Americans For Ben-Gurion

New York, NY · Founded 1973

Supports Ben-Gurion University of the Negev through fundraising and advocacy in the United States

Primary audience

University Students

Work area

Fundraising & Advocacy

Topic

Higher Education

Contact

Douglas Seserman

Website Contact

About Organization

The organization raises funds and builds support for Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, focusing on the university's role in developing the Negev desert region. Based in New York, NY, the organization generated $74.0 million in revenue in 2023 and employs 46 staff members. The organization manages $878.1 million in assets to support educational and research initiatives at the university.

What They Focus On

Higher Education Support

Provides financial resources and advocacy for Ben-Gurion University's academic programs, research, and institutional development

Negev Development

Supports the university's mission to develop Israel's Negev desert region through education and innovation

Philanthropic Leadership

Cultivates major donor relationships and manages substantial endowment assets to ensure sustainable university funding

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2023)

$74.0M

+0% vs 2023

Assets (2023)

$878.1M

+0% vs 2023

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Employees
2023	—	—	—	—
2023	$73,964,169	$69,046,454	$878,138,118	46
2022	—	—	—	—
2022	$21,147,894	$58,948,250	$764,651,298	42
2021	—	—	—	—
2021	$56,387,922	$62,869,914	$729,618,143	45
2020	—	—	—	—
2020	$105,090,161	$54,353,607	$873,598,749	47
2019	$36,311,970	$55,611,993	$756,412,362	48
2018	$46,830,161	$51,466,792	$743,138,492	65

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

01

Fundraising Campaigns

Conducts targeted fundraising efforts among American donors to generate financial support for the university
02

Grant Administration

Manages and distributes grants to Ben-Gurion University for educational and charitable purposes
03

Advocacy & Outreach

Promotes awareness of the university's work and its impact in the Negev desert region
04

Asset Management

Stewards endowment and assets to ensure sustainable long-term support for university initiatives

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Americans For Ben-Gurion

Educational Support

Provides general and educational grants to Ben-Gurion University for academic programs and research initiatives in the Negev

University Development

Funds unrestricted grants supporting the university's infrastructure, facilities, and institutional growth in southern Israel

Charitable Initiatives

Supports charitable programs aligned with the university's mission to serve the Negev region and its communities

Donor Engagement

Cultivates relationships with American donors to build long-term philanthropic support for the university's work

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Americans For Ben-Gurion.

Contact the team Contact

Douglas Seserman

CEO

Full-time

Compensation: $578,015

Keren Waranch

Chief Development Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $263,386

Timothy Greene

Chief Financial Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $227,555

Douglas Seserman

CEO

Ari Steinberg

Philanthropic Relationship Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $286,743

Andrew Hoffer

Philanthropic Relationship Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $219,344

Nneka McPhee Chief Of Staff

& Strategic Initiatives

Full-time

Compensation: $214,728

Claire Winick

Philanthropic Relationship Officer

Full-time

Compensation: $190,924

Milestones

1973

Organization Founded

1973

Established as tax-exempt organization to support Ben-Gurion University in the United States

2020

Record Fundraising Year

2020

Achieved highest annual revenue of $105.1 million in organizational history

2023

Asset Growth

2023

Reached $878.1 million in total assets, strengthening long-term support capacity

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

Andrea Goren Vice Chair 3.00 hrs/week

Bathsheva Rifkin Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Carol Saal Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Cindy Ingerman Balick Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Craig Granowitz Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Craig Simon Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Danna Slusky Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

David Breslauer Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

David Wagonfeld Treasurer 1.00 hrs/week

Donna Lam Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Elizabeth Grzebinski Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Ellen Marcus Secretary 3.00 hrs/week

Ernest Simon Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Esther Foer Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Frank Parlato Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Gary Debode Chair 3.00 hrs/week

Hunter Reisner Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Ilana Subar Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Jacob Dayan Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Jeff Kupfer Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Jeff Polak Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Jeff Ullman Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Jill Max Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Joanne Moore Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Joel Reinstein Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Joel Shalowitz Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Joseph Rose Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Kathleen Spitzer Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Ken Bloom Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Lewis Winarsky Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Lisa Douglass Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Lisa Field Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Lisa Scheller Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Lloyd Goldman Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Maddy Arnow Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Marci Dollinger Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Max Gitter Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Max Schechner Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Michael Ozer Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Michael Zeiger Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Neil Davidowitz Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Noah Tratt Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Peter Schechter Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Riva Collins Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Robin Toubin Stein Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Roy Zuckerberg Honorary Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Ruth Westheimer Honorary Board Member (Deceased 07/2024) 1.00 hrs/week

Seth Harlem Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Sherrie Savett Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Steven Finkelman Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Sylvia Brodsky Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Tara Kelleher Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Terri Alpert Vice Chair 3.00 hrs/week

Toni Young Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

William Handy Board Member 1.00 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2023)

$2.4M

Highest Paid

$772K

Douglas Seserman

Compensated Officers

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Douglas Seserman	Chief Executive Officer	$578,015	$194,460	$772,475	40
Keren Waranch	Chief Development Officer	$263,386	$60,704	$324,090	40
Ari Steinberg	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$286,743	$19,968	$306,711	40
Andrew Hoffer	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$219,344	$58,380	$277,724	40
Timothy Greene	Chief Financial Officer	$227,555	$30,362	$257,917	40
Nneka Mcphee Chief Of Staff	& Strategic Initiatives	$214,728	$39,489	$254,217	40
Claire Winick	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$190,924	$34,251	$225,175	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Douglas Seserman	Chief Executive Officer	$742,686	$188,366	$931,052	40
Keren Waranch	Chief Development Officer	$243,169	$58,597	$301,766	40
Andrew Hoffer	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$203,272	$58,914	$262,186	40
Timothy Greene	Chief Financial Officer	$215,436	$30,907	$246,343	40
Nneka Mcphee Chief Of Staff	& Strategic Initiatives	$189,852	$38,662	$228,514	40
Claire Winick	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$184,220	$41,637	$225,857	40
Shawn Considine	Director Of Finance & Controller	$171,783	$29,741	$201,524	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Douglas Seserman	Chief Executive Officer	$537,859	$185,893	$723,752	40
Kevin Leopold Philanthropic	Relationship Officer (Thru 10/29/21)	$303,501	$51,219	$354,720	40
Keren Waranch	Chief Development Officer	$248,039	$57,445	$305,484	40
Andrew Hoffer	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$194,702	$58,148	$252,850	40
Timothy Greene	Chief Financial Officer	$219,634	$29,701	$249,335	40
Claire Winick	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$177,460	$40,280	$217,740	40
Judith Alterman	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$187,692	$15,155	$202,847	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Douglas Seserman	Chief Executive Officer	$523,957	$182,800	$706,757	40
Philip S Gomperts	Regional Director (Thru 12/31/2020)	$323,022	$33,529	$356,551	40
Kevin Leopold	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$251,248	$68,836	$320,084	40
Keren Waranch	Chief Development Officer	$217,860	$60,307	$278,167	40
Andrew Hoffer	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$195,320	$57,379	$252,699	40
Timothy Greene	Chief Financial Officer	$207,879	$28,479	$236,358	40
Claire Winik	Philanthropic Relationship Officer	$177,825	$43,531	$221,356	40

Name	Title	Base	Other	Total	Hrs/Wk
Douglas Seserman	Chief Executive Officer	$535,828	$176,828	$712,656	40
Kevin Leopold	Executive Director Northeast	$252,494	$69,074	$321,568	40
Philip S Gomperts	Regional Director	$287,344	$32,587	$319,931	40
Keren Waranch	Vice President Regional Operations	$199,772	$59,944	$259,716	40
Andrew Hoffer	Associate Director Southwest	$197,117	$51,007	$248,124	40
Claire Winick	Regional Director	$177,449	$42,302	$219,751	40
Timothy Greene	Chief Financial Officer	$192,857	$22,471	$215,328	40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$1.3M Grants Received

19 Organizations

Top Funders

19 total

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

$747K

The Bessemer Giving Fund

$111K

The Halaj Foundation

$80K

The Board Of Trustees Of The Leland 2 grants

$70K

Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund

$63K

Jewish Community Foundation

$54K

American Endowment Foundation

$35K

Community Foundation Of New Jersey

$25K

Rosenbluth Family Charitable Foundation

$20K

Jewish Federation Of Las Vegas

$15K

+9 more funders

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund The Bessemer Giving Fund The Halaj Foundation The Board Of Trustees Of The Leland Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund Jewish Community Foundation American Endowment Foundation Community Foundation Of New Jersey Rosenbluth Family Charitable Foundation Jewish Federation Of Las Vegas Jewish Federation Of Delaware Inc. Fjc St Louis Community Foundation Inc. Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc. PAYPAL Charitable Giving Fund New Israel Fund Jewish Federation Of Greater Austin Community Foundation Inc. Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc.

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Contact

Get in touch with Americans For Ben-Gurion

Email

[email protected]

Phone

(212) 687-7721

Social

Visit Website

1001 Avenue Of The Americas 19th F New York, NY 10018

Americans For Ben-Gurion

What They Focus On

Financial Information

How They Work

Fundraising Campaigns

Grant Administration

Advocacy & Outreach

Asset Management

Programs and Initiatives

Educational Support

University Development

Charitable Initiatives

Donor Engagement

Team & Leadership

Douglas Seserman

Keren Waranch

Timothy Greene

Douglas Seserman

Ari Steinberg

Andrew Hoffer

Nneka McPhee Chief Of Staff

Claire Winick

Milestones

Organization Founded

Record Fundraising Year

Asset Growth

Associated People

Board of Directors

Executive Compensation

Partners & Funders

Top Funders

Related Organizations

Disregarded Entities

Taxable Corp Trust

Contact

Email

Phone

Social