Celebrating 30 years of helping you give wisely
America's most independent,
assertive charity watchdog

International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

CharityWatch rating issued
May 2025

C+
CharityWatch Rating
Our independent rating based
on a number of factors.
 
60%
Program Percentage
Amount spent on programs
relative to overhead.
 
$26
Cost to Raise $100
Amount spent to raise
$100 of contributions.

Contact Information

International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
303 East Wacker Drive
Suite 2300
Chicago, IL 60601-5224

Other Names

Guardians of Israel
IFCJ
Isaiah 58
On Wings of Eagles
Stand for Israel
The Fellowship

Tax Status

501(c)3

Website

www.ifcj.org

Stated Mission

Promote understanding and cooperation between Jews and Christians and to build broad support for Israel and other shared concerns.

View similar charities
Data based on Fiscal Year Ended 12/31/2023

Program Percentage: 60%

The percentage of International Fellowship of Christians and Jews's cash budget it spends on programs relative to overhead (fundraising, management, and general expenses).

$250,000,000

Calculated Total Expenses

(rounded)

 

Cost to Raise $100: $26

How many dollars International Fellowship of Christians and Jews spends on fundraising to raise each $100 of contributions.

$281,000,000

Calculated Total Contributions

(rounded)

Joint Costs

International Fellowship of Christians and Jews' rating was adjusted for Joint Costs. If you are a donor who considers direct mail, telemarketing, and other Joint Cost solicitations to be true charitable programs, the below efficiency ratios, which were not adjusted for joint costs, may better reflect your goals.

Program % Cost to Raise $100
76% $12
Accounting rules allow charities to report some telemarketing, direct mail, and other solicitation costs as Program expenses. CharityWatch believes that most donors do not consider a charity's solicitation activities to be the Programs they are intending to support with their donations. We therefore adjust such expenses out of a charity's reported Program expense and add it to Fundraising expense prior to calculating its rating.

Government Funding

0% to 24%

Percentage of cash revenue
coming from government sources

 

Financial Documents

Entity Document Type Tax ID
International Fellowship of Christians & Jews Consolidated Audited Financial Statements Multiple
International Fellowship of Christians & Jews IRS Form 990 36-3256096
Entity: International Fellowship of Christians & Jews
Document Type: Consolidated Audited Financial Statements
Tax ID: Multiple
Entity: International Fellowship of Christians & Jews
Document Type: IRS Form 990
Tax ID: 36-3256096

Governance & Transparency

CharityWatch evaluates certain criteria related to a charity's Governance and Transparency. Donors may want to consider a charity's willingness to be open and transparent with CharityWatch to be a good litmus test for determining its commitment to public accountability.
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
meets governance benchmarks.
 
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
meets transparency benchmarks.
Transparency
Provides Financial Information
Audit Accessibility
Governance: Policies
Reports regularly & consistently monitoring & enforcing compliance with a written Conflict of Interest Policy
Reports required, annual disclosure by officers, directors, and key staff of interests that could give rise to conflicts
Reports having a written Whistleblower Policy
Reports having a written Document Retention and Destruction Policy
Governance: Financials
Reports providing copy of tax form to all board members prior to filing it with IRS
Reports that financial statements were audited by an independent accountant
Governance: Board of Directors
Reports at least 5 voting board members
51% or more of voting board members reported as independent
Reports documenting minutes of board and board committee meetings
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy Opt-Out Policy  

  Name Title Compensation
1 Yael Eckstein-Farkas President / CEO $769,244
2 Robin Van Etten Global Chief Operating Officer $464,155
3 Laurel Simkovich VP of Finance $342,255
1
Name: Yael Eckstein-Farkas
Title: President / CEO
Compensation: $769,244
2
Name: Robin Van Etten
Title: Global Chief Operating Officer
Compensation: $464,155
3
Name: Laurel Simkovich
Title: VP of Finance
Compensation: $342,255

CharityWatch Analysts perform an in-depth analysis of charities' audited financial statements and IRS tax filings, and often review other documents such as state filings, annual reports, and fundraising contracts during their evaluations. Below are select notes that CharityWatch believes may be of interest to donors.

CharityWatch's rating of International Fellowship of Christians & Jews also includes the financial activities of the entities consolidated in IFCJ's audited financial statements for the fiscal year-ended 12/31/2023.

According to the International Fellowship of Christians & Jews 2023 consolidated audit (Note 1), the consolidated entities include:

– International Fellowship of Christians & Jews (IFCJ), a U.S. based public charity.

 IFCJ Foundation, a U.S. based public charity that serves as a supporting organization to The Fellowship.

 HaKeren L'Yedidut (the Amutah), a legal entity established as a State of Israel Registered Amutah that operates as the Israeli representative of The Fellowship.

 Foundation Korea International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ Korea), a charitable tax-exempt organization as recognized by the government of the Republic of South Korea.

IFCJ and the Amutah account for all but an insignificant portion of the organization's financial activities. All inter-organizational balances and transactions are eliminated in the audit consolidation.


Also according to the International Fellowship of Christians & Jews consolidated audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 1 re: Nature of Activities):

"The Amutah was established as a State of Israel Registered Amutah and operates as the Israeli representative of The Fellowship. The activities of the Amutah consist of direct operation of projects or recommendation to fund organizations which operate projects relating to Aliyah and absorption, poverty, welfare and security. In such cases, the Amutah acts as the 'long arm' of The Fellowship by recommending projects serving the above objectives, as well as supervising and overseeing the implementation of the projects in accordance with the terms of the grant and requesting the transfer of funds based on compliance with the terms. In order to achieve its objectives, the Amutah is substantially supported by The Fellowship. The Amutah is affiliated with The Fellowship through common membership of their respective Boards of Directors and shared senior management.

The Amutah holds 100% of the shares of Beit HaYedidut Ltd (the Subsidiary). The Subsidiary had originally been established to build a worldwide headquarters in Israel. On October 28, 2019 the Board of Directors of the Subsidiary and the Board of the Amutah decided to cease the construction of the worldwide headquarters in Israel and on November 18, 2019 decided to act to sell the asset. In accordance with this decision a deal was signed on January 5, 2023 for the sale of the property for a total amount of approximately $15.1 million (including Value Added Tax (VAT)), resulting in a gain on sale of approximately $2.8 million..."

According to the International Fellowship of Christians & Jews consolidated audit of December 31, 2023 (Note 9, Deferred Compensation):

"The Fellowship established a retirement plan (nonqualified deferred-compensation plan) for the former president with a benefit to his beneficiary in the case of his death. The former president passed away in February 2019. Under the agreement, in the case of death, the former president's beneficiary is to receive fixed monthly payments for 10 years. The Fellowship had been fully funding the future liability. In 2020, The Fellowship made a one-time tax payment to the Israel Tax Authority to pay for the present value of future payments made to the beneficiary. As of December 31, 2023, $1,004,668 have been accrued, as part of the deferred compensation liability, on the consolidated statement of financial position. 

The Fellowship funded the expected liability into a Rabbi Trust. As of December 31, 2023, the Rabbi Trust held investments of $4,091,668."

According to the International Fellowship of Christians & Jews (IFCJ) 2023 tax filing, IFCJ reports re: Compensation, Supplemental Information (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III):

Regarding first-class travel, travel for companions, and tax indemnification and gross-up payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 1a):

"...During the tax year, tax gross-up payments did not exceed $150 for any employee, except for Yael Eckstein-Farkas's gross-up payment which did not exceed $33,000."

[Yael Eckstein-Farkas, President & CEO, had total reported compensation of $769,244 during 2023 (IRS Form 990, Schedule J, Part III)].

Regarding nonfixed payments to officers, directors, trustees, key employees and highest compensated employees (Schedule J, Part I, Line 7):

"...No individual received a spot bonus in excess of $1,000 during the tax year, except for Lucas Puzan who received a bonus in excess of [$1,000] due to exceptional performance to accomplish organizational goals and achievements.

Robin Van Etten and Christine Jespersen received a non-fixed bonus instead of a yearly merit increase as outlined in their employment contract. The bonus did not exceed $5,500 during the year."


IFCJ reports providing "bonus & incentive compensation" during 2023 to nine individuals. Lucas Puzan, Chief Information Officer, received $10,150 of bonus and incentive compensation, with a total reported compensation of $331,997. The remaining eight individuals received $200 to $5,481 with total compensation ranging from $202,304 to $769,244.


Related External Articles