In mid-October of this year, Israel’s Registrar of Charities issued “10 Golden Rules for Donors” (Hebrew). While the document is meant as a guideline for individuals, it holds immense value for the Israel’s charities, as well.
Below are The 10 Golden Rules (in English) and its implications for nonprofits operating in Israel.
As was mentioned in my previous post, Israel’s OFFLINE Overhaul of its Nonprofit Sector (Guidestar Conference, Part 1), the June 26th Conference Organized by Guidestar Israel tantalized the attendants with many planned improvements within the government offices tasked with overseeing Isael’s nonprofit sector.
Even more monumental, though, are the changes that are taking place online. Here we are seeing not just an upgrade in software, but in approach and analysis whose rippling effect will be felt far beyond Israel’s shores.
After years of rumors, here-say, and unwritten code that outlawed the use of credit cards by Israeli nonprofit organizations, the newest version of the Nihul Takin [Certificate of Proper Management] from Israel’s Rasham Ha’amutot [Registrar of Charities] clearly permits the use of credit cards by Israeli charities…kind of.
Unfortunately, vague unwritten guidelines have now been replaced by confusing and unrealistic written rules. Progress?
So should your amutah [Israeli Charity] use a credit card? As no two charities are the same, that answer is best left to your organization’s board, accountant, and/or lawyer.
What I can do, however, is share the research I have done and practices I have witnessed from countless nonprofits, which will hopefully save your organization precious time.
The website “Zavit Shalosh” [The Third Perspective] posted on their site yesterday (in Hebrew) that Guidestar has officially come to Israel. Currently, the Guidestar site is in its pilot stage and is inviting Israeli amutot [nonprofits] to participate.