“What do you mean that Israeli charities can be registered as companies?”
That was the question someone asked me last year that that had me thinking to myself, yet again, that charity legal/tax structure is a language onto itself and should require its own Ulpan.
And so, I shall now endeavor to explain the somewhat contradictory concept of a Chevrah LeTo’elet Hatzibur [Public Benefit Company].
Obtaining government funding seems to be every nonprofit’s goal, at least in Israel. I have heard countless lecturers, founders, and foundation representatives preach the Darwinian virtues of incorporating government grants into an Israeli charity’s fundraising strategy; after all, the nonprofit is servicing the Israeli public. It is to the Government’s benefit – if not its outright duty – to ensure that this charity’s program continues to exist
Not bad on paper. In practice, however, these Israeli government grants can sometimes be more trouble than they are worth.
For the purpose of this post, as a banker I would like to restrict my focus on the budgetary challenges associated with these grants. Specifically, the two disadvantages that arise because grant monies are dispersed only after expenses are incurred.
No, King Arthur hasn’t been reborn nor are we in Camelot. Heck, we’re not even in Kansas. What this is, though, is a serious attempt by the Israel Government and a number of foundations that operate in Israel to increase the cooperation, strength, and transparency of Israel’s nonprofit sector.
I think that charities need to take a step back because, believe it or not, proper fundraising is a question more encompassing than “direct mail vs. email solicitations” and even larger than “Facebook vs. Twitter” (OMG!).
The arrests of 44 individuals 3 mayors, 5 respected community rabbis, a score of government officials, and others on Thursday of last week (July 23) should highlight the dangers of organizations donating to international causes; and I guarantee you, the I.R.S. is having similar thoughts.
America has a long history of positive social change affected through the initiatives of private individuals and foundations. These nongovernmental institutions have been succesful because of their greatest weapon, independence. An article that was recently forwarded to me in The Commentary Magazine entitled, “The War on Philanthropy”, by David Billet, argues that this autonomy is under fire.