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American Friends of Tel Aviv Univ

New York, NY · EIN 131996126 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE Q113 · International Affairs · Very Large (>$50M) · aftau.org
revenue
$52.4M
expenses
$52.5M
net assets
$107.7M
employees
33
volunteers
42
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN ALL BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE IN ISRAEL AND ELSEWHERE.

profile · synthesized from sources

American Friends of Tel Aviv University supports the advancement of Tel Aviv University in Israel through fundraising, advocacy, and engagement with the American Jewish community. It promotes higher education, scientific research, and innovation emerging from the university. The organization connects U.S.-based donors and supporters with programs at Tel Aviv University.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $14.62M
    Buildings and campus improvements - funds are used to improve the Tel Aviv University campus including but not limited to building new labs, adding space and modernizing existing buildings on campus whether lecture halls, research facilities or student housing
  2. #2 $8.89M
    RESEARCH - Tel Aviv University is the a globally ranked research institution and the number one research university in Israel. Funds for research are used by faculty members and scientists across all disciplines including but not limited to medicine, technology, cyber, environment, engineering, psychology and others. For example, funds are used to pay for PhD students to work in the labs to conduct the research.
named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Global Campaign for Tel Aviv University
Major fundraising initiative led by Dr. Anita Friedman to advance TAU’s academic and research programs globally.
TAU Ventures
University-sponsored fund investing in startups emerging from Tel Aviv University, supported by advisory board members including Daniel Nazarian and Behzad Kianmahd.
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Support for Israeli Educational Institutions 2 activities
    • Fund scholarships, research, and innovation at Tel Aviv University
      Provides financial support for life-changing research, student scholarships, and technological innovation at Tel Aviv University, advancing global solutions to real-world problems.
    • Inaugurate academic infrastructure at Tel Aviv University
      Supported the establishment of the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences in Tel Aviv, Israel, enhancing institutional capacity for medical education and research.
  • Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiatives 1 activity
    • Advance renewable energy use on campus
      Derives nearly half of Tel Aviv University’s campus power consumption from renewable energy sources.
  • Biomedical Research and Innovation 1 activity
    • Develop AI-powered non-invasive medical diagnostics
      Developed an AI-powered eye scan technique to detect anemia and assess blood markers without needles, advancing non-invasive diagnostic tools.
  • Israel and Jewish Heritage Educational Travel 1 activity
    • Facilitate US-Israel academic and cultural exchange
      Shares Tel Aviv University’s innovative research and academic achievements with American audiences and arranges campus tours in Israel for US visitors, fostering bilateral connections.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Host alumni and community engagement events in the US
      Organizes regular in-person events for alumni and friends across major US cities, including happy hours, cocktail receptions, and educational TAU Talk events to strengthen engagement with Tel Aviv University.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Support wounded and vulnerable students through special admissions and scholarships
      Provides special admissions and scholarships to severely wounded IDF veterans, students with serious medical conditions or learning disabilities, victims of terrorism, and adult learners, including support for degrees in engineering, biomedical engineering, education, and medicine.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$52.41M
Contributions & grants$47.25M90%
Program service revenue$1.16M2%
Investment income$4.04M8%
Other revenue$-35K
expenses
Total expenses$52.51M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$4.95M
Grants paid out$45.15M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$114.33M
Cash$4.60M
Investments$64.75M
Liabilities$6.63M
Net assets$107.70M
Liquid reserves15.8 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +45.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 10
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Jennifer Gross CEO 38 $469K
Ahron Wein CFO 38 $378K
Julie Lipsett-Singer CDO 38 $373K
Juan Dircie South America Rep 38 $250K
Kelly Grunther CMO 38 $250K
Joanna Naftali Assoc. VP Midwest 38 $246K
Carolyn Steinberg Assoc. VP Pacific Northwest 38 $245K
Jennifer Young VP Planned Giving and Dev. Analytics 38 $234K
Shay Bar National Dir. Alumni Affairs 38 $199K
Yael Apt Assoc. VP Southern CA 38 $197K
board members · 15
  • Aaron Tartakovsky — Director
  • Alan Silberstein — Director
  • Behzad Kianmahd — Director
  • Clement Erbmann — Director
  • Dan Cohn — Director
  • David Lowy — Director
  • Dr Anita Friedman — Director
  • Dr Arturo Constantiner — Director
  • Dr Daniel Nazarian — Director
  • Dr Garry Rayant — Chairman
  • Dr Kathy Fields-Rayant — Director
  • Dr Marc Rothman — Director
  • Dr Murray Murray — Director
  • Dr Noga Niv — Director
  • Dr Rada Sumareva — Director
relationships · 36

Who they work with

  • ADL Regional Board Partner — Clement Erbmann served on the ADL Regional Board
  • AIPAC Partner — Abbie Green Friedman is a member of multiple AIPAC leadership levels and previously chaired the Las Vegas chapter
  • AdvancePath Education Partner — Clement Erbmann serves on the board
  • Anu Museum Partner — Phil Darivoff is on the International Board
  • Buchmann Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University Partner — Collaborates with the Buchmann Faculty of Law through events featuring its faculty.
  • CLAL Partner — Phil Darivoff is on the Board of CLAL, the Jewish Center for Leadership and Learning
  • Center for Jewish History Partner — Dr. Arturo Constantiner was a member of the Board of Overseers
  • Education Industry Association Partner — Clement Erbmann served on the Executive Board
  • Federation Partner — Daniel Cohn served on Endowment Committee and elected to Federation’s Board of Directors
  • Friends of Israel Defense Forces Partner — Supported by board member Ricki Alon
  • Gapbuster (UK) Ltd Partner — Clement Erbmann serves on the board
  • Henry Jackson Society Partner — Phil Darivoff is on the International Board
  • Hidden Light Institute Partner — Abbie Green Friedman serves on the National Board
  • Hospice of the Bay Partner — Daniel Cohn is Board Chair
  • Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy Partner — Abbie Green Friedman serves on the Board of Directors
  • Japan Society Partner — Phil Darivoff is a founding member of the K3 Council
  • Jewish Community Relation Council for the State of Nevada Partner — Abbie Green Friedman serves as Chairman
  • Kellogg School of Management Partner — Clement Erbmann serves on the Alumni Advisory Board
  • Learning.com Partner — Clement Erbmann serves on the board
  • Minducate Partner — Clement Erbmann serves on the Scientific Advisory Board at TAU
  • NYU Stern School of Business Partner — Nomi P. Ghez serves on the Board of Overseers and Management Advisory Council
  • Shane Victorino Foundation Partner — Abbie Green Friedman serves on the Board of Advisors
  • Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture Partner — Dr. Anita Friedman serves as a trustee on the national board
  • Tel Aviv University Partner — Affiliated institution in Israel that American Friends of Tel Aviv Univ supports and promotes.
  • Tel Aviv University Partner — American Friends of Tel Aviv University supports Tel Aviv University through fundraising and advocacy.
  • Tel Aviv University Partner — Board of Governors membership and support through American Friends of Tel Aviv University
  • Tel Aviv University Partner — Primary institution supported by AFTAU through fundraising and awareness efforts.
  • Tel Aviv University Partner — Primary institution supported through fundraising and donor engagement.
  • The Jewish Museum Partner — Marc Abramowitz and Nomi P. Ghez, Ph.D. serve on the Executive Board or Board
  • Traveling Jewish Theatre Partner — Daniel Cohn served as Board President
+ 6 more
strategies · 4

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.

  • Equity-Focused Scholarship Access
    methodology: equity-focused scholarship allocation
    By providing scholarships to under-represented, disabled, and ethnically minority students, we increase access to high-quality education and cultivate diverse future leaders, because equitable investment in talent strengthens both Israeli society and key national sectors.
  • Evidence-Based Investment in Research and Innovation
    methodology: evidence-based_investment
    By funding research, scholarships, and innovation at Tel Aviv University, we advance Israel’s economic resilience and solve universal problems, because targeted, data-driven investment in academic excellence generates global impact and strengthens national recovery.
  • Leadership Engagement for National Resilience
    methodology: leadership-engagement
    By convening C-suite executives in high-level dialogues, we strengthen Israel's recovery and resilience, because engaging influential leaders in strategic discourse drives policy, investment, and long-term national capacity building.
  • Three-Part Mission Integration
    methodology: education_research_community_building
    By simultaneously advancing education, research, and community building in the U.S., we strengthen support for Tel Aviv University, because integrating institutional missions across borders creates a self-reinforcing ecosystem of academic and public engagement.