Note: All grant details in this report are taken directly from publicly available annual report submissions to the Israeli Registrar of Non-Profits (a department of the Ministry of Justice). No changes were made to the sums. A number of the NGOs list the same donors with slightly different names. In order to create an accessible and understandable database, NGO Monitor adjusted some of these entries to establish uniformity. For this reason we have also corrected typos and other spelling mistakes.

Introduction

Given the central role played by politicized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the public human rights discourse, transparency in NGO funding is required in order to bolster informed debate. The following analysis presents all grants reported annually by 39 Israeli NGOs in the years 2012-2016, organizing data according to the amount of the grant, the identity of the donor, the source of the grant (private, governmental, or non-transparent/ unclear) and whether the donor is recognized as a government or from church groups. (For the full list of grants see here.)

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Summary of Findings:

  • In 2012-2016, the 39 NGOs received a total of NIS 515,804,616. Of this, 60.1% (NIS 310,032,692) came from governments (through direct and indirect funding) and 39.87% (NIS 205,686,924) from private donors. 0.02% (NIS 85,000) of NGO funding sources were unclear.
  • Of the 39 groups examined, 28 receive more than 50% of their funding from governments. The three NGOs receiving the highest share of foreign government funding are Akevot (100%), Terrestrial Jerusalem (99.66%), and Who Profits (94.49%).
  • 25 governmental and intergovernmental entities – including the EU, UN, and the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat (see below) – fund these 39 Israeli NGOs. Germany is the largest donor, providing NIS 49,688,588, followed by the EU and Norway.
  • Of the NIS 205,686,924 in private funding provided to NGOs, the New Israel Fund (NIF) provides 13%, Sigrid Rausing Trust 10%, Open Society Institute 7%, Amnesty International 6%, Moriah Fund 4%, Social Justice Fund 2.59%, Rockefeller Brothers Foundation 2%, and the Galilee Foundation 2%.
  • 20% of the total funding (NIS 101,099,846) is donated by Christian groups (churches and Christian humanitarian aid organizations). Most of these institutions receive large sums of government funding. A further 7% of total donations was provided by private religious institutions and/or individuals.
  • A large percentage of the government-funded church bodies are themselves involved in anti-Israeli campaigns abroad, including BDS, lawfare, and other delegitimization campaigns against Israel.

Two Primary Donor Types:

Government Funders

  • Foreign governments: Many Western countries see the promotion and upholding of human rights and providing of humanitarian aid as part of their foreign policy. Funding for these purposes is channeled through embassies, foreign ministries, departments and ministries of international aid and development, consulates, and aid agencies and programs.
  • Regional/international bodies: The EU, UN, and the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat1 are fully funded by governments and have their own disbursal mechanisms for human rights and humanitarian aid purposes, which generously fund Israeli NGOs.
  • Indirect government funding: Governments provide sums estimated in the range of hundreds of millions of euros per years to external bodies, including humanitarian aid organizations, Christian groups, and various funds and foundations for the non-governmental groups to promote human rights and humanitarian aid. In certain cases, these entities are also funded almost entirely by governments.

Private Funding

  • Private foundations: Some non-profits that provide funds to NGOs have their own endowments, from which they disburse funds according to their objectives; others serve as a conduit for donations from private individuals.
  • Private donors: Private individuals in Israel and abroad (including bequests) also directly donate to Israeli NGOs.

Methodology

The NGOs examined in this report are:

  • Politically active in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
  • Registered in Israel as a non-profit association (Amuta) or as a corporation for the public benefit, and therefore report their income annually.
  • Conduct a considerable part of their activities abroad, including lobbying the ICC to prosecute Israeli officials and/or the State; lobbying the EU, US and UN (for example, involved in the Goldstone Report following the 2008-2009 Gaza war and/or the Schabas/Davis Report following the 2014 Gaza war); and participate and lead other delegitimization campaigns against Israel.

Table 1 – NGOs Analyzed Per Year (According to Above Methodology)

YearNGOs Analyzed Per Year
201236
201336
201439
201539
201639

Chart 1 – Annual Funding to Political Israeli NGOs, 2012-2016

Chart 2 – Donation to NGOs: Government, Private, and Unclear Funding

 

Table 2 – Funding to Israeli NGOs, 2012-2016

NGOGovernment (NIS)Percentage of Government Funding Private (NIS)Percentage of Private Funding Unclear (NIS)Total
Al Marsad2,398,790 72.9%893,145 27.1%03,291,935
Sabeel2,529,00946.7%2,884,94053.3%05,413,949
Al Qaws853,38729.2%2,067,992 70.8%02,921,379
Amnesty Israel0013,123,255 100%013,123,255
Baladna1,452,08329.9 %3,398,56570.1%04,850,648
Bimkom16,677,91476.8%5,027,14023.2%021,705,054
B'Tselem29,232,19064.7%15,936,57435.3%045,168,764
Gisha13,466,218 69.6%5,871,928 30.4%019,338,146
ACRI17,048,048 36.7%29,435,161 63.3%046,483,209
The Social TV2,062,618 48.5%2,188,623 51.5%04,251,241
Hamoked27,879,81085.3%4805536 14.7%032,685,346
Public Committee against Torture in Israel10,835,682 86.5%1,686,513 13.5%012,522,195
Alternative Information Center3,826,856 93.3%274,087 6.7%04,100,943
Human Rights Defenders Fund2,594,914 48.7%2,725,850 51.3%05,320,764
Zochrot7,292,276 79.0%1,937,950 21.0%09,230,226
Parents Circle Families Forum12,238,62966.8%6,076,10033.2%018,314,729
Terrestrial Jerusalem3,403,788 99.7%11,6180.3%03,415,406
Yesh Din21,455,11092.9%1627737 7.1%023,082,847
Kerem Navot1,017,16778.8%273127 21.2%01,290,294
Combatants for Peace865,988 36.7%1,492,970 63.3%02,358,958
Mada al-Carmel1,253,783 18.7%5,460,570 81.3%06,714,353
Molad707,147 6%10,990,434 94%011,697,581
Who Profits2,399,70894.5%140,032 5.5%02,539,740
Mossawa9,506,378 74.1%3,322,500 25.9%012,828,878
Sadaka Reut9,751,03388.2%1,305,55111.8%011,056,584
Adalah13,944,34756.9%10,571,42343.1%024,515,770
Ir Amim9,764,01065.3%5,195,614 34.7%014,959,624
Emek Shaveh4,172,54789.4%497,02210.6%04,669,569
Akevot997,286 100%000997.286
Negev Coexistence Forum2,912,218 61.3%1,835,87238.7%04,748,090
New Profile1,434,96363.6%821,81036.4%02,256,773
Coalition of Women for Peace4,758,914 68.7%2,170,17531.3%06,929,089
Comet Me13,000,619 82.3%2,800,973 17.7%015,801,592
Women's Fund for Human Rights (Machsom Watch)1,694,39229.7%3,994,785 30.3%05,689,177
Physicians for Human Rights - Israel18,783,00049.1%19,417,000 50.9%85,00038,285,000
Breaking the Silence16,779,889 59.9%11,230,707 40.1%028,010,596
Rabbis for Human Rights12,060,771 44.7%14,912,48555.3%026,973,256
+972 Magazine282,442 13.3%1841757 86.7%02,124,199
Peace Now9,777,423 60.6%6,360,74839.4%016,138,171
Total310,823,921 60.2%200,112,16339.8%85,000515,804,616

Chart 3 – Government and International Organizations Funding to Israeli NGOs, 2012-2016

Table 3- Government and International Organizations Funding to Israeli NGOs, 2012-2016

Government/International Organizations Total
European States (including outside the EU)241,065,234 (77.5%)
European Union45,044,122 (14.4%)
United States11,760,571 (3.77%)
United Nations11,466,826 (3.68%)
Other (Canada, Israel. New Zealand, among others)1,948,021 (0.62%)
Total311,284,774

Chart 4 – Government Funding to Israeli NGOs

Table 4 – Government Funding to Israeli NGOs

Country/International BodyTotal
Germany49,688,588
European Union45,044,122
Norway33,851,900
Netherlands30,443,364
Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark25,016,556
United Kingdom18,974,586
Switzerland18,087,482
Multiple Governments12,878,865
United States11,760,571
United Nations11,466,826
Ireland11,257,925
Sweden10,591,131
Spain8,996,940
Belgium8,860,470
France5,216,877
Denmark3,556,257
Finland1,942,114
Austria600,864
Israel530,181
Scotland485,360
Canada307,699
Unclear87,069
Japan52,719
New Zealand22,098
Luxembourg20,830
Taiwan3,872
Total309,745,266

Chart 5 – Private Funding to Israeli NGOs

Table 5- Private Funding to Israeli NGOs

FoundationTotal
New Israel Fund27,225,275 (13%)
Sigrid Rausing Trust19,915,459 (10%)
Open Society Foundation14,131,438 (7%)
Amnesty International11,981,413 (6%)
Moriah Foundation7,784,199 (4%)
Social Justice Fund5,191,405 (2%)
Galilee Foundation3,910,320 (2%)
Rockefeller Foundation3,844,522 (2%)
Other111,990,319 (54%)
Total205,974,350

Chart 6 – Church Affiliated Donors – Government and Private

Table 6 – Government Funded Church Aid Societies that Fund Politicized Israeli NGOs, 2012-2016

Church Aid SocietyGovernment DonorTotal (NIS)
Bread for the World/EEDGermany17077443
MisereorGermany9,014,275
EEDGermany6,714,774
DiakoniaSweden6,580,500
Broederlijk DelenBelgium5,308,462
Christian AidUnited Kingdom5,124,948
CordaidNetherlands4,972,224
Heks EperSwitzerland4,952,679
Catholic Relief ServicesUnited States4,598,850
TrocaireIreland3,827,227
DanChurchAidDenmark3,817,228
ICCONetherlands3,776,828
CCFDFrance3,174,560
Kerk in ActieNetherlands2,839,659
Norwegian Church AidNorway2,082,837
CaritasBelgium1,334,127
CAFODUnited Kingdom1,136,629
Finn Church AidFinland910,648
Church of SwedenSweden612,172
Diakonie AustriaAustria600,864
Christian Aid IrelandIreland579,449
Church of ScotlandScotland485,360
The United Church of CanadaCanada307,699
Stichting Het Solidariets FondsNetherlands265,943
Det Norske Menneskeretting Hetspond Norway249,580
World VisionUnited States162,577
Total93,981,616