Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Friends of the Israel Defense Forces is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Young Leadership Membership - minimum annual commitment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels9 records
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Aharai!majorFIDF 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 CentercoreFIDF 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 OrganizationcorePartnership for the 'Back to Life' mental trauma treatment network and broader rehabilitation support for wounded IDF soldiers and security forces members.
- Beit HalochemcoreHost 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)corePartnership 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 FoundationminorPartnership 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 AmericaminorNorth American partner organization that participates in Aharai! events and supports the youth leadership organization alongside FIDF.
- FIDF New York Tristate Real Estate Affinity GroupminorDonor 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
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces social profiles
Digital presenceFriends of the Israel Defense Forces compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&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
What does Friends of the Israel Defense Forces do?
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.
Is Friends of the Israel Defense Forces a public or private company?
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Friends of the Israel Defense Forces founded?
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces was founded in 1981. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Friends of the Israel Defense Forces based?
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Friends of the Israel Defense Forces make money?
One revenue line is on record: charitable Donations.
Who are Friends of the Israel Defense Forces's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are USO (United Service Organizations), Birthright Israel Foundation, Jewish National Fund (JNF), American Friends of Magen David Adom, Fisher House Foundation, Semper Fi Fund and Wounded Warrior Project. Broad incumbents are American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America. Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is listed as an emerging player.
Does Friends of the Israel Defense Forces have an API?
No public API is recorded for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
What industry is Friends of the Israel Defense Forces in?
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces's product category is Nonprofit Military Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8600.