PEF, in particular, is an enigma: The organization is extraordinarily big, with $69 million in grants made in 2013 — more than all but the largest Jewish federations. Yet it has just five employees and paid its top-compensated employee just $124,000. Largely run by volunteers, PEF is a mega-“friends of” organization that also manages endowed funds for major donors. The group maintains a list of more than 1,000 Israeli charities that it has determined are eligible to receive American donors’ gifts. According to its president, Geoffrey Stern, the group covers its overhead with fees charged to its endowed funds, and doesn’t take any expenses out of regular gifts.
Read more: How To Be a ‘Friend’ and Get a Tax Break in Return The Jewish Daily Forward December 16, 2014
P.E.F. “an enigma” in Israel philanthropy – Jewish Daily Forward
The Jewish Daily Forward captures our unique position in Israel philanthropy.
The feature article – overly zealous in critiquing fundraising costs incurred by Friends organizations – get’s it right regarding PEF’s no-nonsense approach.
PEF is the choice for donors who have a pre-existing affinity and want 100% of their donation transferred to an Israeli charity of choice.
writes journalist; Josh Nathan-Kazis: