First Time JNF Has Been Included in Annual Ranking of NonProfits

October 21, 2010 – New York, NY – For the first time ever, Jewish National Fund (JNF) was named to The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual Philanthropy 400 survey of the country’s largest nonprofits.

The survey reported a sharp donation drop of 11% for the nation’s biggest charities and 18% for the biggest Jewish charities. By contrast, of the 22 Jewish organizations that made the list, JNF was one of only four Jewish charities that saw a boost in fundraising totals.

JNF is honored to be included amongst the nation’s best-performing charities,” said JNF National Treasurer Michael Lederman. “This recognition is of real interest and importance to our donors who are so enormously committed to developing the land of Israel and improving the quality of life for the people of Israel.”

This year’s list marks the 20th time that the Chronicle has conducted the survey. When the annual survey was first put out in 1991, there were two Jewish charities in the top 10. Over the past 20 years, Jewish organizations have declined as a whole. In its first time making the list, JNF ranked 362 out of 400 nonprofits, with a 2009 fundraising total of $48,343,847. This was an increase of 8.8% from the previous year. At a time when so many organizations have seen a decrease in giving, JNF credits the magnitude and success of its mission with inspiring people to give.

During these difficult times, people continue to want to strengthen their bond to Israel,” said Mitchel Rosenzweig, JNF Chief Financial Officer, “and as the central address for Israel, JNF has provided them with that opportunity. Through the breadth of JNF’s projects and our partnerships in working with KKL and other organizations, JNF has continued to engage people to connect to Israel.”

For more information, please contact Ariel Vered at 212-879-9305 ext. 227 or avered@jnf.org.

Jewish National Fund (JNF) began in 1901 collecting coins in blue boxes to purchase land and return the Jewish people to their homeland. In over 108 years, JNF has evolved into a global environmental leader and become the central address for partnering with the land and people of Israel. JNF has planted 240 million trees; built over 1,000 parks and recreational areas; constructed security roads; educated students around the world about Israel; created new communities so that Jews from around the world would have a place to call home; discovered new means of growing plants under arid conditions, bringing green to the desert; and built over 205 reservoirs and water recycling centers, increasing Israel’s water supply by 12%. Today, JNF is supporting Israel’s newest generation of pioneers by bringing life to the Negev Desert, Israel’s last frontier.

A United Nations NGO, JNF sponsors international conferences on desertification, shares afforestation techniques, and funds research on arid land management. JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers. For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.