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Jewish National Fund -Keren Kayemeth Leisrael- Inc

EIN 13-1659627 · Rockville Ctr, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND GIVES ALL GENERATIONS OF JEWS A UNIQUE VOICE IN BUILDING A PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR THE LAND OF ISRAEL AND ITS PEOPLE.

Income
$197.1 million
Spending
$152.7 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
39.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
308
Volunteers
1,120
Highest pay
$981,628, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (international, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    52 of 52 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • 90% of Israelis displaced from October 7th had returned home by late 2025.Change achieved
  • The annual Global Conference for Israel drew over 3,000 attendees.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $129.6 million spent. ABOUT JEWISH NATIONAL FUND A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) BUILDS A STRONG, VIBRANT FUTURE FOR THE LAND AND PEOPLE OF ISRAEL THROUGH BOLD INITIATIVES AND ZIONIST ENGAGEMENT. JNF IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED PHILANTHROPIES FOR THE LAND AND PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. THE ORGANIZATION HAS CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED CHARITY NAVIGATOR'S MAXIMUM 4-STAR RATING AND HAS ALSO BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. HISTORY AND MISSION JEWISH NATIONAL FUND BEGAN IN 1901 AS A DREAM AND VISION TO REESTABLISH A HOMELAND FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE ON THEIR ANCESTRAL SOIL IN ISRAEL. JEWS AROUND THE WORLD COLLECTED COINS IN ICONIC BLUE BOXES, PURCHASING LAND AND PLANTING TREES UNTIL, ULTIMATELY, THEIR DREAM OF A JEWISH HOMELAND BECAME A REALITY. IMPACT AND INITIATIVES JNF STRIVES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF ISRAEL'S RESIDENTS AND TO SHARE THESE ADVANCEMENTS WITH THE WORLD. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS INITIATIVES SUCH AS GREENING THE DESERT WITH MILLIONS OF TREES, BUILDING THOUSANDS OF PARKS ACROSS ISRAEL, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES IN ISRAEL'S NORTH AND SOUTH FOR NEW GENERATIONS TO CALL HOME, BOLSTERING ISRAEL'S WATER SUPPLY, DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE ARID AGRICULTURE TECHNIQUES, AND EDUCATING BOTH YOUNG AND OLD ABOUT THE FOUNDING AND IMPORTANCE OF ISRAEL AND ZIONISM. IN 2025, JEWISH NATIONAL FUND ENTERED ITS 124TH YEAR AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST JEWISH NON-PROFITS AND REMAINS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED. THE ORGANIZATION IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE BLUE BOX AND TREE PLANTING. TODAY, IT HAS CREATED A STRATEGIC ECOSYSTEM THROUGHOUT ISRAEL'S NORTH AND SOUTH WITH THE VISION OF ATTRACTING 800,000 NEW RESIDENTS TO THESE REGIONS. EACH PROJECT, PROGRAM, AND INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO CREATE CIRCLES OF IMPACT, GENERATING A RIPPLE EFFECT THAT LEADS TO MORE JOBS, GREATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND POPULATION GROWTH. ALL OF THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE MAINLY BY DONOR-DESIGNATED GIFTS. RESPONDING TO CRISIS IN 2025, JNF CONTINUED TO LEAD REBUILDING, REHABILITATION, AND REPAIR EFFORTS IN ISRAELI COMMUNITIES DEVASTATED BY THE OCTOBER 7, 2023, TERRORIST ATTACKS. THROUGH ITS "BUILD TOGETHER "REIMAGINE" INITIATIVES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED CRITICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS FIRE, RESCUE, AND CIVILIAN SECURITY EQUIPMENT, BOMB SHELTERS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTERS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION, AND MORE TO PEOPLE IN ISRAEL'S NORTH AND SOUTH. BY LATE 2025, 90% OF DISPLACED ISRAELIS FROM OCTOBER 7TH HAD RETURNED HOME, THANKS TO JNF'S WORK WITH LOCAL MAYORS AND MUNICIPALITIES. JNF'S STRATEGIC ECOSYSTEM OF INFRASTRUCTURE ENSURED THE ORGANIZATION WAS READY TO SUPPORT DURING IRAN'S 2025 BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACK ON ISRAEL DURING THE "12-DAY WAR." SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED FOR FIREFIGHTERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS CARED FOR THE CHILDREN OF FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THE REHABILITATION VILLAGE HOUSED PATIENTS DISPLACED BY THE ATTACK ON SAROKA HOSPITAL. KEY PROJECTS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ISRAEL'S SOUTH, JNF'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS INCLUDE THE BE'ER SHEVA RIVER PARK, SDEROT INDOOR RECREATION CENTER, CENTRAL ARAVA MEDICAL CENTER, ESHKOL RESILIENCE CENTER, PROJECT WADI ATTIR, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, GROOVETECH, SHA'AR HANEGEV OFIR LIBSTEIN SPORTS COMPLEX, MITZPE RAMON START-UP HUB, AND MORE. IN THE NORTH, JNF OPERATES THE WESTERN GALILEE NOW TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER, THE GALILEE CULINARY INSTITUTE BY JNF, AND IS A KEY PARTNER IN THE MARGALIT START-UP CITY GALIL. THE ORGANIZATION'S KIRYAT SHMONA MEDICAL CENTER AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTER ARE SET TO BE COMPLETED SOON, WITH ADDITIONAL BOMB SHELTERS BEING PLACED THROUGHOUT THE NORTH. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ZIONIST EDUCATION JNF DREW A RECORD CROWD TO ITS ANNUAL GLOBAL CONFERENCE FOR ISRAEL, WITH OVER 3,000 ATTENDEES AT THE LARGEST GATHERING OF ZIONISTS IN THE U.S., HELD IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. THE FOUR-DAY EVENT CONNECTED NEW AND EXISTING SUPPORTERS TO THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK FOR ISRAEL AND INSPIRED GREATER SUPPORT FOR THE JEWISH HOMELAND. JNF IS THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF ZIONIST ENGAGEMENT IN THE U.S., OFFERING NUMEROUS WAYS TO CONNECT YOUNG AMERICANS TO ISRAEL. ITS ISRAEL EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS BEGIN IN KINDERGARTEN AND CONTINUE THROUGH COLLEGE AND BEYOND, ENGAGING AND EDUCATING STUDENTS TO FOSTER A STRONGER CONNECTION TO ISRAEL. JNF'S ISRAEL CONTINUUM PROGRAMMING INCLUDES ITS CAMPUS FELLOWSHIP, CARAVAN FOR DEMOCRACY, ALTERNATIVE BREAK, TAGLIT-BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL, FACULTY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN ISRAEL, ALEXANDER MUSS HIGH SCHOOL IN ISRAEL, B'NAI MITZVAH PROJECTS, DREAM ISRAEL, AND PLANT YOUR WAY TO ISRAEL. WITH ITS ALEXANDER MUSS HIGH SCHOOL IN ISRAEL (MUSS), WHICH SINCE 1972 HAS PIONEERED THE ACADEMIC AND EXPERIENTIAL STUDY OF ISRAEL AND JEWISH HISTORY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, JNF AIMS TO FURTHER GROW AND ENHANCE JEWISH CONTINUITY AND ISRAEL CONNECTIVITY AMONG YOUTH BY OFFERING SEMESTER ABROAD PROGRAMS. OVER 32,000 STUDENTS HAVE BENEFITED FROM AN EDUCATION AT MUSS, WITH MANY RECEIVING FELLOWSHIPS OR GRANTS. MUSS OPERATES A SECOND CAMPUS IN BE'ER SHEVA, REFLECTING JNF'S ONGOING INVESTMENT IN ISRAEL'S SOUTH. ISRAEL ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION IN 2025, JNF CONTINUED WITH PLANS TO CREATE THE WORLD ZIONIST VILLAGE IN BE'ER SHEVA, WITH APPROVAL OF THE MASTER PLAN. THIS INITIATIVE WILL FOSTER A NEW CONVERSATION ABOUT ISRAEL AND THE FUTURE OF ZIONIST LEADERSHIP FOR THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS AND BEYOND, BRINGING TOGETHER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, POST-GRADUATES, TEACHERS, YOUNG LEADERS, AND OLDER ADULTS ON ONE CAMPUS. THE VISION IS TO BUILD A WORLD-CLASS CAMPUS IN BE'ER SHEVA, FEATURING PROGRAMMING, SHARED SPACES, ACCOMMODATIONS, AND A FOCUS ON POSITIVE ISRAEL/JEWISH DIALOGUE. THE INITIATIVE REPRESENTS ONE OF THE LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC CAPITAL PROJECTS IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY. JNF'S $100 MILLION BORUCHIN ISRAEL EDUCATION ADVOCACY CENTER CONTINUED TO GROW IN 2025, AWARDING GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS IMPACTING THOUSANDS OF JEWS AND NON-JEWS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. THE CENTER FOCUSES ON CONNECTING AMERICANS-ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE-W

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1953.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.