Birthright Israel - Funding

Funding

Through the end of 2011, more than $680 million have been raised, and the program had an operating budget of $660 million. More than half of the program's funding comes from philanthropists, including Charles Bronfman, Edgar Bronfman Sr., Daniel Och, Marlene Post, Lynn Schusterman, Sheldon Adelson, and Michael Steinhardt. About one-quarter of funding comes from the Government of Israel, and about one-fifth is contributed by Jewish organizations and communities, such as North American Jewish Federations through the United Jewish Communities (UJC), Keren Hayesod, and the Jewish Agency for Israel; and many leading private philanthropists through the Birthright Israel Foundation, including Charles Bronfman, Michael Steinhardt and Lynn Schusterman. The program also receives funding from the German government (through the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany).

In 2007, Miriam and Sheldon Adelson pledged $25 million to Birthright Israel to take applicants off waiting lists and to increase annual capacity from 25,000 to 37,000 in 2007 and 2008. The Adelson Family Foundation has contributed over $100 million to Birthright Israel since 2007.

The program has been a great benefit to Israel, both in terms of generating closer ties with Diaspora communities and to the Israeli economy. Since its inception, Taglit-Birthright Israel has generated tourism revenues of 2 billion NIS for services such as hotels, food, security, guides, entrance fees, buses and flights.