, Executive Director
• $203,601:  Jeff Klein, VP
• $202,210:  Dina Ben Ari, Director of Community Engagement
• $192,060:  Jennifer Scher, VP Mid-Atlantic Region
• $180,100:  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 159 employees received $16 million. 26 of the 159 employees received more than $100,000 (but less than $180,100 while 133 received less than $100,000).

The 5 most highly compensated employees received $6 million in compensation from 2020-2023:

Steven Weil:  Total Compensation 2020-2022:  $2.2 million

• 2023:  $647,055
• 2022:  $666,865
• 2021:  $632,530
• 2020:  $236,967

Nadav Patan:  Total Compensation 2021-2022:  $1.5 million

• 2023:  $485,412
• 2022:  $503,294
• 2021:  $452,637

Galit Brichta:  Total Compensation 2020-2022:  $1.3 million

• 2023:  $358,818
• 2022:  $332,041
• 2021:  $310,703
• 2020:  $317,658

Alan Srulowitz:  Total Compensation 2021-2022:  $1 million

• 2023:  $347,367
• 2022:  $343,671
• 2021:  $272,223

Tamir Oppenheim:  Total Compensation 2020-2023:  $1 million)

• 2023:  $262,856
• 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 2023 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.