For all their glossy brochures, gala dinners, and war-time email blasts, Friends of the IDF (FIDF) cannot outrun arithmetic. Their 2023 IRS Form 990, publicly available for all to see, offers a sobering account of how donor money was actually spent. Strip away the slogans, and what remains is a simple truth: soldiers got scraps.
Take the Adopt a Brigade Program. FIDF claims this effort supports 75,000 soldiers across 27 brigades. Total funding: $1.6 million. That is $21 per soldier. Maybe enough for a few burgers and hot dogs—though the buns likely cost extra.
Next is the Lone Soldier Program, supposedly a crown jewel of FIDF’s mission. It received $4.9 million to support 7,000 lone soldiers, equaling $700 per soldier. A noble effort, but not nearly enough for those with no family in Israel and few resources.
The Wounded Soldier Support Program is perhaps the most damning. Just $800,000 spread across 2,000 injured veterans. That is $400 per person. A single piece of medical equipment likely costs more.
Wellbeing and Recreational Assistance, touted as central to morale, cost $5.7 million and served 20,450 soldiers. That is $278 each, maybe a group day trip, but certainly not battlefield resilience. And Spiritual and Heritage Programs, at $2.6 million for 20,000 soldiers, amounted to $130 per person.
These are not accusations. They are admissions, straight from FIDF’s own Form 990. Numbers that were filed with the IRS and reviewed by the board. Numbers that quietly and damningly undermine every lofty claim of “critical support.”
This is not a debate about military versus non-military aid. It is a reckoning with scale. In 2023, as soldiers fought with outdated gear, donor money flowed to tzitzit, lectures, and laptops. Critical needs were underfunded. Basic equipment was lacking. Yet millions were spent on “respite sessions” and “leisure corners.”
One if left to wonder how the 2024 IRS Form 990 will account for a settlement for a Human Rights complaint. Was this paid for with donor funds?
Support is not defined by good intentions. It is measured in impact. And by their own filings, FIDF’s impact per soldier was insultingly low.
If you're wondering whether your donation made a difference, read the Form 990. It will tell you everything you need to know.
