Jerusalem Foundation

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The Jerusalem Foundation is a nonprofit started in 1966 by Teddy Kollek, who was the mayor of West Jerusalem. It raises private money from international donors to support Jerusalem’s development, focusing on social, cultural, and beautification projects.

The Foundation funds a wide range of work in the city. It has helped build and restore parks, gardens, theaters, museums, and recreational sites; it has restored ancient sites, synagogues, mosques, and churches; and it has supported community centers, preschool centers, health clinics, and archaeological projects. It also backs scholarships and cultural events. A key part of its mission is funding municipal projects with private donations, which offers donors clear transparency about what their money supports.

Throughout its history, the Foundation has been a major driver of public spaces in Jerusalem, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars and helping create hundreds of parks and green spaces. It has used matching funds from the city, government ministries, and NGOs to amplify impact. Although it is chaired by the mayor, it operates independently of the Finance Ministry and state charities, a setup that has been attractive to donors.

The Foundation has inspired similar models in other cities, such as the Tel Aviv Foundation. It runs international fundraising desks and holds regular events around the world. It also presents the Teddy Kollek Award every year to recognize people who contribute to Jerusalem’s social, cultural, educational, and physical development. The organization’s leadership has included Ruth Cheshin (founding president), Mark Sofer, Yohanna Arbib-Perugia, and currently Shai Doron as president. Notable figures have served as honorary or international chairs.

Financially, the Foundation has grown substantially since its founding. It contributed a significant share of Jerusalem’s budget in the early years, and over the decades has raised hundreds of millions of dollars, supporting thousands of projects in the city. By 2010 it reported raising over $800 million since 1966, and by 2018 it had funded more than 4,000 projects, including parks, cultural venues, restorations, and community facilities.

In addition to projects in Jewish areas, the Foundation has supported Arab neighborhoods too. It helped fund initiatives that the city and national government could not fund, such as the Sheikh Jarrah Health Centre, Beit Hanina sports field and playgrounds, and improvements at Abdallah Ibn Hussein Technology School. It also supported the Hand in Hand Center for Jewish-Arab Education, which promotes coexistence between Jews and Arabs.