A new Jgive report says Israel’s donation landscape changed sharply after October 7, according to CEO Uriel Ben Shlomo in an interview with ynet. He said people who had never donated before began giving, and younger Israelis, once seen as indifferent, have become central to philanthropic activity. Jgive, a digital giving platform linking donors, nonprofits and communities in Israel and abroad, was founded more than a decade ago after Ben Shlomo, then a reservist in the 2014 Gaza war, saw that many people wanted to volunteer but lacked a structured way to do so.
The organization says 2025 donations through its platform reached about 400 million shekels, including roughly 125 million shekels from donors abroad, or 31% of the total, which Ben Shlomo called an all-time record. Its annual report is based on hundreds of millions of shekels in donations and a survey of more than 10,000 active donors. One of its standout findings is that 61% of Israel’s leading donors are under 50, many with clear social or political agendas.
Ben Shlomo said the postwar period gave real meaning to ideas such as mutual responsibility and social giving. He argued that younger donors, especially from the tech sector and with higher incomes, now use money not only for consumption or investments but also to shape Israeli society. “The new generation is no longer satisfied with writing a post, commenting on social media or going out to protest, it also puts money behind causes that reflect its worldview,” he said.
Foreign donations have risen about 200% since the war began, and Ben Shlomo said overseas donors increasingly want direct involvement rather than writing checks through intermediaries. The report also highlights a major rise in giving through assets: 667 JGive Platinum donors gave about 302 million shekels in 2025, including 85 million shekels in stock donations, up 240% in one year. Ben Shlomo said stock giving provides a 35% tax credit and avoids capital gains tax, citing the example of donating highly appreciated Nvidia shares. He added that crypto donations are being discussed, but regulation remains a hurdle.
