The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ or The Fellowship) is a nonprofit and charity organization providing millions worldwide with humanitarian care and lifesaving aid. The primary purpose of IFCJ, as the name suggests, is to build bridges of goodwill that ultimately lead to greater understanding and cooperation between members of these two faiths.
Their global reach has touched the lives of millions of Jews in Israel and around the world, providing life-giving aid to Israel’s victims of war and terror and funding humanitarian assistance in times of crisis. Yael Eckstein, CEO and daughter of founder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, has garnered particular praise for her role in recent humanitarian crises and emergencies.
Overview of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
IFCJ was founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who sought to strengthen Jewish-Christian relations through charity and to reverse longtime misunderstandings between the two faiths. The following year, Rabbi Eckstein met with renowned Christian leaders, including Dr. Pat Robertson and Dr. Jerry Falwell, for the first-ever Day of Christian and Jewish Solidarity with Israel.
The 1990s saw tremendous strides for IFCJ, including emergency fundraising campaigns, poverty relief programs, and the founding of the Center for Jewish Christian Values.
During the Second Intifada, which began in 2000, IFCJ launched the Guardians of Israel program, a security program to protect Israel and support families suffering from the effects of terror and war. This was followed by initiatives such as Stand for Israel, which sought to mobilize U.S. churches, Christian leadership, and individuals to support Israel through prayer, outreach, and education.
In 2009, IFCJ distributed more than $10.5 million to assist 27,785 Holocaust survivors facing poverty worldwide. The 2010s saw even more programs and missions. Rabbi Eckstein’s untimely passing in 2019 was mourned all over the world, but his daughter Yael Eckstein had a great deal of leadership experience and was soon named the new resident and CEO of The Fellowship. The charity saw a record year in 2021, assisting more than 2 million individuals across the globe.
Highlighting Various IFCJ Ratings and Reviews
Since the public has every right to know the details and inner workings of any charity organization, this article will highlight some key ratings, reviews, and honors received by IFCJ to paint a clear picture of The Fellowship’s mission, purpose, and both short- and long-term objectives since their inauguration.
Accountability is always a huge talking point for any nonprofit, and IFCJ has showcased its responsible nature to various charity watchdog groups. For instance, IFCJ is fully accredited by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, an affiliation of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, indicating that the charity will meet all the BBB’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
Further, Charity Navigator, which assesses hundreds of thousands of organizations worldwide yearly, gave IFCJ a 97% out of 100 in Accountability and Finance.
Charities like IFCJ must also be transparent and forward in their actions to establish trust amongst donors regarding where their donations are going. Any beneficial charity showcases this transparency with pride, letting the public know what they do, where they stand, and why they do it.
In this regard, the nonprofit earned the GuideStar Platinum Transparency Seal, highlighting a straightforward and logistical approach to the charity’s inner workings. GuideStar is the world’s largest source of up-to-date information on nonprofit organizations and boasts a database that provides information on 2.5 million organizations worldwide.
Culture and community are other key facets of a successful and honest organization, and IFCJ has garnered critical praise for its staff and employment opportunities. Charity Navigator gave IFCJ a score of 100% in Culture & Community, and NonProfit Times, the leading national business publication for nonprofit managers, named IFCJ as the “Best Nonprofits to Work For” in 2023. This award is IFCJ’s second, having earned one in 2021.
Awards Won by the Fellowship
The Fellowship has won numerous notable awards across its channels and sectors over the decades. For instance, the ANA Nonprofit Federation, one of the most prominent associations in the U.S. for fundraising professionals and peers, named IFCJ the 2021 Nonprofit Organization of the Year, recognizing the non-profit leadership and fundraising excellence.
GreatNonprofits, the leading website for community recommendations for charities and nonprofits, named the Fellowship a “2022 Top-Rated Nonprofit”. On IFCJ’s award, GreatNonprofits CEO Perla Ni, shared the following:
“The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community… Their award is well-deserved recognition not only for their work but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people with direct experience working with IFCJ.”
IFCJ was awarded the America’s Best Charities Seal of Excellence by Best in America. This honor is awarded to charities that meet the highest standards of public accountability, as well as program and cost-effectiveness.
Notable Achievements
In 2022, under the leadership of Yael Eckstein The Fellowship assisted 80,000 displaced Ukrainians and refugees, helped 4,100 find shelter in Israel, and delivered over 100 tons of food and essentials to distressed Ukrainian families.
For her actions, CEO Yael Eckstein received the 2022 Female CEO World Award by Globee Business during their annual Globee® Business Awards. These prestigious awards recognize CEOs, C-Level Executives, and other professionals worldwide, shedding light on and celebrating organizations that have made significant contributions in their respective fields, such as business innovation, excellence in leadership, and overall customer satisfaction.
The Commitment to Charity
The current landscape of global affairs is a testament to the indispensable need for charity organizations, fundraisers, and nonprofits to assist those suffering from humanitarian crises, wars, and conflicts worldwide. Still, it’s important to be forthright, honest, and transparent as donors and nonprofit members to keep the commitment to charity alive.
Please visit www.ifcj.org/ to stay up-to-date with all new and existing programs and missions and insights regarding current and past humanitarian crises that require The Fellowship’s assistance.
