Jnf

The Jewish National Fund (JNF), known in Hebrew as Keren Kayemeth LeYisrael (KKL), is a non-profit organization established in 1901 during the Fifth Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland. The initial concept was proposed by mathematics professor Zvi Hermann Schapira in 1897 and championed by Theodor Herzl, who advocated for its immediate establishment. The organization's primary objective at its inception was to acquire land in Ottoman-controlled Palestine for Jewish settlement. Its funding model relied on worldwide donations, famously collected in iconic blue tin boxes, which became a symbol of the Zionist movement.

Over its history, JNF's mission has evolved. In its first 50 years, the focus was on land acquisition, and by 1948, it held 54% of the land owned by Jews in the region. Subsequently, the organization shifted its efforts towards land development and reclamation. This includes massive infrastructure projects, afforestation, and water resource management. JNF is credited with planting over 260 million trees, building more than 250 dams and reservoirs, developing over 250,000 acres of land, and creating more than 2,000 parks throughout Israel. These activities serve to combat desertification, enhance water security, and provide recreational spaces.

The organization operates as a non-profit, with its American fundraising arm, JNF-USA, founded in 1926. Revenue is generated primarily through donations and bequests, with donors able to direct funds to specific projects. JNF-USA has established a long-term strategic plan called the "One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade," which focuses on community building in the Negev and Galilee regions, connecting the next generation to Israel, and developing infrastructure for ecology, special needs, and heritage preservation. Its diverse portfolio of projects includes building medical centers, housing development funds, Zionist education and advocacy, research and development in agriculture and water technology, and support for people with disabilities. For the fiscal year ending in September 2023, JNF-USA reported revenues of approximately $105 million and total assets of around $505 million.

Keywords: land development, Israel infrastructure, water management, afforestation, Zionist history, non-profit organization, community building, Negev development, Galilee development, heritage preservation, environmental sustainability, agricultural research, water conservation, Zionist education, Israel advocacy, philanthropic organization, land reclamation, parks and recreation, special needs support, desert greening