In an in-depth eJewishPhilanthropy exclusive, Newly revamped American Friends of LIBI looks to offer alternative to FIDF for supporting Israeli soldiers, journalist Judah Ari Gross charts a major new chapter for American Friends of LIBI (AFL) — and for donors who want a different way to stand with Israel’s soldiers.
AFL, founded in 2004 to raise funds for the IDF’s official soldiers’ welfare organization is undergoing a significant relaunch. Stepping in as incoming board chair is California-based entrepreneur and longtime Israel supporter Zvi Alon. Mr. Alon and his wife Ricki, a former FIDF national board member, are now channeling their energy into rebuilding AFL as a lean, high-impact vehicle for support.
Their vision: efficiency, transparency, and impact. AFL is committing to keeping overhead under 10%, in contrast to the roughly 20% average overhead cited in FIDF’s most recent public filings. For Alon, the measure of success is simple — whether a gift is $18 or $180,000, donors want to know it goes as directly as possible to soldiers and veterans’ needs.
While AFL had been relatively quiet in recent years, the aftermath of October 7 pushed the organization back into high gear. The group raised $13.4 million in 2023 alone and approximately $30 million over the past two years, as more former FIDF donors — including both Jewish and Christian supporters — shifted their giving to AFL.
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