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American Friends of Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 237183563 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A116 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · afipo.org
revenue
$4.8M
expenses
$4.9M
net assets
$24.8M
employees
7
volunteers
27
program ratio
69%
mission · from form 990

TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS AND SECURE THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC'S FINANCIAL FUTURE.

profile · synthesized from sources

American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO) is a U.S.-based nonprofit that raises funds to support the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO). It enables educational outreach, community-building programs, and special concerts, including initiatives for children and youth across Israel. AFIPO promotes cultural diplomacy through music and supports the IPO's role as Israel's preeminent cultural ambassador.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $430K
    AFIPO PROUDLY PROVIDES UNDERWRITING SUPPORT FOR THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC'S KEYNOTE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM AND SULAMOT PROGRAM, WHERE CLASSICAL MUSIC IS USED AS A VEHICLE FOR TEACHING COMPASSION, NURTURING OUR YOUTH, ENCOURAGING CLASSICAL MUSIC AUDIENCES OF THE FUTURE AND ENRICHING THE CULTURAL LIFE OF ISRAEL. BOTH PROGRAMS OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, FILLING THE VOID IN MUSIC INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS AND TRAINED TEACHERS BRING CLASSICAL MUSIC INTO JEWISH, ARAB-ISRAELI, RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS INSTITUTIONS FOR HOMELESS AND DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN.
  2. #2 $300K
    AFIPO PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC'S GUEST ARTISTS PROGRAM WHICH HELPS DEFRAY THE ORCHESTRA'S EXPENSES.
named programs · 9 · from sources

What they call their work

Arab-Jewish Ensemble (Shesh-Besh)
Collaborative ensemble of IPO and Arab musicians from northern Israel performing in schools and internationally to promote cross-cultural exchange.
Family Concert Series
Five-concert series combining orchestral music with dance, theater, humor, and circus elements for family audiences.
Grades 1 & 2 Program
IPO ensembles conduct chamber concerts and workshops for early elementary students, ending with attendance at a full IPO concert.
Grades 3–6 Program
Students participate in multiple classroom sessions with IPO ensembles and attend a special morning concert each semester.
High School Program
Provides high school students access to the IPO through diverse engagement opportunities to develop musical skills and appreciation.
Instrument Day
Events allowing music students to interact with IPO musicians and learn about specific orchestral instruments through dedicated concerts.
KeyNote Educational Program
Classical music education initiative reaching over 22,500 children annually in Israeli schools, fostering cultural connection and mutual respect among Jewish, Arab, immigrant, religious, and secular communities.
Kindergarten Program
IPO musicians visit kindergarten classrooms for interactive music lessons, culminating in a chamber performance for students.
Zubin Mehta Stage for Young Talent
Opportunity for talented young musicians to make their solo debut performance with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Music Education and Training Programs 4 activities
    • Classical music education programs for K–12 students in Israel
      Reaches over 22,500 children annually through classical music education programs delivered in diverse communities across Israel, including interactive lessons, in-classroom sessions with IPO ensembles, and culminating performances.
    • High school music engagement programs
      Offers high school students diverse engagement opportunities with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra to develop musical skills and appreciation, including performances and educational activities.
    • Music instruction in underserved Israeli cities
      Provides music education programs to children in cities across Israel, including Beer Sheva, Mitzpeh Ramon, Arad, Nazareth, Migdal HaEmek, Or Aqiva, Bat Yam, and Afula, with evidence of improved academic performance and self-esteem among participants.
    • Young musician development and performance opportunities
      Offers talented young musicians opportunities to develop their skills and perform, including solo debuts with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra through the Zubin Mehta Stage for Young Talent program and free private and group instruction on a wide range of instruments.
  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 2 activities
    • Funding support for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
      Provides funding for KeyNote to the Israel Philharmonic, an annual fund and special events initiative that supports the orchestra’s operations and programming.
    • Special concerts and family engagement programs
      Hosts a five-concert afternoon family series that combines orchestral performances with dance, theater, humor, and circus elements to teach diverse forms of classical music, along with special events like Instrument Day and Green Concerts focused on environmental themes.
  • Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
    • Arab-Jewish musical collaboration and outreach
      Operates the Shesh-Besh Arab-Jewish Ensemble, which includes musicians from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Arab communities, performing in schools and venues across Israel and abroad to promote cross-cultural understanding through music.
  • Support for Israeli Educational Institutions 1 activity
    • Young Patrons Circle membership program
      Operates a membership program for professionals in their twenties, thirties, and forties that supports culture and music education initiatives in Israel.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.80M
Contributions & grants$3.21M67%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1.97M41%
Other revenue$-383K
expenses
Total expenses$4.89M
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising23%
Salaries & benefits$1.26M
Grants paid out$2.82M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$25.57M
Cash$1.36M
Investments$21.33M
Liabilities$774K
Net assets$24.80M
Liquid reserves55.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +47.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Catherine Lou CFO & Interim CEO (effective 10/24) 40 $264K
Jennifer Ritvo Hughes Chief Executive Officer (through 9/24) 40 $225K
board members · 23
  • Abigail Tananbaum — Director
  • Abraham D Sofaer — Director
  • Benjamin Hildner — Director
  • Chaim Katzman — Director
  • Claudio Pincus — Vice President
  • David A Hirsch — Director
  • Emanuel Ax — Director
  • Eta Somekh — Vice President
  • Hadar Shemtov — Director
  • Heidi Learner — Director
  • Helgard Field-Lion — Director (through 12/24)
  • Irwin S Field — Director
  • James C Ackerman — President
  • Jane Stern Lebell — Vice President
  • Lynn Syms — Director
  • Mina Tulchinsky — Director (as of 9/24)
  • Myron S Glucksman — Director
  • Noemi Brief Zafrany — Director
  • Polly Levine — Director
  • Richard S Ziman — Vice President (through 6/24)
  • Sara Fabrikant — Vice President (through 5/24)
  • Sharon Gabriel — Director
  • Stacey Bronfman — Secretary
relationships · 7

Who they work with

  • Israel Philharmonic Partner — Co-founded Sulamot in 2010 and collaborates on music education programs for children in Israel.
  • Israel Philharmonic Partner — Primary cultural partner supported by AFIPO
  • Israel Philharmonic Partner — Receives funding from AFIPO for KeyNote concerts.
  • Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Partner — Supported the founding and ongoing initiatives of the KeyNote educational program.
  • Mehli Mehta Music Foundation Partner — Co-chaired by Zubin Mehta and his brother Zarin Mehta to advance music education in Bombay.
  • Tel Aviv University Partner — Co-founded and collaborates on the Sulamot program to create social change through music.
  • Tel Aviv University Faculty for Social Science Partner — Co-founded Sulamot in 2010 and collaborates on music-based social development programs for children in Israel.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Cultural Engagement as Connection
    methodology: cultural_engagement_through_music
    By using special concerts, community engagement, and educational programs, we connect diverse audiences with music to build hope and shared cultural experience because collective artistic participation strengthens communal bonds and emotional resilience.
  • Cultural Engagement for Community Building
    methodology: cultural_engagement_through_music
    By using concerts, community engagement, and educational programs, we strengthen communal bonds and enrich lives through shared cultural experiences because collective participation in the arts builds identity, continuity, and belonging.
  • Integrated Youth Development through Music
    methodology: integrated-youth-development
    By integrating music education with the development of educational, creative, and social cooperation skills, we enhance holistic youth development because musical training serves as a vehicle for broader personal and social growth.
  • Music for Social Change and Inclusion
    methodology: music-for-social-change
    By providing free classical music education to children across racial, religious, and socioeconomic lines in Israel, we promote inclusion, mutual respect, and long-term social change because access to the arts fosters shared identity and breaks down barriers of division.
  • Young Professional Engagement via Cultural Affinity
    methodology: young_professional_engagement
    By offering curated events and relationship-building opportunities centered on Israeli cultural and music initiatives, we cultivate sustained support among young professionals because shared cultural experiences foster personal investment and community ownership.