I am surprised this charity is rated Gold. First, NIF has a 25% overhead rate, which is high for a nonprofit, as noted by Charity Navigator. Second, NIF gives 20% of their funds to groups that accuse Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as to groups supporting BDS. This includes Breaking the Silence, B'tselem, and Adalah, as documented by NGO Monitor. There are progressive charities in Israel that support the poor, such as Yad Ezra v'Shulamit, that do not carry the baggage of NIF. I run a small charitable foundation, and I recommend avoiding this nonprofit.
Review from Guidestar
NIF is concerned with empowering and supporting Israel's critics and takes little interest in growing antisemitism or anti-Israel feeling around the world, in fact it foments the latter with constant references to occupation. It claims to be nonpartisan and nonpolitical but that is patently untrue, just look at the activities of their grantees. It supported the BDS movement in its early stages. A very self-righteous group that probably does more harm than good.
This is a wonderful organization with a progressive mission and a deep commitment to human rights. I have seen the New Israel Fund's work firsthand and can attest to its value.
Openly supports anti-Israel people and organizations. Also employs people who equate the IDF to Hamas, and who try to endanger Jews and Israel supporters by breaching their privacy, safety, and security.
NIF is openly outspoken against the Jewish State. Its condemnation of Israel is more virulent that that of Israel's foreign enemies. I urge people to desist from contributing to NIF if they are pro-Israel, pro Jewish Israel, and are for the existence of Israel.
Biased leftists' bunch bent on supporting pan-arab nationalism, socialism & pathological hate of religion. Engaged is brainwashing gullible public by false claims & visious bolshevik propaganda. Have roots in failed Meretz, various socialist, marxist & leftist ideologies. Policies & activities supported by leftist bureaucrats of U.S. State Dept., incl. clintons, indyk & other Oslo War criminals, guilty of appeasing arab terrorism & murders of over 1000 israelis (2000-2011). Irresponsible outfit never took any accountability... instead, continues criminal activities to arm & instigate terrorists for more murders!!!
Review from CharityNavigator
It seems the New Israel Fund wants a No Israel The words are sweet, but the money is directed to dismantle the Jewish State.
Review from Guidestar
New Israel FUND (NIF) tries, and usually is successful, to have a humanistic/philantropic image. But their activity suffers from a radical left universalistic motive, which contradicts the will of the majority of the citizens, and the recognized purpose of the state of Israel. NIF consistently supports the evil radical nationalistic Arab attempts againt the state of Israel and against Jewish people, both as a group and as individuals. Recently it has been exposed that most of the arguments raised by the unfair and misleading Goldstone's report, came conciously and directly from organizations which are supported by NIF. Already in the ninetties I had become familiar with the bad direction of NIF. I was a volunteer in Neemnei Tora VaAvoda, a modern moderate religious, and non-political movement. For a single year this movement succeeded to get a small budget from NIF. Accordingly I attended in a meeting of all organization supported by NIF, and was shocked to realize there who are our colleagues. It seems that NIF also realized that Neemnei is not the one to contribute to the undermining attemts of NIF, So NIF didn't renew the funding for Neemnei. The misleading nature of NIF is perhaps demonstrated also by its name. The title New Israel Fund might be understood that the existing state of Israel is not good enough, and should be transformed or replaced by a totally other political entity, New Israel. This possible interpretation is hidden from the Israelis, because in Hebrew the name is the translation of New Fund for israel.
This fund strengthens the enemies of the Jewish poeple. In 2008, NIF distributed over $20 million to over 300 NGOs in Israel. Approximately 20% goes to NGOs that engage in political activities related to the Arab-Israeli conflict, including some that reject the legitimacy of Israel as Jewish democratic state, and are active in boycott and similar campaigns.
From 1987 - 1999 I lived in Israel. I was teaching violin in a Suzuki program for mostly small children, where the parents are involved too. We worked with Arabic and Jewish families in Ma'alot - Tarshiha and other villages. Many contacts and some friendships were formed. At that time NIF supported us. That is how I got interested. I have supported NIF ever since. In my opinion it is an excellent organization, and very necessary, today more than ever.
It is only through the efforts of such groups as the New Israel Fund, that Israel as a Jewish home land has a chance to survive. I know of their activities though a discussions with one of their employees, and feel that they are working for the best possible out come for both the Jews and Palestinians.
I have been active in the Jewish community and a donor to New Israel Fund for many years. The longer the association the more I grasp the extent to which the NIF supports civil society in Israel - enabling it to grow and flourish in a way that would not have been possible without its support. I am more and more impressed with the breadth of their involvement across Israeli society.
I attneded JStreet and was struck by how perceptive and principled the NIF folks were. I applaud the organization for hiring Daniel Sokatch as CEO and recognizing such a talent, despite controversy. I have also been impressed by their Love, Hate, and Jewish State programs, the breadth of organizations they support, and there willingness to reconsider their tactics to have the greatestg effect.
I have been involved with New Israel Fund for over 15 years as a volunteer and have donated over $20,000 of my hard-earned money to it. I do this because New Israel Fund is doing such important work in strengthening Israel's nonprofits so that they can continue to promote equality, religious pluralism, reduction of social and economic gaps and environmental stewardship.
I lived in Israel for five months as an exchange professor at Haifa University. In that time I became aware of the social problems that have been largely ignored by the government, no matter which party is in power. NIF has targeted these problems deliberately, with great energy and with increasing success. For that reason I gave to NIF one tenth of my wealth, not much, but as a sign of my faith in its mission and my support for its methods. To my knowledge, no other non-profit does as much to create a just and free society in Israel.
The New Israel Fund is an amazing non-profit which has made a key contribution to civil rights and economic justice and demonstrates a clear commitment to peace which is backed up by a powerful vision. It is a voice of sanity that gives me hope for a better future.
The New Israel is far and aawy the best and most important non-profit organization in the Jewish community. For all the money that America gives to Israel's defense, not one penny of it creates a better Israeli society like the New Israel Fund does. I have been a donor since NIF's inception in 1979 and have experienced first hand the amazing work that is done in civil rights, economic justice, and Israeli's relationship with the Bedouin, Israeli Arab, and Palestinian communities. If there is a better non-profit in the Jewish community, I haven't found it.
I have been a donor to New Israel Fund since 1991. What I like best is their ability to involve me in Istaeli social issues through many compelling speakers. I've heard people who work on the front lines in rape crisis centers, social services for immigrants and for Israeli Arabs; I've heard opposing viewpoints and in-depth discussions. The varied voices and narratives make each issue so real -- much more than statistics, although NIF provides those as well. I feel that my contributions make a real difference and that the need is almost infinite.
I have participated with New Israel Fund since its inception. I was in Israel just after the founding, visiting the Haifa women's shelter for abused women. They had no money to pay their rent. When I contacted NIF on my return they investigated the shelter and soon were supporters. On my most recent trip to Israel with NIF I visited many organizations working with abused women and realize how responsive they are to the needs of voiceless, disempowered groups--turning them into a place of empowerment and giving voice to the silent.
New Israel Fund is devoted to helping all sides in the Middle East achieve peace and development through education, mutual acceptance and social improvement without a political agenda. Through addressing actual social needs it creates a better society for everyone in the Middle East.
New Israel Fund is the most amazing group working on Israel social justice issues in the US. Not only does NIF fund organizations directly, it also does an excellent job of capacity building through SHATIL. I had the amazing opportunity of traveling through Israel with NIF and met with grantees and those who had worked with SHATIL and there is no doubt in my mind (nor in the mind of those I met in Israel, so far as I can tell!) that NIF is making real change possible. NIF is often the first funder for organizations doing socially-risky progressive things (like working for GLBt rights), and without NIF many of these organizations would have nowhere to turn.
I've been a donor to NIF for a dozen years. They take to heart - and make real - the biblical command (justice, justice you shall pursue). They walk the walk of equality and democracy. It's one of the few truly integrated organizations in Israel. Plus I did some volunteer work for them while living in Israel in 2007: helped a local environmental group put together a strategic plan. Loved everyone I met, their passion and dedication.
I came to know the New Israel Fund after meeting one of the employees. At the time I wasn't aware of the group, but later realized they funded several of the social justice groups I work with. In addition, they have been very helpful in providing media resources to help people get involved in at the local, national, and international levels making a positive impact in their communities. They pay particular attention to advocating for women's needs in social and public policy which is important to me. I can't express how impressed I am with this group and the work they do. They consistently strive towards fairness in representing the needs of those most marginalized, and the work and resources they provide are beyond parallel.