Maccabi World Union
Maccabi World Union is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1921 that operates the global network of Jewish sports clubs (450 clubs, 70+ countries), the quadrennial Maccabiah Games, youth camps, a heritage museum, and wellness retreats serving 55,000 members and 450,000 people worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1921
- HeadquartersRamat Gan, Israel
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Maccabi World Union does
Maccabi World Union is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1921 and headquartered in Ramat Gan, Israel, that operates as the global umbrella organization for Jewish sports, education, and identity programming. It coordinates a network of 450 clubs across 70+ countries on six continents through six continental confederations and approximately 70 territorial organizations, serving roughly 55,000 members directly and reaching an estimated 450,000 people through its broader programming. Its flagship asset is the Maccabiah Games — the de facto Jewish Olympic competition held every four years since 1932 — with the 22nd edition scheduled for June 30 – July 14, 2026.
The organization's product portfolio includes quadrennial athletic competitions, the Maccabiah Camp Experience (scaled from 7 camps / 1,000 campers in 2024 to 21 camps / 3,000 campers in 2025), the Balance therapeutic retreat program ($15,000 per three-day subsidized stay), the Iris Smith World Jewish Sports Museum (1,500 sqm, opened 2022, housing a 30,000-item archive), and the UNBROKEN Exhibition (launched October 2024). There is no proprietary technology, software platform, or AI/ML infrastructure underpinning these offerings; operational technology appears limited to standard event management, donor CRM, and communications systems under CIO Nir Rapaport.
As a nonprofit, Maccabi World Union is funded through donations, sponsorships, program fees, and event-related revenue rather than commercial product sales. Pricing signals include a $5,000 Adopt an Athlete sponsorship and $15,000 subsidized Balance retreat fees. The organization maintains a partnership network with BBYO, JCC Association, and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and pursues a brand-driven and community-driven go-to-market rather than a commercial sales motion. Leadership transitioned from CEO Amir Gissin to current CEO Tzachi Eshkenazi; the organization employs approximately 68 staff globally.
Maccabi World Union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maccabi World Union
- Legal name
- Maccabi World Union, Inc.
- Website
- https://maccabi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1921
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Maccabi World Union is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1921 that operates the global network of Jewish sports clubs (450 clubs, 70+ countries), the quadrennial Maccabiah Games, youth camps, a heritage museum, and wellness retreats serving 55,000 members and 450,000 people worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maccabi World Union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Jewish Community Sports and Education
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Religious Organizations (813110), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Olympic & Multi-Sport Governing Bodies (IOC/IPC, Continental Games Federations) (MPAKAFAA), Olympic & Multi-Sport Movement Organizations (NOCs, Olympic Committees) (MPAKACAI), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Jewish Heritage & Israel Pilgrimage Travel Agencies (THAKAHAC), Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)
Keywords
Where Maccabi World Union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ramat Gan
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices2 records
Markets served
Maccabi World Union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream through donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors. MWU is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 26-4296212). Donation page with PayPal, wire transfer, Zelle, and check options.
- Athlete Adoption/Sponsorship: Scholarships of $5,000 each enable athletes from financially disadvantaged communities to participate in Maccabiah Games. Donors can adopt individual athletes or entire delegations.
- Event Participation Fees: Revenue generated from participation in Maccabiah Games, regional games, JCC Maccabi Games, and Maccabiah Camp Experience programs.
- Education Programs and Seminars: Revenue from educational seminars, leadership training programs, and Israel programs through Yachad division.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Donation-based support |
| Other | One time | Athlete adoption scholarship |
| Other | One time | Therapeutic retreat subsidy |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Maccabi World Union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maccabi World Union operates a global Jewish sports and education platform, anchored by the quadrennial Maccabiah Games in Israel (10,000 athletes) and complemented by Regional Maccabi Games, the Maccabi Tzair youth movement, Yachad Israel Programs (1,500+ participants annually), the Iris Smith World Jewish Sports Museum, and educational seminars across 25+ countries. It also delivers the Adopt an Athlete scholarship, the Maccabiah Camp Experience, the Future Leaders Forum, the Women's Forum, and the Balance therapeutic retreat program for October 7 survivors. The organization is funded primarily through donations and operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 26-4296212).
Product overview
Maccabi World Union operates as a comprehensive Jewish sports and education organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. Its flagship offering is the Maccabiah Games (the 'Jewish Olympics'), complemented by Yachad Israel Programs bringing 1,500+ participants annually to Israel. The organization runs Maccabi Tzair youth movement, the Iris Smith World Jewish Sports Museum, Regional Maccabi Games (European, Pan American, JCC Maccabi), the Women's Forum for gender advancement, Future Leaders Forum for youth development, Maccabiah Camp Experience for summer camps, and Adopt an Athlete scholarship program. Additional programs include Education Department initiatives, Shlichut emissary program, and the Balance therapeutic support initiative for October 7 victims.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Maccabiah Games Quadrennial flagship sporting event held in Israel, known as the 'Jewish Olympics.' World's largest Jewish athletic competition and second-largest sporting event globally. The 22nd Maccabiah is scheduled for June 30 to July 14, 2026, with 10,000 athletes competing.
- Regional Maccabi Games Series of regional Jewish athletic competitions including the European Maccabi Games (every 4 years, two years after Maccabiah), European Winter Games, Pan American Maccabi Games (sponsored by CLAM), and JCC Maccabi Games (co-sponsored with JCC Association of North America).
- Maccabi Tzair Youth Movement Youth movement with branches in Israel, U.S., Central and South America promoting Jewish heritage, Zionist values, social responsibility, and personal development with emphasis on sports and physical education to connect young Jews worldwide.
- Yachad Israel Programs Israel-based educational and experiential programs bringing over 1,500 participants annually to Israel for short-term and long-term options for teens, young adults, families, and adults. Operates under the Tamar brand tour, study, and volunteer programs.
- Iris Smith World Jewish Sports Museum Museum established in 2022 at Kfar Maccabiah documenting 125 years of Jewish sports history through 1,500 square meters of exhibition space with over 1,000 rare items, videos, and interactive exhibits.
- Maccabiah Camp Experience Program bringing Maccabiah spirit and elite athletes to Jewish summer camps, offering sports clinics led by athletes from Israel and worldwide. Reached 21 camps and over 3,000 campers in summer 2025.
- Adopt an Athlete Scholarship program providing $5,000 scholarships to enable athletes from financially disadvantaged communities (400 athletes from 18 countries including Cuba, India, Venezuela, Ukraine) to participate in the Maccabiah Games.
- Maccabi Future Leaders Forum (FLF) Personalized ongoing leadership program for young Jewish professionals aged 18-38, based on 3-4 seminars per year providing professional training through keynote speakers and workshops. Active in USA, Europe, South America, South Africa, Canada, Australia, and Israel.
- Maccabi Women's Forum Global forum advocating for women's issues, advancing women's leadership, and enhancing representation in pivotal roles within the Maccabi movement.
- Education Department Programs Established in 2003, oversees educational activity in Israel and Diaspora including Maccabi Learning Communities, leadership training, new youth frameworks, educational seminars in 25+ countries, and MWU Shlichim program with 7-8 emissaries.
- Balance - A Place to Breathe Therapeutic support program for victims of October 7 attacks and Nova Music Festival survivors, established in cooperation with Safe Heart nonprofit and Brothers in Yoga association. Includes 3-day retreats at Kfar Maccabiah with clinical therapists, trauma-informed yoga, and group therapy.
- UNBROKEN Exhibition Exhibition at the World Jewish Sports Museum commemorating October 7 attacks and showcasing the resilience of Jewish athletes. Launched in partnership with World Jewish Congress and the Ministry of Culture & Sports.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000 athletes compete every 4 years at Maccabiah Games
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Maccabi World Union
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Maccabi World Union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Maccabi World Union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- BBYOcoreKey partnership for youth engagement. Since 2012, Maccabi Tzair has sent over 2,000 Israeli teens to BBYO programs in North America, and 10,000 BBYO members have visited Israel on Maccabi programs. MWU shlicha (Tal Maymon) based at BBYO in Washington DC. Joint Maccabiah Camp Experience program.
- JCC Association of North AmericacoreCo-sponsor of JCC Maccabi Games held each summer in North America. Partnership for Maccabiah Camp Experience reaching 21 camps. MWU shlichim placed at JCCs across North America.
- JCC GlobalmajorInternational JCC network partnership for Jewish community engagement and programming worldwide.
- Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)coreJoint Shlichut program - MWU shlichim must pass both Jewish Agency and MWU selection processes. Cooperation on Israel programs and aliyah initiatives.
- World Zionist Organization (WZO)majorPartnership for World Maccabi Tzair & Young Leadership programs. MWU Vice Chairman David Korenfeld serves as WZO representative.
- Israel Olympic CommitteemajorNational sports body partnership for Maccabiah Games and Israeli sports development.
- Keren Kayemet LeIsrael (KKL-JNF)majorPartnership for Israel-oriented education and Congresses. Joint launch of UNBROKEN exhibition with World Jewish Congress and KKL.
- Safe HeartmajorNon-profit partner for 'Balance - A Place to Breathe' therapeutic program including 400+ psychologists, psychiatrists, and certified clinical instructors.
- Brothers in YogamajorAssociation established to treat PTSD through yoga classes, partnering on therapeutic program for October 7 trauma survivors.
- World Jewish CongresscoreJoint launch of UNBROKEN exhibition at World Jewish Sports Museum documenting October 7 events and Israeli sports resilience.
- Ministry of Culture and Sports (Israel)majorGovernment partnership for Maccabiah Games, sports programs, and UNBROKEN exhibition support.
- Ministry of Education (Israel)majorPartnership for leadership and Zionist-Jewish education programs. Educational content for Maccabiah reaching about 1 million youngsters in Israel.
- Ministry of Diaspora Affairs (Israel)majorGovernment partnership supporting MWU's global Jewish engagement initiatives.
- Ministry of Strategic Affairs (Israel)minorPartnership for worldwide Hasbarah (public diplomacy) program across all continents.
- Wingate InstituteminorIsrael's National Sports Center partnership for sports training and development.
- Israel Sports AssociationminorPartnership for Israeli sports programming and athlete development.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Maccabi World Union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- JCC Association of North America: National umbrella for Jewish Community Centers, which are MWU's most important U.S. distribution partners (co-sponsor of JCC Maccabi Games and Camp Experience). Both operate membership-based Jewish community programming with sports, education, and identity-building missions at scale.
- Birthright Israel Foundation: Runs the dominant Jewish young-adult Israel experience (Taglit-Birthright); MWU's Yachad division brings 1,500 participants annually to Israel on a similar identity-formation premise. Both target 18-32 year-old diaspora Jews for immersive Israel engagement funded by philanthropy.
- Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael / Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF): Core Israeli partner organization with overlapping donor base and government ministry partnerships. Both engage diaspora Jews in Israel-related education, environmental/heritage work, and global Zionist programming.
- B'nai B'rith International: Oldest continuously active Jewish service organization (1843); comparable as a long-tenured global Jewish membership NGO with federated structure, advocacy, programming, and donor-supported operations.
- Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America: Large U.S. Jewish women's organization with similar Zionist mission, 100+ year history, donor-funded model, and global Israel-linked programming. Compares as a peer legacy Zionist nonprofit with comparable governance and fundraising mechanics.
- BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization): Premier Jewish teen movement globally; MWU's flagship partner for North American youth engagement (2,000+ Maccabi Tzair teens exchanged via BBYO since 2012, 10,000 BBYO members to Israel). Overlapping target demographic and mission to build Jewish identity in young people.
- Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI / Sochnut): Core partner running the global Shlichut program alongside MWU; both engage Jewish communities worldwide with Israel connection, aliyah, and educational programs. Structurally comparable as international Jewish engagement institutions funded by donations and government partnerships.
- World Zionist Organization (WZO): Strategic partner and ideological counterpart; both pursue Jewish-Zionist engagement globally with overlapping leadership (MWU VP David Korenfeld serves as WZO representative). Operates in the same identity-formation space with shared institutional partners.
- Hillel International: Jewish campus organization reaching hundreds of thousands of university students globally — an adjacent demographic to MWU's FLF and Maccabi Tzair. Comparable in mission of building Jewish identity among young adults through programming and partnerships.
Broad incumbents
- YMCA of the USA: Closest analog to MWU's operating model at scale — a federated, membership-based sports, recreation, education, and youth-development network with global footprint. Compares structurally as a broad community/sports nonprofit rather than ideologically.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Maccabi World Union social profiles
Digital presenceMaccabi World Union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maccabi World Union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Maccabi World Union subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries12 records
Maccabi World Union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maccabi World Union 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 Maccabi World Union
What does Maccabi World Union do?
Maccabi World Union operates a global Jewish sports and education platform, anchored by the quadrennial Maccabiah Games in Israel (10,000 athletes) and complemented by Regional Maccabi Games, the Maccabi Tzair youth movement, Yachad Israel Programs (1,500+ participants annually), the Iris Smith World Jewish Sports Museum, and educational seminars across 25+ countries. It also delivers the Adopt an Athlete scholarship, the Maccabiah Camp Experience, the Future Leaders Forum, the Women's Forum, and the Balance therapeutic retreat program for October 7 survivors. The organization is funded primarily through donations and operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 26-4296212).
Is Maccabi World Union a public or private company?
Maccabi World Union is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Maccabi World Union founded?
Maccabi World Union was founded in 1921. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Maccabi World Union based?
Maccabi World Union is headquartered in Ramat Gan, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does Maccabi World Union make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are athlete Adoption/Sponsorship, event Participation Fees and education Programs and Seminars.
Who are Maccabi World Union's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JCC Association of North America, Birthright Israel Foundation, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael / Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), B'nai B'rith International, Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, BBYO (B'nai B'rith Youth Organization), Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI / Sochnut), World Zionist Organization (WZO) and Hillel International. YMCA of the USA is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Maccabi World Union have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maccabi World Union.
What industry is Maccabi World Union in?
Maccabi World Union's product category is Jewish Community Sports and Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAFAB, International Sport Federations (IFs), with a secondary code of MPAKAFAA, Olympic & Multi-Sport Governing Bodies (IOC/IPC, Continental Games Federations). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 7997.