Donations Surge Globally and in Israel Amid Economic Uncertainty

Despite ongoing war and economic instability, the donation sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, with global and Israeli fundraising campaigns exceeding expectations. New data from Chiridi, a resource mobilization and strategic consulting firm for non-profits, reveals a significant increase in donation volumes worldwide and within Israel during the Hebrew year 5786 (2025-2026).

Globally, Chiridi's campaigns raised over 2 billion shekels, marking a more than 5% rise from the previous year. The number of donors remained consistent, with approximately 1.82 million participants, similar to the 1.8 million in 5785. In Israel, the trend was particularly positive, with campaigns generating around 340 million shekels from over 509,000 donors. This represents a nearly 10% surge in Israeli donors compared to the previous year's approximately 467,000.

The figures are especially noteworthy given Israel's challenging circumstances over the past year, including heavy wartime expenses, economic uncertainty, and impacts on households and businesses. Simultaneously, there has been an expansion of social and private initiatives seeking to raise funds for various causes. Beyond established organizations, grassroots campaigns have increasingly succeeded in mobilizing public support, making donations a crucial source of aid.

The largest single campaign in 5786 was by the Vizhnitz Hasidic Center, which raised over 32 million shekels. The campaign that attracted the most donors was "Meitar Rose Wants to Live," with over 42,800 participants, which helped fund the first treatment in Israel for 8-year-old Meitar's Duchenne disease, a condition requiring one of the most expensive medications available in Israel.

Individual donations also showed strength, with the largest single donation globally reaching 375,000 shekels to Yeshivat Shalom Rav. In Israel, the largest single donation was 108,000 shekels to a charity center. Rabbi Shai Cherbsty, CEO of Chiridi, stated that these figures reflect the power of mutual responsibility, noting that the public continued to give generously despite the war and economic challenges. He highlighted that millions of donors worldwide and over half a million in Israel chose to help others, underscoring the sector's role as a significant economic engine even in uncertain times.