The New Israel Fund (NIF) Australia Foundation, a community of supporters of Israel committed to ending discrimination and injustice, today announced that it has been recognised by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) as a public benevolent institution (PBI) enabling it to give tax deductible receipts for donations.

The ACNC’s endorsement is in recognition of NIF’s work helping people who experience poverty or discrimination because of their race, religion, ethnicity or gender; or who lack access to housing and basic infrastructure, such as water, electricity or health care, because of the deep inequality in Israeli society.

“This is the most exciting development for NIF since we launched in 2011. Since then, we’ve raised more than $2.5 million for our work in Israel, hosted thousands of community members at our events and initiated a Fellowship program that will provide leadership for NIF and the Jewish community in the future ,” said New Israel Fund Australia president Dr Ilana Snyder.

To celebrate this announcement, NIF is launching a matching campaign for all gifts over $1,000 made before June 30. Donors can make their donation online at www.nif.org.au/doubledonate.

“Not only can donors increase their impact by as much as 50%, they can also have their gift  doubled thanks to the generosity of an NIF donor. Just a handful of community organisations can give tax deductible gifts for their support of Israel, and we’re proud that we have been recognised for our work that improves the lives of people in need,” said New Israel Fund Australia executive director Liam Getreu.

Through its support of dozens of organisations in Israel, NIF’s grants affect a wide variety of Israelis, including women who suffer from gender-based discrimination, non-Orthodox Jews, minority Jewish groups (such as Jews from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union), Palestinian citizens of Israel, LGBTIQ individuals, and refugees and people seeking asylum.

Recently NIF welcomed Melissa Castan, Deputy Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights, Monash University, as a board member.

“I’m very proud to join the board of an organisation that strives to realise the values of the Declaration of Independence, of civil rights, democracy and equality for all, and this is such important work in Israel. With this news, I’m hoping that we can make an even bigger difference in our support for equality in Israel,” Ms Castan said.

People who support NIF’s work in Israel can make a tax deductible donation, and, if they donate more than $1,000, have their gift matched dollar-for-dollar at www.nif.org.au/doubledonate