Executive Compensation at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (2024)

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,” although it is unclear how bridges are being built when nearly every grant dollar is awarded to a Jewish organization.

There are 8 independent voting members (directors) of the governing body; 6 of the 8 directors listed are male while 2 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 $318 million in 2024 and reported $272 million in expenses with the three largest expenses reported to be grants ($152 million – primarily to Hakeren L’Yedidut, an organization that operates as the Israeli representative of the IFCJ), fundraising and advertising ($81 million), and compensation ($18 million).

142 employees received $18 million in compensation which equates to an average compensation of $127,000.  44 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 9 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $931,098:  Yael Eckstein-Farkas (daughter of the founder of IFCJ)
• $478,172:  Robin Van Etten, Global Chief Operating Officer
• $361,660:  Laurel Simkovich, VP of Finance
• $327,982:  Lucas Puzan, CIO
• $229,573:  Kristen Henning, Sr Director of Finance
• $227,520:  Erica Prescott, Sr Director Integr FR and Donor Retention
• $229,304:  Tewahedo Seyoum, Senior Director of Information Services
• $227,962:  Vincent Torti, Director of Philanthropy
• $214,155:  Travis Deramcy, Sr Director Integration FR and Donor Retention

5 of the 9 most highly compensated employees are female while 4 of the 10 are male.  The 9 most highly compensated employees received $3 million in compensation.  The most highly compensated employee was Yael Eckstein-Farkas, the President and CEO received $931,098 in compensation in 2024 and $4 million in compensation from 2018-2024.

The five most highly compensated employees in 2024 received nearly $12 million in compensation from 2018-2024:

Yael Eckstein-Farkas:  Total Compensation 2018-2024:  $4 million

• 2024:  $931,098
• 2023:  $769,244
• 2022:  $797,547
• 2021:  $776,301
• 2020:  $696,072
• 2019:  $625,980*
• 2018:  $496,547

Robin Van Etten:  Total Compensation 2018-2024:  $3 million

• 2024:  $478,172
• 2023:  $464,155
• 2022:  $438,602
• 2021:  $461,516
• 2020:  $393,109
• 2019:  $364,900
• 2018:  $331,222

Laurel Simkovich:  Total Compensation 2018-2024:  $2 million

• 2024:  $361,660
• 2023:  $342,255
• 2022:  $325,034
• 2021:  $286,043
• 2020:  $242,853
• 2019:  $192,637
• 2018:  $193,194

Lucas Puzan:  Total Compensation 2022-2024:  $1 million

• 2024:  $327,982
• 2023:  $331,997
• 2022:  $257,750

Kristin Henning:  Total Compensation 2018-2024:  $1.5 million

• 2024:  $229,573
• 2023:  $224,867
• 2022:  $211,881
• 2021:  $205,517
• 2020:  $196,018
• 2019:  $176,151
• 2018:  $171,452

“*”:  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 (this began in 2022).  Specifically, “Yael Eckstein-Farkas, Robin Van Etten, Laurel Simkovich, Lucas Puzan and Eric Frans are eligible to book business class flights…”

IFCJ paid for companion travel.  Specifically, “Yeal Ecksteinn-Farkas received an allowance for travel of companions.  The allowance did not exceed $10,000 during the tax year.”

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.” Yael Eckstein- Farkas’s  did not exceed $39,000 in 2024.  It is interesting to note that IFCJ is a US non-profit based in Chicago.

IFCJ made a $150,000 loan to Eric Frans, a former officer, the balance due of which is $150,000. No collateral is listed.

36 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation in 2023 with the five (5) most highly compensated reported to be:

• $26 million:  Production Solutions, of Vienna, VA for print and postage
• $ 9 million:  Involved Media, of Pearl River, NY for media placement
• $ 7 million:  Cannella Response Television, of Burlington, WI for tv ad placement
• $ 7  million:  Google, of San Francisco, for internet search and advertising
• $ 7  million:  LaMark Media Group, of Boca Raton, FL for digital marketing

To read the IRS Form 990 (2024), 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.“