Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation
The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation is a New York-based Israel Defense Forces (IDF) support organization that raises funds and provides materials to IDF soldiers who are serving in Israel without a home or family to support them, including immigrants, international volunteers, orphans, or those from broken or estranged families. 1 2
Contents
In 2025, left-of-center media outlet The Intercept published an op-ed criticizing pro-IDF nonprofits in the United States, including the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation. The piece accused the group and similar organizations of recruiting American teens to aid in “genocide in Gaza.” 3
Background
The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation was founded and named in memory of Michael Levin, the first paratrooper and the only American to die in the 2006 Second Lebanon War in the service of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Levin was born and raised near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in a traditional Jewish household. At the age of 16, Levin decided he wanted to move to Israel and serve in the IDF. In 2002, he immigrated to Israel, joining Paratroop Unit 890, and within a year rose to the rank of First Sergeant. In the summer of 2006, war broke out on Israel’s northern border, and Levin’s unit was sent to the Hezbollah-controlled Lebanese village of Aita al-Shaab. There, Levin’s unit had a firefight with Hezbollah forces inside the village, and Levin was killed in action. 4
Levin’s parents, Harriet and Mark Levin, founded the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation to honor Michael Levin’s wishes to support other IDF lone soldiers. 4
Initiatives
The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation funds a variety of programs and services that center on meeting the needs of Israel Defense Forces soldiers with no family to support them in Israel. These include providing Shabbat and holiday meals, housing, mental health counseling, resources before and after service, visits to bases, and more. The foundation also serves as a resource and support to parents of IDF lone soldiers across the world. 1
The Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation produced a documentary about Levin’s life titled A Hero in Heaven, which it has disseminated to gain support for the organization. 5
In July 2021, the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation and then-Israeli government minister and Member of the Knesset (MK) Michael Biton, hosted its inaugural conference at the Knesset building in Jerusalem in honor of the 15-year anniversary of Michael Levin’s death. Fifteen MKs attended the event. Mark and Harriet Levin used the occasion to encourage Knesset members to start a committee to lobby for a line in the Knesset’s budget for assistance to lone soldiers. 6
The Intercept Criticism
In July 2025, left-of-center media outlet The Intercept published an op-ed accusing the Michale Levin Lone Soldier Foundation of being part of a nonprofit coalition that supports and recruits “American teens to provide reinforcements to the Israeli military during its ongoing genocide in Gaza.” The piece took issue with the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation, highlighting the testimonies of soldiers who received support on its website. 3
Leadership
According to the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation’s 2023 tax return, Brian Lurie was the organization’s president. Debbie Swartz was the group’s vice president. Harriet and Mark Levin led the group’s board of trustees. 7
Financials
In 2023, the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Foundation reported $1,189,473 in total revenue, $512,350 in total expenses, and $822,795 in total assets. 7
Financial Statistics
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
Revenue Detail
Expenses Detail
Employee Compensation
- Number of Employees: 1
Highest Earning Employees
| Employee | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Stacie Stufflebeam | EXECUTIVE DIR. | $90,750 |
Grant Activity
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $725,980
- Number of Grants: 56
- Number of Funders: 36
Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $2,409,225
- Number of Grants: 6
- Number of Recipients: 1
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:
| Amount | Year | Funder | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| $628,751 | 2020 | Multiple Israel Recipients | COUNSELING, HOUSING AND MEALS |
| $408,161 | 2021 | Multiple Israel Recipients | COUNSELING, HOUSING AND MEALS |
| $313,502 | 2023 | Multiple Israel Recipients | COUNSELING, HOUSING AND MEALS |
| $303,030 | 2024 | Multiple Israel Recipients | COUNSELING, HOUSING AND MEALS |
| $248,911 | 2022 | Multiple Israel Recipients | COUNSELING, HOUSING AND MEALS |