United Israel Appeal (UIA), a subsidiary of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), is a link between the American Jewish community and the people of Israel. An independent legal entity with 501(c)(3) charity status, and a Board of Directors, United Israel Appeal is responsible for the allocation and oversight of funds raised by United States Jewish federation campaigns on behalf of Israel for use by its operating agent, the Jewish Agency for Israel. It also secures and monitors U.S. grant funds for the immigration and absorption of Jewish refugees and humanitarian migrants to Israel from countries of distress. Partnered with the Jewish Agency for Israel, United Israel Appeal assists American Jews to fulfill their ongoing collective commitment to contribute to and participate in the upbuilding of the State of Israel. United Israel Appeal has offices in New York City and Jerusalem.[2]
Activities
United Israel Appeal's principal objectives are to assist immigration to Israel through the relief, rehabilitation, and resettlement of the immigrants therein, and to aid charitable, educational, and scientific institutions and Jewish-identity programs in Israel.
In consultation with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and individual Jewish federations, United Israel Appeal nominates members and observers of the Jewish Agency Board of Governors (BOG), members of its committees and designates delegates to the Jewish Agency Annual Assembly.[3]
Allocation and evaluation
United Israel Appeal provides grants, fiduciary oversight, allocates funds provided to it from donors, foundations, American Jewish Federations and Jewish Federations of North America.
United Israel Appeal monitors and evaluates the programs operated on its behalf by the Jewish Agency for Israel.
United Israel Appeal monitors the management of the educational assets and activities of the Israel Education Fund (IEF) as well as appointing members of the boards of the managing companies.
History
United Israel Appeal was first established in 1925 as the United Palestine Appeal (UPA) to unify fundraising in America for a Jewish national homeland. Its constituents included Keren Hayesod, the fundraising organization for the Jewish Agency; Hadassah; Hebrew University; the Jewish National Fund and Mizrachi. United Palestine Appeal was dissolved in 1930 and reconstituted in 1936 by Keren Hayesod and the Jewish National Fund. In 1938, United Palestine Appeal entered into a partnership with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to found the United Jewish Appeal (UJA).
United Israel Appeal has undergone many changes since its early days. In addition to the partnership begun in 1938, the most significant changes prior to 2000 came in 1971 as a result of the reconstitution of the Jewish Agency for Israel.[4] After the Reconstitution Agreement, for the first time, American Jewish leaders from federations, as well as all the American Zionist organizations, served as members of the United Israel Appeal's board of directors. The American Zionist organizations had seats on the Jewish Agency Board through their membership in the World Zionist Organization.
The Reconstitution Agreement led United Israel Appeal to name the Jewish Agency for Israel as its exclusive operating agent in Israel.
In 1999, United Jewish Communities was created as a merger of United Israel Appeal, United Jewish Appeal, and the Council of Jewish Federations, into a single, national organization. After this merger, United Israel Appeal became a subsidiary of United Jewish Communities, which itself was later renamed the Jewish Federations of North America.
Funding
According to the organization's Internal Revenue Service Form 990 form, United Israel Appeal distributed $231,487,000 of grants and other assistance to entities outside the United States between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014.[1]
Leadership
United Israel Appeal's chairman is Andy Groveman of Memphis, whose term began in November 2015.[2] David M. Mallach is the executive vice-chairman.[5]
The most recent past chairman is Richard N. Bernstein of Miami. Other past chairpersons have included Bruce A. Arbit of Milwaukee; Richard L. Wexler of Chicago, Jane Fisher Sherman of Detroit,[6] Bennett L. Aaron of Philadelphia,[7] and Shoshana S. Cardin of Baltimore.[8]
