American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

What American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem does

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Darien, Connecticut, that functions as the designated American fundraising channel for the humanitarian institutions of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. AFEDJ does not deliver services directly; rather, it raises financial support from individual donors, Episcopal churches across the United States, foundations (e.g., the Harold C. Smith Foundation, Campbell Family Foundation), and partner institutions, then passes 100% of designated donations through to schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers serving vulnerable and displaced populations in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon.

The supported institutional portfolio spans at least 18 entities, including Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, St. Luke's Hospital in Nablus, Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre, Christ Episcopal School in Nazareth (1,200 students), Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Salt, Jordan, and the Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Center (ETVTC) in Ramallah. AFEDJ maintains a small staff (1-10 employees), operates a single Darien office, and pursues a community-led go-to-market approach combining direct mail, online donations via the Qgiv platform, email newsletters, YouTube content, social media, and Bearing Witness pilgrimages. Revenue sources include individual donations, church partnerships, foundation grants, and pilgrimage-related contributions, with supplementary planned giving, donor-advised funds, and legacy gift vehicles supporting long-term donor retention.

AFEDJ holds Charity Navigator 100/100 and Guidestar Gold Transparency certifications, indicating strong governance and fiduciary oversight. In 2024, the organization raised more than $4 million in direct support, with operational leadership under Board Chair Greg Rickel (also Bishop of Olympia) and a former executive director, John Lent. The organization's mission explicitly excludes political or sectarian advocacy, positioning it as a neutral humanitarian bridge between U.S. Anglican donors and Middle Eastern institutional beneficiaries.

Name

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

Legal name

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem

Website

https://afedj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AFEDJ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1988 and headquartered in Darien, CT, that raises funds from U.S. donors, Episcopal churches, and foundations to support schools, hospitals, and disability centers operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem across Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Darien

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through the organization's website, mail, and planned giving programs including donor-advised funds and legacy gifts
2. Church Partnerships: Episcopal churches across the US partner with AFEDJ to support the Diocese of Jerusalem institutions through special collections, fundraising events, and ongoing support
3. Foundation Grants: Foundations such as the Harold C. Smith Foundation and Campbell Family Foundation provide grants for specific projects and capital improvements
4. Pilgrimage Programs: Bearing Witness study program brings supporters to the Holy Land to witness the work of the institutions they support

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFEDJ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and channels financial support in the United States for the humanitarian institutions of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem — including schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers for children with disabilities in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon. It engages individual donors, Episcopal churches, and foundations through online giving, planned giving, church partnerships, and the Bearing Witness pilgrimage program, and passes 100% of designated donations to the intended institution.

Product overview

American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that functions as a charitable fundraising entity supporting humanitarian institutions of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. The organization does not offer a technology product, platform, or software service. Rather, AFEDJ raises financial support for schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers serving vulnerable populations in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon. The supported institutions include Ahli Arab Hospital (Gaza), Ahliyyah School (Jordan), Arab Episcopal School (Irbid), Arab Evangelical Episcopal School (Ramallah), Bishop's School for Boys (Amman), Christ Episcopal School (Nazareth), Episcopal Technological and Vocational Training Center/ETVTC (Ramallah), Holy Land Institute for the Deaf (Salt, Jordan), Jerusalem Princess Basma Centre, Jofeh Community Rehabilitation Center (Jordan), Penman Clinic (Zababdeh), Saviour's Episcopal School (Zarqa), St. George's College (East Jerusalem), St. George's School (East Jerusalem), St. John's Episcopal School (Haifa), St. Luke's Center for Rehabilitation (Beirut), St. Luke's Hospital (Nablus), and Theodor Schneller School (Marka, Jordan).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Donation Program Secure online giving portal that allows individual donors, churches, and foundations to make one-time, monthly, and recurring tax-deductible contributions to support specified Holy Land institutions or AFEDJ's general mission.
• Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts Donor-advised fund, legacy, and estate planning vehicles that allow individuals to make long-term, tax-advantaged contributions to AFEDJ and the institutions of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
• Bearing Witness Pilgrimage and Study Program Immersive study and pilgrimage program that takes AFEDJ donors and supporters to the Holy Land to experience firsthand the schools, hospitals, and disability centers they fund.
• Church Partnership and Fundraising Resources Program providing Episcopal parishes with fundraising toolkits, campaign materials, and institutional channels to conduct special collections and awareness campaigns that benefit AFEDJ and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem institutions.
• AFEDJ Membership Membership offering for individual supporters providing ongoing engagement with the AFEDJ mission and sustained financial support to Holy Land institutions.
• Fair Trade Goods Curated fair trade goods offering from the region, providing supporters with artisan products linked to the communities served by AFEDJ.

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised over $4 million in 2024 for direct support of Holy Land institutions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• St. John's Norwood Church, Chevy Chase, MDcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Led fundraising effort to raise $114,000 for a 4D ultrasound machine for St. Luke's Hospital in Nablus, engaging 70+ individuals and churches in the Washington DC region. Previously helped raise $83,000 plus additional funding for an ambulance.
• Grace Presbyterian Church, Springfield, VAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time partner with St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Nablus, contributed to ambulance fundraising campaign for St. Luke's Hospital. Featured in Presbyterian Outlook magazine for their partnership work.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC): Large, established Jewish humanitarian organization raising funds in the U.S. for overseas Jewish community support and humanitarian aid in the Middle East and globally. Comparable as a faith-affiliated 'American Friends of' style fundraising entity, but at significantly greater scale and broader scope.
• Church World Service (CWS): Ecumenical Christian humanitarian organization supporting refugee assistance, disaster relief, and development globally. Comparable as a faith-based U.S. fundraising entity channeling donations to overseas humanitarian work, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS): U.S. Catholic Conference's official overseas relief and development agency, operating globally at hundreds of millions in annual revenue. Comparable faith-based U.S. fundraising and humanitarian aid model, but vastly larger scale and broader geographic reach than AFEDJ.

Direct peers

• American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA): U.S.-based nonprofit raising funds to support humanitarian and development programs in the Middle East, particularly Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan. Directly comparable to AFEDJ in mission (Middle East humanitarian aid), fundraising model (U.S. donors funding overseas institutions), and target geography.
• International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC): Orthodox Christian humanitarian aid organization raising funds in the U.S. to support humanitarian projects worldwide, including in the Middle East. Similar faith-based American fundraising model channeling donor support to overseas Christian-affiliated institutions.
• American Friends Service Committee (AFSC): Quaker-affiliated U.S. nonprofit running humanitarian, development, and peace programs domestically and internationally. Comparable to AFEDJ as a faith-rooted U.S. fundraising organization channeling donor support to overseas humanitarian institutions.
• Episcopal Relief & Development: The official international relief agency of the Episcopal Church, raising funds from Episcopal donors to support development and humanitarian programs globally. Closest peer to AFEDJ in denominational affiliation, donor base, and funding model, though operating at a broader geographic scale.
• American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA): U.S. nonprofit raising funds to support Israel's national emergency medical service and blood bank. Closely mirrors AFEDJ's model as an 'American Friends of' affiliate channeling U.S. donor support to a specific overseas institutional network (Israeli medical services).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9_8LzqxHDUu4FI-w8FAh4w/playlists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem