The Central Fund of Israel (CFI) is an American nonprofit organization that intends to advance the people of Israel in their ancestral land. CFI provides monetary aid to more than 500 charities in Israel. ¹

Activities

The Central Fund of Israel was founded in 1979 by Hadassah and Arthur Marcus to support the people and land of Israel. CFI claims that 100% of its donations are given to its recipients. ¹

CFI currently supports more than 500 charities in Israel that provide humanitarian aid, community projects, education, religious institutions, medical support, and security. CFI claims to support all the people of Israel through the programs and organizations it funds, including Jewish, Christian, and Muslim populations. ²

Controversy

CFI has been criticized by left-leaning organizations, like the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), which claims that CFI funds far-right and extremist groups in Israel and the Palestinian territories. In a December 2021 article, IMEU claimed that CFI-funded organizations like Ateret Cohanim, the Israel Land Fund, Palestinian Media Watch, and the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva are anti-Palestinian. ³

Funding

The Central Fund of Israel is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While CFI does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Cherna Moskowitz Foundation ($3 million in 2018), ⁴ the Jewish Communal Fund ($1.63 million in 2020), ⁵ and the Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation ($1.04 million in 2019). ⁶

Board of Directors

Members of the board of CFI include Jay Marcus, president; Jeff Most, treasurer; Linda Kalish Marcus, secretary; Mitchell Eichen; Michael Fischberger; Yehuda Marcus; and Jacob Weichholz. ⁷

1. “About Us.” Central Fund of Israel, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.centralfundofisrael.org/about-us.
2. “FAQ.” Central Fund of Israel, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.centralfundofisrael.org/faq.
3. “Fact Sheet: The Central Fund of Israel.” The Institute for Middle East Understanding, December 17, 2021. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://imeu.org/article/fact-sheet-the-central-fund-of-israel.
4. Cherna Moskowitz Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2018, Part XV, Line 3.
5. ^[1] Jewish Communal Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Schedule I, Part II.
6.  The Irving I. Moskowitz Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule I, Part II.
7. Central Fund of Israel, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2020, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.