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Non-profit

Hasbara Fellowships

Website:

www.hasbarafellowships.org/
Location:

New York, NY
Tax ID:

20-1651102
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $1,543,713
Expenses: $1,175,007
Assets: $355,727
Type:

Pro-Israel Campus Activist Group
Founded:

2001 1

References

  1. Levine, Alan. “Combating antisemitism on North American college campuses.” Jerusalem Post. December 4, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-723969

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Hasbara Fellowships is a pro-Israel campus activism organization that works with more than 120 universities across North America. 1

The organization brings hundreds of college students to Israel each year for tours and lectures. 2

The organization was founded in 2001 to counter growing anti-Israel sentiment on college and university campuses. 3

Background

Hasbara Fellowships is a pro-Israel campus activism organization that works with more than 120 universities across North America. 4 The organization says it provides hands-on training is to “inspire, empower and connect our community of Jewish and Pro-Israel student activists.” 5 The term “Hasbara” means “public diplomacy” in Hebrew. 6

Hasbara Fellowships says it has educated more than 3,500 students. The program brings hundreds of North American students to Israel every summer and winter for 16 days of pro-Israel education. 7 8 The group’s website says as of late 2023 that it has 200 active fellows, and has 95 Hasbara campuses. 9

After the tours of Israel, the organization provides information and tools necessary to advocate for Israel on their college campuses. 10

Campus Activism

Hasbara Fellowships Executive Director Alan Levine wrote that most student fellows are Jewish but it also includes non-Jews “distressed by the demonization of Israel and the antisemitism they witness on campus.” 11 Levine was previously the director of strategic initiatives at Hasbara Fellowships, and before that a regional adviser for the group. 12

Students are trained to challenge anti-Israel professors, be a counterforce to the organizers of Israel Apartheid Week, and oppose BDS proposals to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel. 13

The organization says that Jewish college students face harassment and that anti-Israel activities engage in “heckling, blocking or disrupting pro-Israel speakers or events.” 14

The group says universities should define and fight antisemitism, and contends college campuses should “be a place where Zionists feel empowered to openly celebrate the Jewish State without fear or exclusion.” 15 The group says it wants Jewish students to “have the sophisticated education coupled with the confidence to speak up.” 16

Israel Tours

The Hasbara Fellowships says its founding principle is that seeing is believing, which is why it organizes trips to Israel. 17

Before beginning the program. participants have to take an online course to gain a general understanding of the history of Israel, the history of the modern state of Israel, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. During the Israel program, participants are involved in lectures by historians and academics.  18 Participants meet with Israeli journalists, politicians, businesspeople, and activists. The students are also exposed to a variety of perspectives on the Israeli political spectrum. 19

Speakers to the students include Muslim Arab members of the Israeli Parliament for the purpose to counter the smear of Israel as an apartheid state. 20 The organization says student fellows also meet with Jewish Israelis, Arab Israelis, Christians, Bedouins, Druze, and other groups in Israel. 21

While on the trips, the students are also exposed to the firsthand harms of the BDS movement. 22

Donors

Aish Hatorah of Cleveland contributed $15,521 to the Hasbara Fellowships in 2021. 23 The Robert and Michelle Diener Foundation gave $100,000 to the organization in 2021. 24

The donor advised fund provider Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund gave $132,460 in 2022, 25 while the donor advised fund provider Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program gave $105,000 in 2022. 26

Criticism

A 2019 opinion piece by an American University student published in the Jewish publication Forward condemned the Hasbara Fellowships and the Zionist Organization of America and accused the organizations of promoting propaganda. The commentary alleged the leaders of the tour were correcting students that used terms such as “West Bank” and “settlements,” and told to replace the terms with “Judea and Samaria” and “Jewish communities.” The student alleged that the organization aimed to “indoctrinate campus leaders, instilling a rigid right-wing orthodoxy concerning what it means to be pro-Israel.” 27

References

  1. “Hasbara Fellowship.” GuideStar. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/20-1651102
  2. “Hasbara Fellowship.” Cause IQ. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hasbara-fellowships-incorporated,201651102/
  3. Levine, Alan. “Combating antisemitism on North American college campuses.” Jerusalem Post. December 4, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-723969
  4. “Hasbara Fellowship.” GuideStar. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/20-1651102
  5. “Mission.” Hasbara Fellowship. December 7, 2023. https://hasbarafellowships.org/mission/
  6. Lieberman, Randall P. “Hasbara Fellows trained to defend Israel.” Sun-Sentinel. August 17, 2015. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2015/08/17/hasbara-fellows-trained-to-defend-israel/
  7. Lieberman, Randall P. “Hasbara Fellows trained to defend Israel.” Sun-Sentinel. August 17, 2015. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2015/08/17/hasbara-fellows-trained-to-defend-israel/
  8. “Hasbara Fellowship.” Cause IQ. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hasbara-fellowships-incorporated,201651102/
  9. “Mission.” Hasbara Fellowship. December 7, 2023. https://hasbarafellowships.org/mission/
  10. “Hasbara Fellowship.” Cause IQ. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hasbara-fellowships-incorporated,201651102/
  11. Levine, Alan. “Combating antisemitism on North American college campuses.” Jerusalem Post. December 4, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-723969
  12. “Staff.” Hasbara Fellowship. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://hasbarafellowships.org/staff/
  13. Levine, Alan. “Combating antisemitism on North American college campuses.” Jerusalem Post. December 4, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-723969
  14. Levine, Alan. “Combating antisemitism on North American college campuses.” Jerusalem Post. December 4, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-723969
  15. “Mission.” Hasbara Fellowship. December 7, 2023. https://hasbarafellowships.org/mission/
  16. “Mission.” Hasbara Fellowship. December 7, 2023. https://hasbarafellowships.org/mission/
  17.  Levine, Alan. “Combating antisemitism on North American college campuses.” Jerusalem Post. December 4, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-723969
  18. “Hasbara Fellowship.” Harvard Hillel. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://hillel.harvard.edu/links/hasbara-fellowships
  19. “Hasbara Fellowship.” Harvard Hillel. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://hillel.harvard.edu/links/hasbara-fellowships
  20. Levine, Alan. “Combating antisemitism on North American college campuses.” Jerusalem Post. December 4, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-723969
  21. Levymay, Taylor. “Educational trip to Israel not propaganda, but a homecoming.” Jerusalem Post. May 1, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-705614
  22. Levymay, Taylor. “Educational trip to Israel not propaganda, but a homecoming.” Jerusalem Post. May 1, 2022. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-705614
  23. “Hasbara Fellowship.” Cause IQ. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hasbara-fellowships-incorporated,201651102/
  24. “Hasbara Fellowship.” Cause IQ. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hasbara-fellowships-incorporated,201651102/
  25.  “Hasbara Fellowship.” Cause IQ. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hasbara-fellowships-incorporated,201651102/
  26. “Hasbara Fellowship.” Cause IQ. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hasbara-fellowships-incorporated,201651102/
  27. Boxer, Scott. “These Hasbara Tours Bribe Jews To Be Pro-Israel And Make Birthright Seem Lefty.” Forward.” Forward. July 10, 2019. Accessed December 8, 2023. https://forward.com/opinion/427426/these-hasbara-israel-tours-bribe-jews-to-be-pro-israel-and-make-birthright/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: January - December
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 2011

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Jan Form 990 $1,543,713 $1,175,007 $355,727 $33,394 N $1,506,988 $36,109 $616 $219,583
    2021 Jan Form 990 $991,301 $1,108,549 $139,542 $185,915 N $986,626 $4,675 $0 $268,500
    2020 Jan Form 990 $1,884,354 $1,807,797 $152,752 $81,877 N $1,811,493 $72,861 $0 $226,000 PDF
    2019 Jan Form 990 $1,862,100 $1,952,255 $80,585 $86,267 N $1,786,003 $66,221 $0 $942,717 PDF
    2018 Jan Form 990 $1,872,145 $1,978,490 $139,006 $54,535 N $1,807,086 $65,059 $0 $792,642
    2017 Jan Form 990 $1,586,289 $1,531,201 $257,172 $66,356 N $1,514,360 $71,929 $0 $607,620 PDF
    2016 Jan Form 990 $1,607,630 $1,368,286 $242,966 $107,239 N $1,476,015 $131,615 $0 $499,443 PDF
    2015 Jan Form 990 $1,262,645 $1,201,398 $18,390 $122,257 N $1,193,325 $69,320 $0 $367,732 PDF
    2014 Jan Form 990 $1,291,088 $1,295,864 $16,814 $181,928 N $1,203,119 $87,969 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Jan Form 990 $1,132,933 $1,149,816 $61,313 $204,301 N $1,052,076 $80,857 $0 $184,751 PDF
    2012 Jan Form 990 $1,134,061 $1,104,798 $44,250 $218,587 N $983,320 $150,741 $0 $134,932 PDF

    Hasbara Fellowships

    228 Park Ave S #94319
    New York, NY 10003