Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA)
Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) provides humanitarian aid and financial support to Palestinian and other Middle Eastern children. It operates a variety of projects in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Iraq, while engaging in anti-war and anti-Israel domestic activism. It has financial ties to Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Open Society Foundations, and is also associated with author and activist Noam Chomsky. 1
Contents
Background
Middle East Children’s Alliance was founded in 1988 by Barbara Lubin and Howard Levine and expanded operations into Iraq in 1990. 2 Lubin had previously been active in protest movements against the Vietnam War and in support of greater accommodations for the disabled, and was a member of the Berkeley School Board from 1982 to 1996. Levine had been a writer for the San Francisco Examiner. 3
As of 2022, MECA’s board of advisors included former U.S. Sen. James Abourezk (D-SD) and activist Noam Chomsky. 4
Activities
The main goal of Middle East Children’s Alliance is to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian, Iraqi, and Lebanese children while engaging in pro-Palestinian activism in America. 1 To achieve these ends, MECA partners with a variety of local organizations within the Middle East. MECA operates a college scholarship program in West Bank and Gaza as well as a program to provide clean water. 2
In 2001, MECA chartered a bus and drove around the country in protest of American sanctions against Iraq. 2
MECA has accused Israel of “apartheid,” “genocide,” and “ethnic cleansing” towards Palestinians. 5 In addition, MECA has engaged in other anti-Israel activism, including support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, celebrating investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes, and signing multiple statements condemning Israel. 5
On January 20, 2024, MECA hosted a teacher training seminar titled “Palestine in our Classrooms: Teaching to the Moment” which claimed to advocate on “incorporating Palestinian history, narratives, and culture into K-12 classrooms.” 6 Different topics discussed in the seminar included “multiple perspectives framework for teaching Palestine – focus on Gaza” and “teaching about Palestine through stories – designed for K-5 educators.” 6
In April 2025, the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) released a report on MECA that disclosed how as of April 1 of that year, MECA was listed as a partner in a fundraising campaign started by U.S-based pro-Palestinian coalition Shut It Down For Palestine (SID4P), whose other partners included The People’s Forum and the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM). In addition, the report used 990 form information to disclose how MECA donated grants to several organizations and Gaza-set charities allegedly linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) between 2012 and 2023 including the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), the Union of Health Workers Committees (UHWC), the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), Afaq Jadeeda, Never Stop Dreaming, and The Freedom Theater. 7
Funding
Middle East Children’s Alliance received $3,329,330 in donations and grants in 2019. 8 From 2016-2023, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund donated $430,000 to MECA for the “Creative Palestinian Communities Fund,” which organizes political activities in Palestinian communities. 5 In 2020, MECA received a $400,000 grant from the Open Society Foundations, the private grantmaking foundation of billionaire George Soros. 5
Financial Statistics
Total Assets
Total Revenue
Total Expenses
| Year | Total Assets | Total Revenue | Total Expenses | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5,751,162 | $3,483,995 | $3,750,573 | View |
| 2022 | $6,306,216 | $3,812,328 | $3,606,644 | View |
| 2021 | $6,590,068 | $6,895,587 | $3,964,339 | View |
| 2020 | $3,053,664 | $3,400,898 | $2,642,612 | View |
| 2019 | $2,445,058 | $2,611,872 | $2,452,047 | View |
Prior year filings: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Revenue Detail
Expenses Detail
Employee Compensation
- Number of Employees: 10
Highest Earning Employees
| Employee | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Howard Levine | TREASURER | $188,980 |
| Zeiad Abbas Shamrouch | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $140,621 |
Grant Activity
All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $17,113,961
- Number of Grants: 757
- Number of Funders: 247
Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:
All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:
- Total Grant Value: $9,449,628
- Number of Grants: 151
- Number of Recipients: 12
Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:
Associated Influence Networks
Middle East Activism Network
MENA activism refers to individuals and organizations that seek to influence policy and opinion regarding issues related to the Middle East and North Africa region,…