Foundation for Middle East Peace

WASHINGTON, DC EIN: 52-6055574

The Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) is a private operating foundation based in Washington, DC, established in 1979. The organization is a small, independent foundation working to promote a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through grantmaking, research, education, and advocacy.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.2M

+6.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.4M

+233.8% YoY

Grant Count

52

+92.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$47K

+73.3% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

FMEP was created to defend and support Palestinian rights, end Israel's occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, and ensure a just and secure future for Palestinians and Israelis.

The foundation advances its mission through:

  • Grants program supporting organizations that advance peace in Israel and Palestine
  • Research and publications including policy-relevant analysis on the Israeli occupation, Palestinian human rights, and U.S. domestic and foreign policy
  • Public programming featuring Israeli, Palestinian, and other experts addressing U.S. audiences
  • Educational publications including reports on Israeli settlement activity and U.S. Congressional activity related to the Middle East
  • Daily news summaries from Israel and Palestine
  • Weekly reports on Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank
  • Legislative roundups of Israel-related activity in the U.S. Congress

Grantmaking

FMEP maintains an active grant program supporting peacemaking organizations. Based on recent tax filings:

Grant Range

**: $20,000

Ready to take the next step with Foundation for Middle East Peace?

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations working on Israeli-Palestinian peace issues, with primary focus on the District of Columbia, New York, and California regions.

Grant Distribution by State

11states
+3 more states

Cities

AlexandriaBerkeleyBrooklynBurlingameCambridgeChicagoLewesLos AngelesMichigan CityNew YorkSanta BarbaraTucsonTustinWashingtonWashington DcWhite PlainsYardley

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of fiscal year 2023:

  • Total assets: $6.78 million
  • Total revenue: $1.58 million
  • Total expenses: $1.82 million
  • Total liabilities: $223,000

As of fiscal year 2024:

  • Total assets: $9.9 million (top 10% of foundations by asset size)
  • Annual income: $4.8 million

Tax status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; tax-exempt since May 2023; EIN 52-6055574

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$7,188,029$6,780,442$6,590,573
Revenue$3,734,471$1,575,938$1,143,248
Expenses$3,216,357$1,820,706$1,523,749
Qualifying Distributions$3,339,858$1,566,141$1,207,094
Net Investment Income$965,085$648,412$603,701
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$609K$1M$2M$2M23 grants202022 grants202127 grants202227 grants202352 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

AL-HAQ$400KAL-MEZAN$245KNEW ISRAEL FUND$173KBTSELEM$145KPALESTINE INSTITUTE FOR …$136KMEDICAL AID FOR PALESTIN…$115K7AMLEH$90KEUROPEAN LEGAL SUPPORT C…$90KCAF AMERICA$80KAMERICAN NEAR EAST REFUG…$75K

Grant Size Distribution

149 grants across all recorded years

127<$50K12$50–100K9$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Al-haq ($400,000), Al-mezan ($245,000), New Israel Fund ($172,500).

RecipientPurposeAmount
7AMLEH GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$90,000
972 FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CITIZEN JOURNALISM GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$30,000
ADALAH GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$53,600
AL-HAQ GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. TO FURTHER ITS MISSION OF SECURING A JUST, SECURE, AND PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS, DURING 2024 FMEP PROVIDED GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO AL HAQ, A NON-PROFIT, HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION BASED IN PALESTINE. FMEP SUBSEQUENTLY TERMINATED ITS SUPPORT FOR AL HAQ IN SEPTEMBER 2025, FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 ACTION BY THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT TO DESIGNATE AL HAQ AS SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONALS AND BLOCKED PERSONS (SDNS) PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 14203, IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, FOR ITS WORK IN SUPPORT OF THE ICCS INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ISRAELI OFFICIALS FOR ATROCITY CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST PALESTINIANS IN THE VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW.$400,000
AL-HAQ EUROPE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$20,000
AL-MEZAN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. TO FURTHER ITS MISSION OF SECURING A JUST, SECURE, AND PEACEFUL FUTURE FOR PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS, DURING 2024 FMEP PROVIDED GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO AL MEZAN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, A NON-PROFIT, HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION BASED IN PALESTINE. FMEP SUBSEQUENTLY TERMINATED ITS SUPPORT FOR AL MEZAN IN SEPTEMBER 2025, FOLLOWING THE SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 ACTION BY THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT TO DESIGNATE AL MEZAN AS SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONALS AND BLOCKED PERSONS (SDNS) PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 14203, IMPOSING SANCTIONS ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, FOR ITS WORK IN SUPPORT OF THE ICCS INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF ISRAELI OFFICIALS FOR ATROCITY CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST PALESTINIANS IN THE VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW.$245,000
BTSELEM GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$145,000
BALADNA ARAB YOUTH ASSOCIATION GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$15,000
BUILD PALESTINE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$20,000
GISHA GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT$70,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Lara Friedman – President (40 hours/week, $203,000 annual compensation)
  • Michael Van Dusen – Chair
  • Hon Molly Williamson – Co-Chair
  • Odeh Aburdene – Treasurer
  • Hon Arthur H Hughes – Director
  • Atalia Omer – Director
  • Col Ret Joseph Englehardt – Director
  • Maha Nassar – Director
  • Gail Pressberg – Director
  • Hon Philip C Wilcox Jr – Director
  • Hon Ted Kattouf – Director
  • Jamil Dakwar Esq – Director

The foundation is governed by 14 officers and trustees.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

LARA FRIEDMANPRESIDENT$203K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
LARA FRIEDMANPRESIDENT40$202,834
MICHAEL VAN DUSENCHAIR0.5
HON MOLLY WILLIAMSONCO-CHAIR0.5
ODEH ABURDENETREASURER0.5
HON ARTHUR H HUGHESDIRECTOR0.5
ATALIA OMERDIRECTOR0.5
COL RET JOSEPH ENGLEHARDTDIRECTOR0.5
MAHA NASSARDIRECTOR0.5
GAIL PRESSBERGDIRECTOR0.5
HON PHILIP C WILCOX JRDIRECTOR0.5
HON TED KATTOUFDIRECTOR0.5
JAMIL DAKWAR ESQDIRECTOR0.5
JULIE SCHUMACHER COHENDIRECTOR0.5
REBECCA ABOU-CHEDID ESQDIRECTOR0.5
TIM GRIMMETTDIRECTOR0.5
ZEINA AZZAMDIRECTOR0.5

Contact Information

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Foundation for Middle East Peace fund?

FMEP was created to defend and support Palestinian rights, end Israel's occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, and ensure a just and secure future for Palestinians and Israelis. The foundation advances its mission through: • **Grants program** supporting organizations that advance peace in Israel and Palestine • **Research and publications** including policy-relevant analysis on the Israeli occupation, Palestinian human rights, and U.S. domestic and foreign policy • **Publ…

How do I apply for a grant from Foundation for Middle East Peace?

FMEP maintains an active grant program supporting peacemaking organizations. Based on recent tax filings: • **Number of grants**: 52 grants reported in tax year 2024 • **Median grant size**: $20,000 • **Grant range**: $5,000 to $400,000 • **Grant activity**: Recent grants documented in current filings

Where does Foundation for Middle East Peace make grants?

The foundation funds organizations working on Israeli-Palestinian peace issues, with primary focus on the District of Columbia, New York, and California regions.

What size grants does Foundation for Middle East Peace award?

In 2024, Foundation for Middle East Peace awarded 52 grants totaling $2.4M — an average of about $47K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Foundation for Middle East Peace's EIN?

Foundation for Middle East Peace's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-6055574. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Foundation for Middle East Peace's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

What could you do with Foundation for Middle East Peace on Grantable?

  • Assess strategic fit with your organization
  • Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
  • Find open RFPs from this funder
  • Monitor for new funding opportunities

Go from researching Foundation for Middle East Peace to a real strategy.

Plan your approach