How Philanthropy is Responding to the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis So Far
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Smoke rises after ISRAELI air strikes NEAR THE BORDER OF THE GAZA STRIP. Anas-Mohammed/shutterstock
This article was last updated November 9, 2023.
It’s been more than a week since people around the world awoke to the news that Hamas, the Palestinian political and militant organization that governs the Gaza Strip, had launched a brutal, unexpected and unprecedented military strike against Israeli civilians and civilian targets.
Since then, the attack — which occurred on the Jewish sabbath and concurrently with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah — and the military response from Israel, have resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 people — about 1,400 Israelis and 3,000 Palestinians. In Israel, 3,400 people have been injured, while 12,500 have been injured in Gaza. Approximately 200 Israelis are being held as hostages by Hamas.
In response to the attack turned war, many Jewish foundations, philanthropists and even some celebrities have expressed solidarity with the Israeli people. Though it began as a trickle, the list of funders that have pledged financial support for Israel is growing with every passing day. Much of this support is an extension of U.S.-based Jewish funders’ ongoing work in Israel.
So far, we’ve seen fewer foundations and large donors focused explicitly on support for Palestine and humanitarian aid in Gaza, but a large relief effort is emerging, including several charities fundraising and launching emergency pooled funds in the past week, some of which we’ve highlighted below. A number of funders are also supporting organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, which are providing humanitarian aid to civilians on both sides of the conflict.
We’ll likely see much more philanthropic aid making its way to the region as the crisis continues to unfold, and will be keeping an eye on future developments. Here is a non-comprehensive rundown of the funders and charitable efforts that have announced their intentions so far.
ActionAid launched an emergency response fund to provide humanitarian aid to individuals in the Palestinian territories as soon as the group is able to reach them. The group has been working in occupied Palestinian territories since 2007, and is calling for safe passage of humanitarian aid for need that it anticipates “will be greater than ever before.”
A refugee relief organization active in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Anera stands ready to provide emergency aid to Palestinians. On its website, the nonprofit encourages supporters to donate even small amounts. For example, the group says that a $30 donation can provide the Central Blood Bank Society in Gaza with 16 blood bags, while a $100 donation can provide a displaced family with a food for seven to 10 days.
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
The Atlanta-based Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced via social media on October 9 that the foundation has “issued initial emergency grants totaling $750,000” to support victims and first responders at Barlzilai Medical Center, Saroka Medical Center and United Hatzalah, a large network of medics in Israel.
Blackstone Group
According to EJewishPhilanthropy, CEO Stephen Schwarzman and President Jonathan Gray of investment management company Blackstone Group have pledged roughly $7 million in Israel support. In an internal memo to company staff, the two executives wrote: “the Blackstone Charitable Foundation will be making a $3 million contribution to support humanitarian relief efforts. Additionally, we are each committing $1 million personally and other senior partners have already generously committed approximately $2 million.” Schwarzman and Gray encouraged company employees to consider donating to Magen David Adom, United Hatzalah of Israel and UJA-Federation of New York.
The billionaire and former New York mayor posted the following message on his website on October 9: “As a longtime supporter of Magen David Adom (MDA) — the Israeli Red Cross — I’m stepping up my support for its lifesaving work, and I hope you will join me. If you do, I will match your contribution.” According to Forbes, since Bloomberg’s announcement, “$7.5 million in donations has come from more than 9,000 donors. As of October 11, Bloomberg has matched that with $7.5 million in donations.”
Center for Disaster Philanthropy
The philanthropy-supporting organization issued a statement on the escalation of violence, stating that CDP “is horrified by Hamas’ terror attacks on and kidnappings of civilians and heartbroken by the Israeli government’s unprecedented declaration of war and response against Hamas, resulting in death and injury for thousands of residents in Israel and Gaza.” The center expressed concern that ongoing attacks and the complexity of the crisis may hinder donations, and created a dedicated page for navigating the philanthropic response. Among CDP’s advice for funders: be patient, as “there will be both massive humanitarian and long-term recovery needs for many years to come.”
Ford President Darren Walker released a statement on October 22 stating, in part:
“I grieve for the victims of Hamas’ terrorism and all of the suffering and trauma it has unleashed — for the more than 1,400 Jews and 5,000 Palestinians killed; for the more than 200 anguished families, anxiously awaiting word about their loved ones held hostage. I grieve for the communities this crisis has displaced and upended, in Israel and around the world—for all those across the Jewish diaspora reckoning with the vile resurgence of antisemitism and the many victims of Islamophobia.”
Walker also stated that Ford is “proud to provide grants to both Jewish- and Palestinian-led efforts—because the long road to relief, to rebuilding, to reconciliation of any kind begins with both peoples.”
Fox Corporation
On October 11, Fox announced it will donate $1 million to UJA-Federation’s Israel Emergency Fund.
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF)
In an October 10 press release, FIDF, the only organization authorized to raise funds for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the United States, announced it “has mobilized an emergency effort to collect critical funds to support the tens of thousands of courageous young men and women of the IDF who are fighting day and night to regain full control of the country and bring safety back to their land and loved ones.”
Foundations and individual donors signed a “Philanthropy Open Letter for Humanity and Justice,” calling for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded passage of aid to Gaza, a stop to U.S. and European funding and weapons for the Israeli military, and adherence to international humanitarian and human rights laws by all parties.
“We also take seriously our responsibility to address the root causes of what we see unfolding today — the decades of systematic violence, military occupation and displacement that all Palestinians, especially in Gaza, have experienced at the hands of the Israeli government. In our own backyards, we are horrified by a recent spike in anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, and anti-Semitic violence and rhetoric. We are united in challenging all bigotries rooted in white supremacy. Given our work in philanthropy, we acknowledge the importance of providing immediate funding for emergency response, as well as flexible core funding (without donor-imposed restrictions) to support Palestinian civil society for the long-term.”
Genesys
Tony Bates, chairman and CEO of Genesys, announced October 14 that the American software company will be “offering free contact center solutions to organizations providing humanitarian relief,” as well as a company matching-donation program with funds going to the International Rescue Committee, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières - USA and ERAN, Israel’s emotional first aid service.
This Boston-based global grantmaking and movement support organization has created an emergency fund for Palestine. The fund will entirely support grassroots work in Palestine, including grantees and partners such as the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. The organization simultaneously released a statement, “demanding an end to settler colonialism, occupation, and military siege.”
The venture capital firm Insight Partners, a New York-based company with offices in Tel Aviv, pledged $1 million for humanitarian efforts. In addition, the firm announced on social media that it would match up to $1 million in donations “to a pre-approved list of charitable organizations.”
Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)
JFNA, the umbrella organization for 146 independent federations and 300 smaller Jewish communities across the continent, has launched a $500 million campaign. In a statement released Oct. 12, the organization explained that money collected would support “urgent humanitarian needs, such as medical supplies and equipment and housing, and longer-term rebuilding and rehabilitation, ranging from rebuilding homes and infrastructure trauma counseling.” As of October 17, JFNA has already raised $388 million, and allocated $10 million to 20 organizations providing emergency relief.
Local Jewish Federations
Community federations across the U.S. are also raising money. Federations in Boston, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, St. Louis, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco and elsewhere have created emergency funds for community members who want to help.
For example, the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund opened an Israel Emergency Fund to support emergency medical needs, relocation, unprecedented levels of trauma, and other services to victims of terror. 100% of donations to the fund will go directly to urgent humanitarian needs. In Los Angeles, the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation, is matching up to $1 million raised from L.A. Federation’s Israel Crisis fund.
In a statement on its website, JFN, a community of private foundations and philanthropists from 11 countries, stated that “it is in contact with the National Emergency Authority in Israel to identify needs and opportunities for funders to help.” Additionally, JFN is compiling a list of trustworthy nonprofits and agencies in the United States and Israel for those seeking to contribute dollars to the war effort. JFN President Andres Spokoiny encouraged funders and donors to pace themselves since he predicts that the war will not end anytime soon and war-related needs will only increase with time.
The San Diego-based Leichtag is urging its constituents to support their local federations. On Facebook, the foundation posted the following: “Please join the Leichtag Foundation and Impact Cubed in supporting the emergency fund established by the Jewish Federation of San Diego. While needs are still being assessed, the monies raised will go directly to assist victims and their families, trauma response and respite, local leadership support, and eventually, physical reconstruction.”
Update: Leichtag Foundation has established the Israel Emergency Rapid Response Grassroots Initiative to provide flexible funds for those on the ground who have become volunteer first responders. The initiative “distributes funds to real-time urgent needs for Israelis who have had their lives torn apart, including the first priorities: evacuation of families and support for the evacuated; protective equipment; massive triage and logistics; crisis intervention trauma support; and resources to fund funerals and related expenses.”
MAP’s teams on the ground provide immediate medical aid, while also developing local capacity to develop the Palestinian healthcare system. In response to the current crisis, the organization launched an emergency fund and released “pre-positioned stocks, worth $570,000 USD (approximately £465,000), to ensure hospitals and emergency responders have the supplies they need to cope with an unprecedented influx of casualties.”
Billionaire venture capitalist and founder of investment firm DST Global, Yuri Milner, a resident of Israel and the San Francisco Bay area, announced on X that he and his wife Julia will donate $5 million from their Breakthrough Foundation to nonprofit Jewish Agency for Israel’s Fund for Victims of Terror “to provide both emergency aid and longer-term rehabilitation,” $2.5 million to MDA, and an additional $2.5 million to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center to provide trauma care for victims and their families, as well as additional ICUs, operating rooms and underground emergency hospital.”
Palestine Children's Relief Fund
PCRF is one of the most active and long-running humanitarian organizations in Palestine, operating on the ground for more than 30 years, including providing medical care and basic necessities. The fund is mobilizing resources to provide urgent care.
This 100+-year-old NGO has disbursed $1 million from its Children’s Emergency Fund to respond to the “lifesaving needs” of children in Israel and Gaza “when it is safe to do so.”
Schusterman Family Philanthropies
While the Schusterman Family Philanthropies, a major supporter of Israel, has not specified how much they intend to invest in Israel aid, they provided the following statement to IP on October 11: “Schusterman Family Philanthropies is providing emergency response support for efforts to help the Israeli people with immediate needs, humanitarian aid, trauma response, and more. We are also supporting reservists who have been called up to defend the country and its people. As the situation continues to evolve, we will continue to provide support where we can help meet near and long-term needs.”
Since Israel was attacked, UJA in New York has raised $70 million — including a $10 million contribution from its endowment plus $60 million from UJA donors. The money is expected to be used for cash assistance distributed by the Jewish Agency’s Victims of Terror Fund; trauma relief and counseling; emergency relief to vulnerable populations; and emergency medical equipment and aid to military families with injured or deceased members.
The Verizon Foundation pledged $1.5 million to organizations providing humanitarian relief to civilians in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The company will also match contributions from employees up to $1,000, and is also promising to retroactively waive call, text and in-country roaming charges for customers in Israel, the Palestinian territories and those impacted by the earthquake in Afghanistan.
Walmart Foundation
Walmart, Inc. CEO and President Doug McMillon announced on social media on October 14 that the Walmart Foundation plans to donate $1 million to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum ”to support outreach programs to educate about the history and lessons of the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism in order to inspire people to confront hate and promote human dignity.”
Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
Under normal circumstances, the Weinberg Foundation invests about $18 million a year to nonprofits in Israel that provide direct services for employment, women and children at risk, and aging in place. Weinberg announced on October 9 that it “will provide $5 million to support active Israeli grantee organizations in addressing emergency and basic needs among the individuals, families and communities affected by the weekend’s deadly attacks and this war.”
