State covers just 13% of food aid NGOs’ budgets, study finds

A new study by the Hebrew University and Sheba Medical Center finds the state covers just 13% of food aid NGOs' budgets in Israel. The mapping identifies 2,289 active organizations with annual turnover of at least NIS 6.18 billion. It highlights disparities: only 4% of NGOs operate in Arab communities despite high food insecurity rates, and the Jerusalem district is served by 29% of NGOs versus 9% in the north.

A first comprehensive mapping of food aid charities in Israel, led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Sheba Medical Center, finds the state contributes just 13% of their budgets. The study, published in Food Policy, identifies 2,289 active food-aid NGOs with an annual turnover of at least NIS 6.18 billion ($2.1 billion). A third of NGOs reported hiring 28,623 employees, and half reported support from 173,771 volunteers. About a third of turnover came from domestic gifts, 16% from foreign donations, and 16% in-kind. Most NGOs are affiliated with the Jewish religious sector, though secular organizations have higher turnover. While Arabs account for over a fifth of Israelis and 42.4% of Arab households are food insecure, only 4% of registered NGOs operate in Arab communities. The Jerusalem district is served by 29% of NGOs, compared to 9% in the north. The study authors call for stronger public leadership, improved oversight, standardized reporting, and better coordination between charities and government policy. They note that in OECD countries food insecurity rates are roughly 7.5% to 8%, and comparable philanthropic expansion has been documented in other high-income countries.