The Steve and Janice Hefter Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on Israel-focused and pro‑Jewish national security causes, funding advocacy, education, and victim support organizations that strengthen Israel’s security and public image. Grants are largely directed to U.S.-based Israel advocacy and education arms and Israeli relief groups, suggesting a donor interest in both outreach/education about Israel and direct support for those affected by conflict. The foundation appears to prefer a small set of mission-aligned organizations and makes multiple, sizable gifts to repeat grantees.
The Steve and Janice Hefter Family Foundation’s recent giving is defined by repeated, sizable support for Israel-focused advocacy, education, and security organizations. Stand With Us received $155,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2023, while Central Fund of Israel received $150,000 in 2025 and $90,000 in both 2024 and 2023. That pattern points to a small set of mission-aligned grantees that return across years rather than a wide, dispersed portfolio. The foundation also backs organizations working on public diplomacy and policy engagement around Israel. American Israel Education Foundation received $75,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Jewish Institute for National Security of America received $55,000 in 2023, $50,000 in 2024, and $66,700 in 2025. On the relief side, One Family Fund received $62,000 in 2024, and Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces received $40,000 in 2023. Together, these grants show a mix of advocacy, education, policy, and support for people affected by conflict.
In public diplomacy and advocacy, the foundation supported Stand With Us with $155,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2023. It also backed the Simon Wiesenthal Center with $50,000 in 2023, adding another advocacy-oriented grantee to the portfolio. For Israel education and outreach, American Israel Education Foundation received $75,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That same pattern of continuity appears in policy work: Jewish Institute for National Security of America received $55,000 in 2023, $50,000 in 2024, and $66,700 in 2025. The foundation also funds direct relief and community support. One Family Fund received $62,000 in 2024, and Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces received $40,000 in 2023. These grants sit alongside support for Jewish communal institutions such as Jewish United Fund, which received $25,000 in 2023 and again in 2025.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $22,250, and the 75th percentile is $50,000. The pattern of giving is concentrated, with multiple grantees receiving awards in more than one year; American Israel Education Foundation, Central Fund of Israel, Stand With Us, Jewish Institute for National Security of America, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, and Jewish United Fund all recur across the recent grant list. The foundation is a family foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$551K
$3M
$691K
$556K
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $22K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$22K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants, multiple repeat awards to the same organizations, and a clear geographic/issue focus on Israel and related Jewish security and advocacy efforts.
Notable grantees: Central Fund of Israel, Stand With Us, American Israel Education Foundation, Jewish Institute for National Security of America, OneFamily Fund
Grants are national, but they cluster most often in Washington, DC. Recipient locations also include Los Angeles, Cedarhurst, Chicago, and Highland Park. Recipients in Illinois account for 33% of grants, and the recent list shows awards to organizations in Chicago and Highland Park as well as other U.S. cities. All recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
The recent grant list centers on pro-Israel advocacy and public diplomacy, Israel education and outreach, direct support for victims of terrorism and conflict, and Jewish national security and policy engagement. Named recipients include Stand With Us, American Israel Education Foundation, One Family Fund, and Jewish Institute for National Security of America.
Typical awards are in the five-figure range. The 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $22,250, and the 75th percentile is $50,000.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including American Israel Education Foundation, Central Fund of Israel, Stand With Us, Jewish Institute for National Security of America, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, and Jewish United Fund. That indicates ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts.
Its grantmaking is national, with the highest concentration in Washington, DC. Illinois recipients account for 33% of grants, and the recent list also includes organizations in Los Angeles, Cedarhurst, Chicago, and Highland Park.
No. The foundation funds charities rather than individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL | CEDARHURST, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $66,700 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| STAND WITH US | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| THE LAWFARE PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN LEADERSHIP PROJECT (AMEL) | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| NORTH SUBURBAN SYNAGOGUE BETH EL | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $24,500 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| FRIENDS OF OF THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| THE GIVING BACK FUND | BOSTON, MA | $12,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| FRIENDS OF ELNET | SKOKIE, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | PARK CITY, UT | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| VARIOUS | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $2,600 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| STAND WITH US | LOS ANGELES, CA | $155,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL | CEDARHURST, NY | $90,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| ONE FAMILY FUND | TEANECK, NJ | $62,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| SCHOLARS FOR PEASE IN THE MIDDLE EAST | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN LEADERSHIP PROJECT (AMEL) | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| EDWARD CHARLES FOUNDATION | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS | CHICAGO, IL | $18,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| AMERICAN GIVES INC | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| ABRAHAMIC HOUSE | DALLAS, TX | $15,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| PEF ISRAEL ENDOWMENT FUNDS | NEW YORK, NY | $14,500 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| NORTH SUBURBAN SYNAGOGUE BETH EL | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $12,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| FRIENDS OF ELNET | SKOKIE, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| SUNDANCE INSTITUTE | PARK CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| BELEV ECHAD | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| VARIOUS | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $6,300 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| COMER CHILDRENS HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITY |
| STAND WITH US | LOS ANGELES, CA | $150,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL | CEDARHURST, NY | $90,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $55,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| NORTH SUBURBAN SYNAGOGUE BETH EL | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $14,135 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| FRIENDS OF ELNET | SKOKIE, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| ABRAHAM HOUSE 7 | ELGIN, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
| ONE FAMILY FUND | TEANECK, NJ | $10,000 | 2023 | CHARITY |
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$75,000CHARITY
CHARITY
NORTH SUBURBAN SYNAGOGUE BETH EL
$24,500CHARITY
FRIENDS OF OF THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE
$15,000CHARITY
VARIOUS
$2,600CHARITY
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$75,000CHARITY
SCHOLARS FOR PEASE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
$25,000CHARITY
RAVINIA FESTIVAL
$20,000CHARITY
AMERICAN GIVES INC
$18,000CHARITY
NORTH SUBURBAN SYNAGOGUE BETH EL
$12,000CHARITY
VARIOUS
$6,300CHARITY
COMER CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
$5,000CHARITY
STAND WITH US
$150,000CHARITY
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$75,000CHARITY
SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER
$50,000CHARITY
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
$20,000CHARITY
NORTH SUBURBAN SYNAGOGUE BETH EL
$14,135CHARITY
RAVINIA FESTIVAL
$10,000CHARITY
ABRAHAM HOUSE 7
$10,000CHARITY