Israel Charities Compared: FIDF, Birthright, Jewish Agency

Three of the largest charities tied to Israel that file US returns report very different finances on their FY2024 Form 990 filings. The Jewish Agency reports $455.5 million in revenue and $1.31 billion in assets, FIDF reports $187.5 million in revenue with 80% of spending on programs, and Birthright Israel Foundation reports $74.3 million in revenue and 70% to programs. The two US CEOs' direct pay differs by about $1,000.

Last updated: October 31, 2026

How do Israel charities compare on the Form 990?

The three organizations differ by an order of magnitude in size, as the table shows. Birthright Israel Foundation figures come directly from its 2024 return. FIDF and Jewish Agency figures come from IRS data as displayed by Philanthropy.org and InfluenceWatch, and should be confirmed against each return.

Measure (FY2024)	Jewish Agency	FIDF	Birthright Israel Foundation
Total revenue	$455,512,779	$187,538,523	$74,279,931
Total expenses	$378,472,779	$141,390,348	$65,202,682
Revenue less expenses	About $77.0M (Olam calculation)	$46.1M	$9.1M
Total assets	$1,308,760,000	$383,993,388	$70,527,712
Share of spending on programs	88%	80%	70%
Chief executive, direct pay	$438,664 (Daniel Elbaum)	$658,065 (Steven Weil)	$659,123 (Elias Saratovsky)

The three do different jobs, so the ratios are not a ranking. The Jewish Agency runs programs itself, FIDF funds programs through grants, and Birthright Israel Foundation raises money for a separate organization.

What does Birthright Israel Foundation's Form 990 show?

Birthright Israel Foundation's 2024 return shows $74.3 million in revenue, $65.2 million in expenses and $56.0 million in net assets. It spent $45.8 million on programs, all of it as grants to the Middle East and North Africa region, which the return identifies as support for Taglit-Birthright Israel. Management and general costs were $6.0 million and fundraising costs $13.4 million, or 9% and 21% of spending.

The return describes the foundation as the fundraising arm of Taglit-Birthright Israel (BRI International), so its higher fundraising share reflects its role. It paid the direct-mail firm Moore A Series LLC $1,477,226 as an independent contractor, and the firm retained $1,383,458 of $4,950,057 in gross receipts from that activity. Its CEO, Elias Saratovsky, received $659,123 in reportable pay and $58,294 in other compensation. For more on the foundation's finances, see Olam's report on where Birthright Israel Foundation's money goes.

What does FIDF's Form 990 show?

FIDF's 2024 return shows $187.5 million in revenue, $141.4 million in expenses and $384.0 million in total assets. Program services were $113.5 million, or 80% of spending, and grants and assistance to foreign recipients totaled $107.4 million. CEO Steven Weil received $658,065 in direct pay and $699,943 in total in 2024, before he resigned in July 2025. Olam's detailed look at the return is in its FIDF Form 990 review, and its look at FIDF's audited reserves is in FIDF had $140 million available to spend.

What does the Jewish Agency's Form 990 show?

The Jewish Agency's FY2024 return reports $1.31 billion in total assets, $455.5 million in revenue and $378.5 million in expenses, with 88% of spending going to programs. Salaries and benefits were $121.2 million, and the return lists 136 people, led by President and CEO Daniel Elbaum at $438,664 in direct compensation. About $3.1 million was paid to officers and key staff. Olam has not verified the schedule-level detail on its balance sheet, so this comparison uses headline figures only.

How does CEO pay compare with spending?

CEO pay is a small share of spending at all three, and it is largest as a share at Birthright Israel Foundation, the smallest of the three. Olam's calculation divides each CEO's direct pay by total expenses.

Organization	CEO direct pay	Share of total expenses
Birthright Israel Foundation	$659,123	1.01%
FIDF	$658,065	0.47%
Jewish Agency	$438,664	0.12%

Pay is not comparable on its face, because the Jewish Agency is far larger, its programs are centered in Israel, and other pay elements differ. The two US CEOs' direct pay differs by $1,058.

How should readers use these comparisons?

Readers should treat the table as a starting point for questions, not a verdict on any organization. Program share depends on how each group classifies its costs, and a fundraising vehicle such as Birthright Israel Foundation will always show a different mix from an operating organization. A single year also reflects timing, such as when grants are paid or when a large gift arrives.

Three checks help. First, compare the same fiscal year across organizations, as this table does. Second, read the audited statements alongside the Form 990, because the two can report different expense totals, as FIDF's do. Third, look at multi-year trends, since revenue at FIDF fell 33% in 2024 after a surge in 2023. Donors who want a rating can also consult independent charity evaluators, which weigh factors this table leaves out. Other filings Olam has analyzed include Leket Israel USA, One Family Fund and JCRC-NY.

What are the main takeaways from the three filings?

Four points stand out from the comparison.

Size varies a great deal: the Jewish Agency's assets are about 3.4 times FIDF's and 18.6 times Birthright Israel Foundation's.
All three ran a surplus in 2024, from about $9 million at Birthright Israel Foundation to about $77 million at the Jewish Agency.
Program share runs from 70% to 88%, and the spread follows each organization's model more than its quality.
FIDF's audited statements and its Form 990 report different expense totals, so readers should state which document a figure comes from.

Frequently asked questions

Which Israel charity has the highest program share?

The Jewish Agency reports 88%, compared with 80% at FIDF and 70% at Birthright Israel Foundation on their FY2024 returns.

Which Israel charity is the largest?

The Jewish Agency, with $1.31 billion in assets and $455.5 million in revenue in FY2024.

How much do the CEOs of FIDF and Birthright earn?

Steven Weil of FIDF received $658,065 in direct pay in 2024, and Elias Saratovsky of Birthright Israel Foundation received $659,123.

Why does Birthright spend more on fundraising?

Its return describes it as the fundraising arm of Taglit-Birthright Israel, so raising money is its main activity. Fundraising was $13.4 million, or about 21% of its spending.