The New Israel Fund (NIF) is a United States–based nonprofit organization and philanthropic funder established in 1979. Headquartered in New York with offices in Washington, DC, Israel, and Canada, NIF advances liberal democracy and equality for all Israelis through grantmaking and direct advocacy work.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$53.3M

+14.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$4.6M

+71.8% YoY

Grant Count

90

+8.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$51K

+58.4% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

NIF's mission is to help Israel live up to its founders' vision of a society that ensures complete equality to all its inhabitants. The organization aims to advance liberal democracy, including freedom of speech and minority rights, while fighting inequality, injustice, and extremism.

Primary focus areas include:

  • Civil and human rights
  • Women's rights
  • Religious freedom and pluralism
  • Human rights for Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories
  • Rights of Israel's Arab minority
  • Freedom of speech and democratic values
  • Social and economic justice
  • Combating racism and discrimination
  • Peace and security initiatives

NIF's "Seizing the Moment" program combines two strategies: building support for a diplomatic solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on equality, democracy, and justice; and blocking actions that entrench the occupation and settlement enterprise.

Grantmaking

Since its inception in 1979, NIF has provided over $350 million to more than 950 Israeli civil society organizations. Earlier figures cite over $300 million distributed to over 900 organizations and over $200 million to more than 800 organizations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

NIF funds organizations throughout Israel, including work in the occupied Palestinian territories. The organization has a global donor base spanning North America, Israel, Europe, and Australia.

Grant Distribution by State

16states
+8 more states

Cities

AmherstAnn ArborAnnandale On HudsonAtcoAtlantaBerkeleyBethesdaBeverly HillsBolinasBostonBrewsterBrooklynChatsworthChesterChicagoDallasDeerfieldDuarteDurhamEncino

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Data (2024):

  • Total revenues: $55,771,376
  • Total expenses: $55,779,987
  • Total assets: $53,254,904
  • Employees: 53

Prior Year Data (2023):

  • Revenue: $57.4 million
  • Expenses: $42.5 million
  • Total assets: $46.5 million
  • Total liabilities: $4.74 million

NIF maintains a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct distribution or investment of funds.

Historical Context: The organization was founded in 1979 with 72 employees reported at one point, representing an 11% year-over-year increase. Annual revenue has been reported at $13.9 million in some sources.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$16M$32M$47M$63M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$53,254,904$46,538,209$31,267,891
Revenue$55,771,376$57,427,020$34,345,656
Expenses$55,779,987$42,496,305$36,407,724
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$894,268$375,936$51,127
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M$5M20 grants202040 grants202143 grants202283 grants202390 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COM…$769KWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN$707KAYIN PRESS LIMITED$220KJ STREET EDUCATION FUND$218KUC BERKELEY FOUNDATION$208KKITCHEN SLOW DOWN JEW UP$170KEDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE INC$145KPEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS$127KNEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE…$125KMOUNT TAMALPAIS COLLEGE$102K

Grant Size Distribution

203 grants across all recorded years

151<$50K30$50–100K20$100–250K$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The organization has recently appointed new leadership, with a new leader making the case for liberal democracy as of January 2026.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

DANIEL SOKATCHEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO$431KJENNIFER SPITZERVICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE OPER…$312KSTEVEN ROTHMANVICE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL …$222KLIBBY LENKINSKIVICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC EN…$213KMICHAEL GITZINEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - ISRAEL$212KTHOMAS J COLEDIRECTOR OF FINANCE$194KJANICE ELSTERSENIOR DIRECTOR NY/TRI-STATE…$183KSTEPHANE ACEL-GREENVICE PRESIDENT, PRINCIPAL AN…$162KBECKY BUCKWALDCHIEF PLANNED GIVING OFFICER$161KORLI BEINDEPUTY VICE PRESIDENT, SAN F…$148K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
DANIEL SOKATCHEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO40$430,593
DAVID N MYERSIMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT2
ITZIK DANZIGERVICE PRESIDENT, ISRAEL3
JANINE FRIERVICE PRESIDENT, AT LARGE3
JIM KOSHLANDTREASURER4
NASREEN HADAD HAJ-YAHYASECRETARY (THRU 9/24/2024), VP ISRAEL (AS OF 9/24/2024)3
PAUL EGERMANVICE PRESIDENT, NORTH AMERICA3
RACHEL LIELPRESIDENT8
SALLY GOTTESMANVICE PRESIDENT, NORTH AMERICA (AS OF 9/24/2024)2
YASMEEN ABU FRAIHASECRETARY (AS OF 9/24/2024)2
AARON DAVID MILLERDIRECTOR2
AVI GLEZERMANDIRECTOR3
BASMA KHALAF-JUBRANDIRECTOR2
BRIAN LURIEDIRECTOR2
DANIEL PRICEDIRECTOR2
ELAH ALKALAYDIRECTOR2
GABRIELA WILLENZDIRECTOR2
ILANA RATNERDIRECTOR2
JARON BERNSTEINDIRECTOR2
JENNA WEINBERGDIRECTOR2
JONATHAN PENKINDIRECTOR2
JONATHAN SHKEDIDIRECTOR2
KAREN ADLERDIRECTOR2
LINDA HERSHKOVITZDIRECTOR2
LISA GREERDIRECTOR (THRU 9/24/2024)2
MEITAL PINTODIRECTOR2
MICHAEL BIENDIRECTOR2
NAOMI CHAZANDIRECTOR2
NOELEEN COHENDIRECTOR2
PAUL BURGERDIRECTOR2
PETER EDELMANDIRECTOR2
RIC BENJAMINDIRECTOR2
SHULA MOLADIRECTOR2
STEPHEN D GUNTHERDIRECTOR2
SUSAN SNIDERDIRECTOR3
TALIA SASSONDIRECTOR2
YAEL STERNHELLDIRECTOR2
YOSEFFA TABIB-CALIFDIRECTOR2
YOSSI DAHANDIRECTOR2
JENNIFER SPITZERVICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION40$312,225
MICHAEL GITZINEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - ISRAEL42$211,530
LIBBY LENKINSKIVICE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC ENGAGMENT40$213,457
STEVEN ROTHMANVICE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT40$221,830
BECKY BUCKWALDCHIEF PLANNED GIVING OFFICER40$161,434
JANICE ELSTERSENIOR DIRECTOR NY/TRI-STATE REGION40$182,926
ORLI BEINDEPUTY VICE PRESIDENT, SAN FRANCISCO REGION40$148,410
STEPHANE ACEL-GREENVICE PRESIDENT, PRINCIPAL AND MAJOR GIFTS40$161,895
THOMAS J COLEDIRECTOR OF FINANCE40$193,838

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

Recent initiatives and accomplishments include:

**Emergency Response:** NIF has focused significant work on pro-democracy protests, the October 7 attacks, the subsequent war in Gaza, and addressing the right-wing government's attacks on democracy and civil liberties.

**Humanitarian Work:** NIF launched campaigns to address humanitarian needs in Gaza and provides support for free medical care to Palestinians in the West Bank.

**Award Recognition:** Palestinian citizen of Israel Rahgad Jaraisy won NIF's top U.S. prize for trailblazing work.

Trailblazing Palestinian Citizen of Israel Rahgad Jaraisy Wins New ...

**Cultural Initiatives:** NIF is building new cultural institutions for the democratic camp and launched Israel Artist Grants.

Building New Cultural Institutions for the Democratic Camp \u2022 New Israel\

**Coalition Building:** NIF supported 20 Arab-Jewish initiatives through its "Voices of Hope" grant program.

20 Arab-Jewish Initiatives Win New Israel Fund\u2019s \u201CVoices of Hope\u201D\

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

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

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