Jewish National Fund of Canada is a 1-star charity with a below-average results reporting score. It is not financially transparent and has reserve funds to cover program costs for over nine years.

Founded in 1901, Jewish National Fund of Canada (JNF) is the Canadian branch of Jewish National Fund, working to develop the land and infrastructure of Israel. JNF is committed to building strong foundations for Israel’s communities. By 2007, Jewish National Fund owned 13% of the land in Israel, much of which is in the Negev area. The charity has planted over 240 million trees, turning 700,000 acres of desert into livable land.

NEWS: July 25, 2024. After nearly 5 years of review and exchanges with JNF Canada, the CRA Charities Directorate announced its decision to revoke its charity status. This would mean that support for JNF Canada no longer receives donation tax receipts. JNF Canada is appealing this decision claiming that the CRA Charities Directorate's decision is wrong and unjustified. The key documents on the CRA Charities Directorate's findings are not public and the CRA Charities Directorate's policy prevents it from making public statements.

Additional reading on this revocation decision:

Mark Blumberg, Jewish National Fund of Canada challenging CRA revocation of registered charity status, Canadian Charity Law, July 25, 2024

Nathan Disenhouse, Lance Davis, JNF Canada's letter to its supporters, July 25, 2024

On January 4, 2019 CBC and other media reported on Canadian donations to JNF Canada used to fund projects linked to Israeli military, which contravenes Canada's charity laws.

Previously posted DONOR ADVISORY: On August 20, 2019 the CRA Charities Directorate notified JNF that it intends to revoke its charity status as it no longer met the conditions for charitable registration. JNF has submitted a detailed objection and appeal. As of December 2021, this issue remains unresolved. 

JNF Canada works in Israel and Canada. Its programs in Israel focus on funding social and environmental infrastructure, while its Canadian projects focus on outreach and education in Jewish communities. JNF states that it has five core programs: Builders Circle, Climate Solutions Prize, JNF Education, JNF Families, and JNF Future. The charity does not provide a breakdown of spending by program.

In F2022, JNF funded 20 projects, including a woman’s shelter, playgrounds, and therapy and treatment rooms. The Climate Solutions Prize aims to fund innovations and research that address climate change. In F2022, the charity awarded recipients of the Climate Solutions Prize with over $2.2m in prizes.

The data used above reflects JNF Canada’s most recent 2022 Impact Report, while the financial analysis below reflects its 2022 financial information.

JNF Canada is not financially transparent. Its audited financial statements are not posted on its website nor provided when requested. Charity Intelligence's financial review uses the 2022 audited financial statements. This is the most recent information we have received from the Charities Directorate from our request for information. The audited financial statements are heavily redacted, see Financial Note 2 where, previously, the independent auditor commented on the CRA audit.

In 2022 Jewish National Fund of Canada received $13.2m in donations.

JNF Canada’s administrative costs are 30% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 30% of donations. JNF Canada’s total overhead spending is $7.8 million. This results in total overhead spending of 59%. For every $1 donated, 41 cents go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. 

JNF Canada’s charitable spending (on its charity programs and grants) was $6.2 million in 2022. This is 52% of its total revenues. In 2022, in addition to international program spending of $4.7 million, JNF Canada granted $1.5 million to 15 Canadian charities in 2022. Three charities received 72% of these grants: $440k to Leket Canada, $324k to Ne’eman Foundation and $320k to Canadian Friends of Hebrew University.

JNF Canada's reserve funds are $30.8m. The charity’s reserve funds could cover five years of its spending on its charity programs at 2022 levels. In 2022, JNF reported an investment loss of $1.2m and investment returns of -4%. Over the last five years, its investment returns average 3%.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Jewish National Fund of Canada for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on July 26, 2024 by Ben Dobozy and Kate Bahen.