About Israel Humanitarian Foundation

The Israel Humanitarian Foundation of New York, NY was originally established in 1970 by Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg. He envisioned the Foundation as the vehicle for Endowment gifts, Trusts and Bequests to be utilized in support of the social service agencies of the Histadrut, the Israeli Labor organization.

The Foundation was incorporated as a New York Membership Non-Profit in 1970 and over the past 40 years it has grown, matured and changed to meet changed needs and circumstances while remaining true to its charitable intent. The original name, American Histadrut Development Foundation, was changed in April 1970 to the Israel Histadrut Foundation. For some 28 years, this name and support of the social service agencies of the Histadrut (Kupat Holim, Amal and Mishan) remained its principal focus.

Towards the end of this period, in the early and mid-90’s, circumstances in Israel changed as did the Histadrut itself, as well as its relationship with the social service agencies. At the same time the environment for fund-raising in the United States also changed. It became apparent that the Foundation needed to serve a wider purpose and a wider array of deserving charitable causes in Israel. The wider purpose was encapsulated in the slogan “Fulfilling Israel’s unfulfilled charitable needs”

As a result, in 1998, the Foundation again changed its name to the Israel Humanitarian Foundation - a name that properly reflected its revised Mission Statement:
     “Israel Humanitarian Foundation is the premier connection between directed
       American Jewish philanthropy and the unfulfilled needs of medical, educational,
       Humanitarian and social service projects in both Israel and the United States,
       enabling donors to have a direct and personal impact with the recipient
       beneficiaries.”

Since that time and while still supporting the social service agencies of the Histadrut, the Foundation has funded ( either wholly or partially ) over 120 different projects across the length and breadth of Israel and on both coasts of the United States. These projects represent a myriad of worthwhile and much-needed charitable endeavors spanning the full range of medical, educational and humanitarian causes. For a list of these please go to the page Humanitarian Projects. In due course the prevailing wisdom in U.S. fund - raising for Israel moved away from umbrella type organizations covering many types of beneficiaries and began to focus on single beneficiaries. The foundation changed traction and the Foundation changed to reflect the shifting trends and fluctuating priorities. In 2006, the Foundation decided to concentrate its support for a single beneficiary and, after a thorough fact-finding process., came to the conclusion that the most under-served and under-supported area in the charitable firmament in Israel was care for its indigent elderly residents. Consequently, the Foundation has now focused its grants on the Israel Humanitarian Foundation Geriatric Center located at Moshav Ahiezer (between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem). Notwithstanding this principal focus, the Foundation continues to offer its donors the option and opportunity to choose their own desired area of charitable assistance. Any donor may stipulate their area of choice (Medical, Educational, Humanitarian, Child Care, Hospitals, etc.) and the Foundation will ensure that the donated funds are transmitted to a deserving, reputable and appropriate recipient

At this time of economic crisis, reduced fund-raising results and escalating operating costs, the Foundation has temporarily scaled back its outreach activities but continues with its management of thousands of Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Gift Annuities. For nearly 40 years, the Foundation has managed these vehicles and has never missed a required annuity payment on time. The most recent Audit by the State of New York Insurance Department of the Charitable Gift Annuity Portfolio was positive.

In the coming years, the Foundation, will, as it has these past 40 years, be attuned to any changes in the fund-raising and charitable environment and will be ready to adjust as necessary.