Canadian Friends of Hebrew University

About Canadian Friends of Hebrew University:

Founded in 1944 by Canadian philanthropist, Allan Bronfman, Canadian Friends of Hebrew University (CFHU) promotes awareness, leadership and financial support to The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Through its initiatives, CFHU seeks to change the dialogue on Israel featuring creativity, knowledge, and ingenuity rather than conflict. CFHU provides academic research partnerships between Canada and Israel, scholarships, funds research, and cultivates student and faculty exchanges. CFHU highlights a multi-disciplinary science program in 5 marginalized Israeli communities like "Science through Sport" that promotes science education to school students. CFHU strives to ensure that every Israeli student has the opportunity to go to university.

Established in 1925, Hebrew University is Israel's leading university ranked 21st in the world in 2013 serving 12,000 undergraduates and 10,000 graduate students. HU has 25 international societies of friends around the word supporting HU through events and fundraising.

CFHU also fundraises for the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC) with new partnerships with Canadian medical researchers. It has raised $30 million of its $50 million goal. IMRIC has new drugs in development that selectively inhibit the aging process to protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers, Parkinson's and Hungtington's.

Financial Review:

CFHU is a large Canadian charity receiving US$6.3m in donations in 2013. Fundraising costs dropped dramatically to 26.8% in 2013 as did management and administrative costs to 29.9%. CFHU holds significant endowments of $66.5m that generated $7.5m in investment income. Donations and investment income saw $8.1m granted to HU, a 24% increase over 2012. The audited financial statements do not clearly disclose the donor endowed funds. This is suspected to be high. Without this disclosure, the program cost coverage ratio is likely significantly overstated. CFHU has funding reserves of $66.5m (including donor endowments) that covers 2013 charity grants 7.8 times.