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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 237182582 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A115 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Large ($10M-$50M) · afimnyc.org
revenue
$15.9M
expenses
$20.9M
net assets
$155.8M
employees
4
volunteers
90
program ratio
91%
mission · from form 990

FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE LIBERAL ARTS AND OBTAIN ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY FOR THE ISRAEL MUSEUM, OBTAIN GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FOR AND MAKE GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ISRAEL MUSEUM.

profile · synthesized from sources

The American Friends of the Israel Museum (AFIM) is a New York-based nonprofit that raises funds and awareness to support The Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Since 1972, AFIM has raised over $450 million for exhibitions, art acquisitions, educational programs, and curator training. It engages donors through cultural events, international trips, and membership benefits, fostering a global network of supporters.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Art-Centric Travel Program
Organizes international and domestic trips to cultural destinations including Tokyo, Florence, and Marfa, with private viewings and collector-hosted events
Exhibition Support Program
Funds 12–16 annual exhibitions at The Israel Museum, enabling major shows and acquisitions
International Council Trip
Annual four-day gathering in Jerusalem featuring curator-led tours, artist talks, and private collection visits, bringing together supporters from 16 global Friends groups
Major Gifts and Bequests Program
Facilitates planned giving, including endowment contributions, trust income, and art donations; 76 families and foundations have committed over $74.5 million
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Jewish Religious Institution Support 2 activities
    • Fundraising and financial support for the Israel Museum
      Has raised over $450 million since 1972 to support the Israel Museum’s exhibitions, art acquisitions, educational programs, curator training, and endowment. Seventy-six families and foundations have committed over $74.5 million, doubling the endowment fund to $150 million.
    • Membership program
      Offers a membership program to support the Israel Museum, engaging donors and supporters in its mission.
  • Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
    • Annual events and supporter gatherings
      Hosts four major annual events in Manhattan, Palm Beach, and Los Angeles, including a fall Gala, and organizes an International Council event at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
  • Museum-Based Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Educational and public access programs
      Supports educational and outreach programs at the Israel Museum, including free admission for students and soldiers, and provides online access to the museum’s collection through a virtual tour in partnership with the Google Art Project.
  • Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
    • International supporter engagement program
      Hosts an annual four-day gathering at the Israel Museum in June for supporters from 16 Friends groups worldwide, featuring curator-led tours, artist talks, curatorial workshops, private collection visits, studio tours, and festive meals.
  • High School Exchange Programs 1 activity
    • Organized cultural trips
      Organizes international cultural trips, including a trip to Japan with stops in Tokyo, Naoshima, and Kyoto.
  • Archaeological and Cultural Conservation 1 activity
    • Stewardship of archaeological collections
      Maintains the world's most extensive collection of Holy Land archaeology, including the Dead Sea Scrolls.
  • Art Museum Funding and Support 1 activity
    • Support for exhibitions and art acquisitions
      Supports the Israel Museum in presenting 12 to 16 exhibitions annually and acquires artworks for its collection through gifts from private individuals.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$15.95M
Contributions & grants$11.84M74%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$4.82M30%
Other revenue$-707K
expenses
Total expenses$20.89M
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$881K
Grants paid out$18.44M
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$158.57M
Cash$11.72M
Investments$135.64M
Liabilities$2.80M
Net assets$155.78M
Liquid reserves84.6 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +22.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LEAH SIEGEL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $335K
KELLY CALANNI DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 40 $205K
GINETTE JEAN-BAPTISTE DATABASE MANAGER 40 $190K
board members · 22
  • A STEVEN CROWN — DIRECTOR
  • ALICE LAINER — DIRECTOR
  • ALICE M TISCH — DIRECTOR
  • ANN AMES — DIRECTOR
  • ANNE FISHER — DIRECTOR
  • ANTHONY MENDEL BEYER — DIRECTOR
  • ARNOLD LEHMAN — DIRECTOR
  • BARBARA DEANE — DIRECTOR
  • BARBARA LANE — HONORARY PRESIDENT
  • BARBARA ROTHSCHILD — ASSISTANT SECRETARY
  • BONNIE STERN — DIRECTOR
  • CHERYL MINIKES — VICE PRESIDENT
  • CLAUDIA DAVIDOFF — DIRECTOR
  • DANIEL SUNDHEIM — DIRECTOR
  • DEBORAH GOODMAN DAVIS — DIRECTOR
  • DR RIVA ARIELLA RITVO-SLIFKA — DIRECTOR
  • ELEANOR HEYMAN PROPP — DIRECTOR
  • ELLEN H BLOCK — DIRECTOR
  • GARY B SOKOL — TREASURER
  • GERI POLLACK — DIRECTOR
  • HANNO D MOTT — DIRECTOR
  • HELEN NASH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9

Who they work with

  • Audit Committee of AFIM Partner — Responsible for oversight of whistleblower complaints and receives quarterly reports on complaints from the Compliance Officer.
  • Google Art Project Partner — Collaborates to provide online access to the museum's collection through virtual tours.
  • Israel Museum Partner — Hosts annual gathering of AFIM supporters and Friends groups for the International Council at the museum.
  • Israel Museum Partner — Primary cultural institution supported by the organization.
  • The Israel Museum Partner — Primary cultural institution supported by AFIM in exhibition programming.
  • The Israel Museum Partner — Primary cultural institution supported through art donations and acquisition efforts.
  • The Israel Museum, Jerusalem Partner — Primary beneficiary of AFIM's fundraising and awareness efforts.
  • below corporate partners Partner — Corporate partners that support AFIM
  • seventy six families and foundations Partner — Collective group of donors who have committed major gifts to AFIM
strategies · 3

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.

  • Community-Driven Philanthropy Model
    methodology: community-driven_philanthropy
    By building a multigenerational community rooted in shared cultural identity and giving, we sustain long-term support for the museum, because collective belonging strengthens donor commitment and intergenerational continuity in philanthropy.
  • Cultural Engagement for Donor Activation
    methodology: cultural_engagement_outreach
    By offering culturally immersive experiences such as exhibition tours, artist studio visits, and benefit galas, we deepen donor connection to the museum, because shared cultural participation fosters emotional investment and increases philanthropic engagement.
  • Digital Access as Cultural Inclusion
    methodology: digital_access
    By digitizing exhibits and enabling virtual access through technology partnerships, we expand public engagement with the museum’s collection, because removing geographic and physical barriers increases inclusivity and broadens global awareness of the Israel Museum’s mission.