Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces experiences significant revenue growth and maintains strong financial health with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 133156445 · New York, NY · NTEE: Q123 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $608.3M |
| Total Expenses | $143.2M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $288.0M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces (EIN: 133156445) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code Q123. The organization reported total revenue of $608.3M and total assets of $384.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 43 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 13.4%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $282.0M |
| Total Expenses | $143.2M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$138.8M |
| Total Assets | $336.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $48.5M |
| Net Assets | $288.0M |
| Operating Margin | 49.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 14.4% |
| Months of Reserves | 28.2 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces reported a surplus of $138.8M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 28.2 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 14.4% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +215.6% | +67.0% | +68.4% |
| 2022 | +1.7% | -3.2% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | +45.8% | +13.6% | -4.1% |
| 2020 | -31.0% | -28.8% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | -34.2% | +10.3% | -8.3% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1983 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $138.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 14.4%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all provided IRS 990 filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size with hundreds of millions in revenue and assets. This suggests either that executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is reported under different categories, warranting further investigation for complete transparency.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation for a large organization, which may obscure actual executive remuneration if reported elsewhere.
- Significant year-over-year revenue volatility, with a large jump in 202312, which could indicate reliance on unpredictable large donations rather than a stable donor base.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces:
- Strong financial health with revenue significantly exceeding expenses in the latest reported period (202312: Revenue=$281,961,247, Expenses=$143,165,470).
- Consistent growth in assets over the past decade, indicating increasing financial capacity and stability.
- High program spending efficiency, as suggested by the overall financial health and the NTEE code Q123 (International, Foreign Affairs & National Security), implying direct impact.
- Low liabilities relative to assets, indicating a healthy balance sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions about Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces
Is Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces a legitimate charity?
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces (EIN: 133156445) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $608.3M. 2 red flags identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces spend its money?
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces tax-deductible?
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 133156445). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces's spending goes to programs?
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces is above average for NTEE category Q123 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces located?
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 133156445. It is classified under NTEE code Q123.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces have?
Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $608.3M in total revenue.
How does Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces manage to report 0% officer compensation despite its large scale?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly unusual for an organization with revenues in the hundreds of millions. This could indicate that executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is categorized differently within the financial statements, such as under 'other salaries and wages' or through related organizations, which would require a deeper dive into the full 990 forms for clarification.
What caused the significant increase in revenue in the 202312 period compared to previous years?
The revenue for the 202312 period was $281,961,247, a substantial increase from $89,338,598 in 202212 and $87,861,352 in 202112. This dramatic surge suggests a highly successful fundraising year, possibly driven by specific events or campaigns, or a significant one-time donation. Further analysis of the full 990 would be needed to identify the specific sources of this increased income.
What is the organization's long-term strategy for managing its growing assets and liabilities?
The organization's assets have grown from $160,010,173 in 201412 to $336,434,268 in 202312, with liabilities also fluctuating. While assets have generally outpaced liabilities, a clear strategy for managing this growth, including investment policies and debt management, would be important for long-term financial stability. The latest reported assets are $383,993,388.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces's revenue has grown by 353.4%, moving from $62.2M to $282.0M. Total assets increased by 186.8% over the same period, from $117.3M to $336.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 154%, from $56.4M to $143.2M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces reported a surplus of $138.8M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $48.5M in liabilities against $336.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 14.4%), resulting in net assets of $288.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $282.0M | $143.2M | $336.4M | $48.5M | — | — |
| 2022 | $89.3M | $85.7M | $199.8M | $25.5M | — | — |
| 2021 | $87.9M | $88.6M | $197.1M | $23.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $60.3M | $78.0M | $205.5M | $35.3M | — | — |
| 2019 | $87.3M | $109.6M | $218.8M | $17.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $132.7M | $99.3M | $238.6M | $19.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $122.9M | $97.0M | $213.3M | $22.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $111.2M | $86.3M | $190.3M | $22.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $96.9M | $74.1M | $168.6M | $28.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $102.4M | $71.7M | $160.0M | $37.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $73.3M | $60.5M | $135.5M | $39.3M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $68.3M | $55.4M | $126.6M | $39.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $62.2M | $56.4M | $117.3M | $36.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $282.0M, expenses of $143.2M, and assets of $336.4M (revenue +215.6% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $89.3M, expenses of $85.7M, and assets of $199.8M (revenue +1.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $87.9M, expenses of $88.6M, and assets of $197.1M (revenue +45.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $60.3M, expenses of $78.0M, and assets of $205.5M (revenue -31.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $87.3M, expenses of $109.6M, and assets of $218.8M (revenue -34.2% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $132.7M, expenses of $99.3M, and assets of $238.6M (revenue +8.0% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $122.9M, expenses of $97.0M, and assets of $213.3M (revenue +10.5% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $111.2M, expenses of $86.3M, and assets of $190.3M (revenue +14.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $96.9M, expenses of $74.1M, and assets of $168.6M (revenue -5.3% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $102.4M, expenses of $71.7M, and assets of $160.0M (revenue +39.6% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $73.3M, expenses of $60.5M, and assets of $135.5M (revenue +7.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $68.3M, expenses of $55.4M, and assets of $126.6M (revenue +9.9% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $62.2M, expenses of $56.4M, and assets of $117.3M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Friends Of The Israel Defense Forces is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.