FIDF reports more than two dozen regional chapters across the United States, coordinated by a national office that works with Israeli counterparts on project pipelines and compliance. The organization also funds housing, stipends, counseling, and community services for IDF "
lone soldiers," defined as service members without immediate family in Israel. The FIDF provides packages to active service lone soldiers, and pays for flights for lone soldiers to go home and visit their families. Other services provided to lone soldiers include monetary gifts, holiday vouchers, housing, and recreational activities. Programs include
physical and
psychological rehabilitation, retreats, and bereavement support for families of the dead, delivered in coordination with Israeli agencies, as well as rest and recuperation, cultural activities, and holiday programming for units and families. During crises the charity runs time-bound appeals focused on medical equipment, resilience, and family support, implemented with the Association for Israel's Soldiers and the Ministry of Defense. The FIDF tax disclosure for 2022 shows the organization spent roughly $2.5 million on their Adopt a Brigade program to "sponsor the needs of the 24 brigades adopted by FIDF (over 50,000 soldiers)."
Seal,
The Tenors,
David Foster,
Gene Simmons,
Iggy Azalea,
Lil Dicky,
DJ Vice, and
Mark McGrath.
Stevie Wonder was originally scheduled to perform at a FIDF gala in 2012, but dropped out after an online petition called on him to not attend and to
boycott Israeli Apartheid. Wonder stated that he was not aware of the purpose of the organization, and that he believed performing at the event would be in conflict with his status as a
UN Messenger of Peace. displaying a marquee for a FIDF event in 2008.
Hollywood actors and celebrities frequently make appearances at FIDF events and fundraisers. Celebrities who have attended past FIDF events include
Barbra Streisand,
Sylvester Stallone,
Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Pamela Anderson,
Ashton Kutcher,
Mike Tyson,
Gerard Butler,
Fran Drescher,
Mark Wahlberg,
Antonio Banderas,
Avi Arad, and
Chris Tucker. In 2019, FIDF sponsored
Draymond Green's trip to Israel, where he met
Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and shot rifles at an
Israeli Police training center. Posts of the trip on social media garnered criticism, including from
Shaun King of
Black Lives Matter. Israeli politicians and military leaders have also made speeches at FIDF events, including
president Benjamin Neanyahu,
army general
Benny Gantz, Leader of
Christians United for Israel,
John Hagee, has also been featured at FIDF fundraisers. In November 2023,
Yale University donated $1 million to FIDF through a
donor-advised fund. High-profile donors and corporate partners have supported scholarships and capital projects. FIDF describes work in direct coordination with
Israel's Ministry of Defense and with the Association for Israel's Soldiers.
Notable donors •
Sheldon Adelson, American businessman •
Michael Dell, CEO of
Dell Technologies •
Larry Ellison, founder of
Oracle, •
Jeffrey Epstein, American financier and child sex offender •
Jan Koum, American billionaire and co-founder of
WhatsApp •
Paul Marciano, co-founder of
Guess? •
Haim Saban, Israeli and American media proprietor and investor •
Paul Singer, founder of
Elliot Investment Management •
Casey Wasserman, American businessman == Public profile and reception ==