Yael Eckstein – Salary and Financial Standards at IFCJ are Setting a New Standard for Responsible Stewardship in Global Humanitarian Work

Since 1983, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, widely known as IFCJ or The Fellowship, has been stepping in to address these concerns, offering support to those who have nowhere else to turn.

IFCJ’s work extends across dozens of countries, supporting millions of people, including Holocaust survivors, the elderly, children, families, soldiers, victims of terror, and small Jewish communities. The organization was founded by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, whose commitment to building goodwill between Christians and Jews became the foundation of its mission.

Over 40 years later, that mission continues under the leadership of his daughter, Yael Eckstein, who serves as President and Global CEO. She oversees The Fellowship’s programs from Jerusalem and engages millions of supporters through radio, television, print, and her podcast, “Nourish Your Biblical Roots.”

Her appearances in national media, along with her books and public commentary, have helped expand the organization’s reach beyond the places where its services are delivered.

As IFCJ’s impact has grown, so has interest in how its work unfolds behind the scenes. And just as families ask difficult questions about how they’ll make it through the week, donors have questions of their own.

They want to understand how a gift becomes a meal, how their support reaches someone on the other side of the world, and how a nonprofit this large stays accountable to both those who give and those who rely on its help.

IFCJ continues to earn that trust by leading with transparency, making it easy to see how every act of generosity touches lives across continents, cultures, and generations.

Understanding Where Every Dollar Goes

For many donors, giving is personal, and they want to make sure their contribution is making a real difference for someone who needs it. IFCJ has long been accredited by the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance and was among the first nonprofits allowed to display the BBB Charity Seal in 2004.

It also holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a Platinum Seal of Transparency with Guidestar, and has received honors from GreatNonprofits, America’s Best Charities, the ANA Nonprofit Federation, and The Nonprofit Times.

These recognitions, along with IFCJ’s inclusion on Forbes’ Top 100 U.S. Charities, help donors understand how the organization stewards its resources. The Fellowship reports that Yael Eckstein salary guidelines are well within appropriate standards for non-profit organizations, and 76 cents of every dollar raised in 2024 went directly to its programs, which exceeds several widely known charity guidelines.

Since IFCJ works closely with both Christian and Jewish communities, another question that comes up is whether the organization aligns with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

IFCJ follows the ECFA’s Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship, but cannot sign the doctrinal statement because it is exclusive to Christian faith groups, and IFCJ is made up of both Christians and Jews. Even so, the organization voluntarily complies with the remainder of the standards.

Anyone who makes a donation will receive a tax-deductible receipt within about two weeks of their contribution. Gifts can be made by credit or debit card, and ongoing monthly donations can be arranged through Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, or electronic funds transfer.

Those who prefer automatic giving can opt to become regular supporters by having a set amount deducted from their bank account each month.

Some people also choose to give as a tribute, either in honor or in memory of someone they love. When they request it, IFCJ will send an acknowledgment to the family so they know a gift was made in that person’s name.

Others prefer not to have their names associated with their gift, and IFCJ honors that as well, keeping the names of anonymous donors fully protected and never sharing their identities with recipients or third parties.

Because The Fellowship’s needs are constantly changing, donations cannot be designated for a specific person. Instead, IFCJ relies on its local partners to determine who needs the most assistance once funds are available.

Directing funds to just one person could prevent the organization from responding quickly during a crisis or from helping those facing more urgent situations. While donors may not see those decisions up close, they can trust that their donations are being used where they will make the greatest impact.

How Donations Turn Into On-The-Ground Support

Once donors have a better understanding of how their contributions are handled, they often want to see the tangible results of their support. IFCJ’s programs reach millions of people through life-changing interventions.

Each year, the organization supports more than hundreds of thousands of elderly Jews and Holocaust survivors through food packages, medicine, warm clothing, blankets, emergency heating assistance, and other basic supplies that allow them to live with dignity. The programs also include support for dozens of soup kitchens and community centers that provide meals and social connection.

Many more people receive assistance through programs for families, children, and orphans. This includes clothing for Passover and Rosh Hashanah, year-round food vouchers, hot meals for school children, backpacks, school supplies, and support programs for women and young adults entering careers through vocational training.

More than 800,000 people also receive security-related support. These funds directly support victims of terror and soldiers, and also also provide equipment for hospitals and first responders.

Alongside this relief is IFCJ’s long-running work supporting aliyah. Through this program, the organization has helped more than 780,000 Jewish people immigrate to Israel since 1983.

Many arrive from places facing poverty or instability, and IFCJ helps ease that transition by covering travel costs, basic necessities, and programs that allow families to find their footing. Since 2009, more than 15,000 immigrants have received help with resettlement services, vocational training, and support for housing and food as they begin building their lives in the Holy Land.

These numbers show just how far a single gift can travel once it’s placed in the right hands.

Keeping an International Community Close

For an organization that spans continents, IFCJ puts unmistakable effort into staying close to the people who make its work possible. Some of that connection happens through the programs themselves, but much of it comes from the voice guiding The Fellowship today.

Yael Eckstein, IFCJ’s President and Global CEO, speaks to supporters in ways that feel personal, even when her listeners are spread across countries and time zones. Through her radio ministry and her podcast, she talks candidly about faith, generosity, and the needs she encounters on the ground in Israel.

Those conversations reach millions each week, giving donors a better idea of which areas need the most attention and how their gifts are making a difference.

Her strong public presence often brings new people to search for information about IFCJ, whether they are reading IFCJ reviews, learning about its financial history, or trying to understand what she does as the head of a global nonprofit.

Public records, including annual financial reports and Form 990 filing, make the organization’s leadership compensation publicly available, something many supporters appreciate when searching online for “Yael Eckstein salary.”

At the same time, IFCJ understands that supporters also want to feel personally connected to the mission. Eckstein regularly meets with Christian and Jewish leaders, appears on programs like “The Sean Hannity Show” and “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and shares stories from her visits to communities that rely on The Fellowship’s support.

These stories help donors feel more connected to the work, even if they never travel to Jerusalem or meet the people their gifts reach.

An Enduring Promise to Those in Need

What began with Rabbi Eckstein’s belief that Christians and Jews could work together toward a common purpose has grown into one of the most recognized humanitarian networks serving Jewish communities around the world. That vision has carried IFCJ through more than four decades of change, conflict, and rising need, yet the heart of its work has stayed the same.

The focus remains on practical help delivered at the right moment, whether that means food for a homebound senior, school supplies for a child, or emergency assistance in times of crisis. In recent years, IFCJ has raised more than $273 million per year and partnered with thousands of supporters. The organization has offices in Jerusalem, Chicago, Toronto, and Seoul.

Every contribution, no matter the size, is treated as a direct investment in someone’s well-being. As long as there are families facing impossible decisions, elderly neighbors who need warmth, or communities seeking safety, IFCJ will continue finding ways to meet those needs with care and consistency.