Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

What Friends of the Israel Defense Forces does

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit founded in 1981 and headquartered in New York City that operates as the official U.S. fundraising organization designated by the IDF Chief of Staff (most recently reaffirmed in 2025, following prior designations in 2017, 2019, and 2021). The organization raises and transfers charitable contributions from U.S. donors to fund a defined program portfolio serving IDF soldiers, veterans, reservists, bereaved families, and lone soldiers — reaching 340,000+ beneficiaries in 2024. Disclosed program lines include the Back to Life mental trauma treatment network (operated with Sheba Medical Center and Beit Halochem), the IMPACT! scholarship program, wounded soldier and bereaved family support, lone-soldier welfare, spiritual/heritage initiatives, IDF base construction and reconstruction (including the Re'im Base sports center), and a forthcoming TBI Rehabilitation Center.

The business model is donor-funded philanthropy, not commercial revenue: FIDF raises money through 25+ regional U.S. chapters plus a Panama office serving Latin America, multi-channel giving (phone, mail, ACH, stock, crypto, Israel Bonds, and matched-gifting platforms), special events, donor missions to Israel, and engagement programs such as Young Leadership (minimum $360/year). From 2023-2025 the organization transferred $325M to Israel; the 2025 core programs budget is $76M, an additional $250M multi-year donor commitment has been secured for emergency well-being support, and a $6.5M transfer was made in March 2026 for Operation Roaring Lion. There is no technology platform or AI/ML infrastructure disclosed — the operating model is relationship-driven fundraising, with credibility underwritten by 11+ consecutive Charity Navigator 4-star ratings and Candid Platinum Transparency designation.

Name

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

Legal name

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces

Website

https://fidf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FIDF is the official U.S. nonprofit designated by the IDF Chief of Staff to fundraise for Israel Defense Forces soldiers, veterans, bereaved families, and lone soldiers. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in New York, it operates 25+ U.S. chapters plus a Panama office and funds mental-health, education, welfare, and base-construction programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Military Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Nonprofit military support
• Charitable fundraising
• Soldier welfare programs
• Veteran education scholarships
• Defense family services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: FIDF generates revenue entirely through charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Donations support IDF soldier welfare programs including mental health services, education, bereaved family support, and construction projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1981 and headquartered in New York City, that raises charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund welfare, educational, mental-health, and recreational programs for active-duty Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, wounded veterans, and their families. FIDF delivers services directly to IDF personnel and operates more than 25 regional chapters across the United States that serve as community fundraising and donor-engagement hubs.

Product overview

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is a charitable organization offering a portfolio of life-changing programs supporting IDF soldiers, veterans, and their families. The organization operates a unified platform of well-being services centered on Emergency Well-Being Support, the Back to Life mental trauma treatment network, PTSD & Mental Health Solutions, IMPACT! Scholarships, and Wounded Soldier & Bereaved Family Support. Additional programs include Lone Soldier Support, Financial Support, Spiritual & Heritage Programs, and Construction Projects. Engagement programs like Young Leadership, FIDF Missions, Write to a Soldier, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah Projects enable community involvement, while FIDF Societies provides donor recognition. The organization sends funds to Israel through partnerships with IDF, Israeli Ministry of Defense, and various implementing organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FIDF National Young Leadership: A network of emerging leaders, change-makers, and social butterflies who support IDF soldiers through educational, welfare and wellbeing opportunities. Members pay minimum annual commitment of $360.

Products and services

• Back to Life Network
• IMPACT! Scholarships
• Lone Soldier Support

Quantifiable outcome

• 340,000+ soldiers, veterans, and family members supported in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Aharai!majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026FIDF has partnered with Aharai!, one of Israel's leading youth leadership organizations. FIDF invested $1M for 2026 to strengthen the organization's ability to provide leadership opportunities to thousands of youth. The partnership connects FIDF's commitment to soldiers serving today with training to become tomorrow's commanders and leaders. IMPACT! scholarship recipients volunteer as instructors within Aharai!, contributing over 900,000 volunteer hours.
• Sheba Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIDF partners with Sheba Medical Center for the 'Back to Life' network of mental trauma treatment centers. Sheba provides clinical expertise in mental trauma treatment while FIDF provides funding and support. The network combines clinical excellence with community-based rehabilitation.
• IDF Disabled Veterans OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Back to Life' mental trauma treatment network and broader rehabilitation support for wounded IDF soldiers and security forces members.
• Beit HalochemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for 'Back to Life' mental trauma treatment center in Jerusalem. Beit Halochem centers provide rehabilitation and community-support framework.
• Association for Israel's Soldiers (AFIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AFIS for the NIS 23 million reconstruction project at Re'im Base. AFIS (Association for Israel's Soldiers) co-led the rebuilding of facilities destroyed during October 7 attacks. Original facilities were built through FIDF donors and are being restored through the same partnership.
• Ramon FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through FIDF support for the AIR Team program - supporting young Israeli women in aviation and opening skies through the Ramon Foundation and IDF collaboration.
• Friends of Aharai! (FOA) in North AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth American partner organization that participates in Aharai! events and supports the youth leadership organization alongside FIDF.
• FIDF New York Tristate Real Estate Affinity GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonor affinity group that funded initial construction of Re'im Base sports center and gym, then spearheaded the rebuilding effort after October 7 destruction.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• USO (United Service Organizations): Premier U.S. nonprofit supporting active-duty service members and their families — directly analogous business model (donor fundraising for military welfare programs) at much larger scale.
• Birthright Israel Foundation: U.S. nonprofit raising funds to send young Jewish adults to Israel — overlapping donor base and Israel-engagement mission with FIDF, particularly the Young Leadership demographic.
• Jewish National Fund (JNF): Largest U.S.-based nonprofit raising funds for Israeli causes; competes with FIDF for the same donor base focused on Israel and IDF-adjacent programs.
• American Friends of Magen David Adom: U.S. nonprofit supporting Israel's national emergency medical service; similar donor base, Israeli defense/medical mission overlap, and wartime fundraising surge dynamics as FIDF.
• Fisher House Foundation: U.S. nonprofit supporting military families with housing and family support near medical facilities — closely comparable model of donor-funded support for service members and families in need.
• Semper Fi Fund: U.S. nonprofit providing immediate financial support and lifelong assistance to wounded, critically ill, and injured service members — directly comparable rehabilitation and family-support programs.
• Wounded Warrior Project: U.S. nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans; analogous mission in supporting injured service members, mental health, and rehabilitation — directly comparable program mix to FIDF's wounded soldier and bereaved family programs.

Broad incumbents

• American Jewish Committee (AJC): Large, established Jewish advocacy organization with overlapping U.S. Jewish donor base; broader global remit but competes for Israel-focused philanthropic dollars.
• Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America: Large U.S. Jewish nonprofit supporting Israeli institutions (Hadassah Medical Center) with overlapping donor base and Israel-focused mission.

Emerging players

• Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund: Smaller U.S. nonprofit supporting wounded U.S. service members — analogous military-family support mission but focused on U.S. veterans rather than IDF.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FIDF
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FIDF2008
• Facebookfacebook.com/FIDFNational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-the-israel-defense-forces-fidf-
• Instagraminstagram.com/friends_of_the_idf
• TikToktiktok.com/@friendsoftheidf

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of the Israel Defense Forces