Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
Professional services
UnclaimedA United States-based nonprofit that raises charitable funds for welfare, education, rehabilitation, and family-support programs connected with Israel Defense Forces personnel, veterans, and bereaved families.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, commonly known as FIDF, is a United States-based charitable organization established in 1981 by Holocaust survivors. Its stated purpose is to support the health, welfare, education, rehabilitation, and family needs of current and former members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as well as families of fallen soldiers. The organization is headquartered in New York City and operates through a national office and regional chapters across the United States, with programs implemented in coordination with Israeli institutional partners. FIDF presents itself as a non-political and non-military charity. It says that donations are restricted under applicable U.S. and Israeli rules to non-combat purposes, including scholarships, mental-health and resilience services, bereavement assistance, housing, financial aid, recreation, and facilities intended to improve soldiers' living and educational conditions. Its work is commonly described as being coordinated with Israel's Ministry of Defense and the Association for Israel's Soldiers. The organization has also stated that it is the principal or official American charitable channel for donations benefiting IDF soldiers, although reporting in 2025 described disagreement or uncertainty among Israeli and American organizations over whether that status is exclusive. The charity's main program areas include assistance for lone soldiers, who serve in Israel without close immediate family in the country; support for families of fallen or wounded personnel; psychological and physical rehabilitation; holiday and recreational activities; unit and family welfare; and academic scholarships. Its IMPACT! scholarship program provides multi-year financial assistance to eligible former combat and combat-support soldiers from lower-income backgrounds. FIDF has also funded capital projects such as welfare, education, and community facilities on military bases and training campuses. Programs known as Adopt a Battalion and Adopt a Brigade allow donors to support the needs of specified military formations, while FIDF's public materials distinguish such welfare support from financing weapons or military operations. Fundraising is driven largely by large events in major American Jewish and philanthropic centers. Galas, concerts, auctions, chapter events, emergency appeals, corporate matching, and major individual gifts have produced substantial annual receipts. Fundraising often increases sharply during periods of war or other national crisis. A 2017 Los Angeles-area event reportedly generated $53.8 million, including a major gift associated with facilities at an IDF training site, and the organization reported raising $139.3 million in 2018. Following the October 7, 2023 attacks and the ensuing Gaza war, FIDF launched emergency appeals focused on medical, welfare, resilience, and family needs. Its 2023 IRS filing reported unusually high revenue of $281.96 million, compared with $89.34 million in 2022; those figures require the accompanying filing and period for proper interpretation and do not represent ordinary annual operating levels. Source: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131873826 FIDF has attracted prominent donors, entertainers, business figures, Israeli officials, and military officers to its events. Its public profile is consequently closely associated with American support for Israel and the IDF. Supporters characterize the organization as an important humanitarian and social-welfare network for service members and their families. Critics argue that welfare and morale programs can indirectly subsidize the Israeli military, blur the distinction between humanitarian assistance and military support, or reinforce strongly pro-Israel political narratives. The organization has faced protests at fundraising events, scrutiny over executive compensation and reserves, questions about the timing of emergency transfers, and legal and public criticism concerning its relationship to Israeli military and settlement-related institutions. These disputes have not resulted in the organization's closure, and FIDF remains active as a U.S. fundraising organization.
History
FIDF was founded in 1981 by Holocaust survivors who sought to help Israeli soldiers and the families of service members who had died. It became a U.S. tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization in July 1983. From its early focus on educational and welfare assistance, the organization developed a nationwide fundraising structure composed of regional chapters, a national office, major-donor networks, and large public events. Over time, FIDF broadened its activities beyond direct financial relief. Its programs came to include scholarships, support for lone soldiers, assistance to bereaved families, rehabilitation and resilience services, recreational and holiday activities, housing, vouchers, and capital improvements on military bases and training campuses. FIDF says these projects are designed to improve quality of life and do not finance weapons or military operations. It reports working with Israel's Ministry of Defense and the Association for Israel's Soldiers to identify needs, administer projects, and maintain compliance. The IMPACT! scholarship program became one of the organization's most prominent long-term initiatives. It provides multi-year academic support to eligible former soldiers from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, generally linking recipients with individual donors. FIDF reported reaching its 20,000th scholarship recipient in 2024. Another visible area is support for lone soldiers, including care packages, housing, stipends, holiday assistance, recreation, and flights to visit relatives abroad. Family and bereavement services include counseling, community assistance, retreats, and financial help for families affected by death or injury. FIDF's public fundraising model relies heavily on galas, concerts, auctions, chapter events, corporate matching, and emergency campaigns. This model has brought the organization into contact with wealthy donors, entertainment figures, Israeli political leaders, and senior military officers. A 2017 Los Angeles-area event generated a reported $53.8 million, including a major contribution connected with a welfare and education facility on an IDF training campus. FIDF also reported $139.3 million in donations in 2018. Fundraising intensified after October 7, 2023, when the organization promoted emergency support for soldiers and families during the Gaza war. Its 2023 filing showed $281.96 million in revenue, $143.17 million in expenses, and $336.43 million in assets, compared with $89.34 million in revenue in 2022. Source: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/131873826 The organization has also experienced sustained criticism. Palestinian-solidarity and anti-war groups have protested FIDF events and objected to its relationship with the IDF. Critics contend that welfare, morale, and facility programs indirectly reduce the military's own social-support costs and therefore amount to indirect military subsidization. Other controversies have involved the presentation of FIDF as an exclusive U.S. fundraising channel, executive compensation, large cash reserves, the handling and timing of emergency donations, and the appearance of ideological or Greater Israel-related material. In 2016, Palestinian-American plaintiffs filed a very large lawsuit alleging connections between FIDF and Israeli settlements; the claim became part of the broader legal and political controversy surrounding organizations that support Israeli institutions. Despite these disputes, charity evaluators have generally viewed FIDF's governance and financial systems favorably in some categories, while watchdog commentary has questioned its reserves and internal governance. The organization remains active, with U.S. fundraising and Israeli program delivery continuing across scholarship, family welfare, bereavement, rehabilitation, resilience, and base-facility projects.
- 2025
Nadav Padan becomes chief executive
[1]Retired Israeli major general Nadav Padan is identified as FIDF's chief executive.
- 2024
IMPACT! scholarship program reaches 20,000 recipients
[1]FIDF publicizes the 20,000th recipient of its multi-year academic scholarship program.
- 2023
Emergency appeal after October 7
[1]FIDF expands emergency fundraising for medical, family, welfare, and resilience needs during the Gaza war.
- 2023
Revenue surge reported in IRS filing
[2]The organization's filing reports $281.96 million in revenue and $336.43 million in assets for fiscal year 2023.
- 2018
Reported donation milestone
[1]FIDF reports raising $139.3 million to benefit soldiers during the year.
- 2017
Large Los Angeles fundraising gala
[1]A Western Region gala reportedly raises $53.8 million, including a major gift for IDF welfare facilities.
- 2014
End of Gershon CEO period
[1]Yitzhak Gershon's reported tenure as chief executive ends.
- 2008
Yitzhak Gershon becomes chief executive
[1]Retired Israeli major general Yitzhak Gershon begins a reported period as FIDF chief executive.
- 1983
Recognized as a U.S. tax-exempt charity
[1]FIDF receives U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in July.
- 1981
Organization founded
[1]Holocaust survivors establish FIDF to support the welfare and education of IDF soldiers and families of fallen service members.
Products and positioning
A U.S. philanthropic bridge supporting the non-combat welfare, education, health, and family needs of IDF personnel and veterans, while mobilizing donors through large-scale events and crisis appeals.
Education and scholarships
IMPACT! scholarships
A multi-year academic scholarship program for former combat and combat-support soldiers from low-income backgrounds. The program connects recipients with donors and is intended to support higher education and post-service economic mobility. FIDF reported that the program reached its 20,000th recipient in 2024.
Soldier and family welfare
Lone-soldier support
A collection of services for IDF personnel serving without close immediate family in Israel. Support may include housing, financial assistance, holiday vouchers, care packages, recreational activities, and flights allowing soldiers to visit relatives abroad.
Unit welfare fundraising
Adopt a Battalion and Adopt a Brigade
Donor programs that direct charitable support toward the welfare and non-combat needs of designated IDF formations. FIDF describes these programs as funding unit-related needs rather than weapons or military operations.
Family support
Bereavement and family services
Financial, counseling, community, retreat, and resilience services for families of fallen or wounded soldiers. These programs are delivered with Israeli partners and are intended to address long-term social and emotional needs.
Health and rehabilitation
Rehabilitation and resilience programs
Support for physical rehabilitation, psychological care, rest and recuperation, and resilience-building activities for soldiers, veterans, and their families. FIDF has also supported plans for broader mental-health and resilience facilities.
Controversies
2025
Dispute over exclusive fundraising status
FIDF's public description of itself as the official U.S. charity authorized to raise donations for IDF soldiers was questioned after Israeli officials declined to confirm that the authorization was exclusive and another U.S. nonprofit asserted comparable status.
2024
Criticism over cash reserves
A charity-governance consultant criticized FIDF for maintaining substantial cash reserves and questioned whether donated money was being deployed quickly enough. FIDF defended its reserve and disbursement practices.
2023
Emergency donation transfer questions
Reporting questioned why only part of the funds raised after October 7 had reportedly been transferred to Israel by late October, while FIDF described transfers as dependent on specific program requirements and approvals.
2019
Scrutiny of executive compensation
Reporting examined compensation paid to former CEO Meir Klifi and earlier executive Yitzhak Gershon, prompting criticism about whether senior pay was proportionate to the organization's charitable role.
2016
Large lawsuit concerning settlement-related connections
Palestinian-American plaintiffs filed a $34.5 billion lawsuit alleging that FIDF and other organizations and philanthropists were connected to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The case formed part of wider political and legal criticism of U.S. charitable support for Israeli institutions.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024IMPACT! 20,000th scholarship
United States · Israel
FIDF promoted the reported 20,000th recipient of its IMPACT! academic scholarship program as evidence of the program's scale and continuing expansion.
Outcome. The scholarship program continued as one of FIDF's principal education initiatives.
- 2023Emergency support appeal after October 7
United States · Israel
FIDF appealed for donations for emergency medical equipment, soldier welfare, psychological resilience, and family assistance following the October 7 attacks and the ensuing Gaza war.
Outcome. Reporting said the organization raised more than $50 million in the weeks after October 7; the pace at which funds were transferred to Israel became a subject of scrutiny.
- 2017Western Region Gala
United States
A major Los Angeles-area fundraising gala combined entertainment, donor appeals, and a large capital gift for IDF welfare facilities at a training campus.
Outcome. The event reportedly raised $53.8 million, including a reported $16.6 million gift associated with the facilities project.
Brand decisions
2024
Expansion of scholarship and resilience prioritiesStrategyBackground
FIDF continued emphasizing post-service education and psychological resilience as long-term support needs for soldiers and veterans.
Action taken
The organization publicized the 20,000th IMPACT! scholarship recipient and supported planning for expanded soldier mental-health and resilience infrastructure.
Aftermath
Education and resilience remained prominent components of FIDF's public program portfolio.
2023
Shift to emergency wartime fundraisingStrategyBackground
The October 7 attacks and subsequent Gaza war created an acute increase in reported demand for soldier, medical, family, and resilience support.
Action taken
FIDF launched emergency appeals and directed fundraising toward time-sensitive welfare, equipment, family, and mental-health needs in coordination with Israeli partners.
Aftermath
The organization reported an exceptional increase in revenue during fiscal year 2023, while the speed and allocation of some transfers drew public scrutiny.
Revenue. $89.34 million → $281.96 million (Fiscal years 2022 and 2023)
Recent events
Sources4 sources
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