← Back to US Funders Directory

Maccabee Task Force Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.5M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.6M
Success Rate
17%

Ready to apply to Maccabee Task Force Foundation?

Let our AI help you write a winning grant application in minutes, not hours.

Start your 4-week free trial →

Maccabee Task Force Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,514,365 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $8.2 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $446 - $640,843
  • Median Grant: $91,259
  • Total Grants Awarded: 416 grants totaling $44.7 million since 2015
  • Geographic Focus: National (US and Canada) plus international recipients
  • Active Campuses: ~100 campuses in the US and Canada
  • Foundation Type: Private Foundation (501(c)(3))

Contact Details

Maccabee Task Force Foundation

Overview

Founded in 2015 by conservative philanthropists Sheldon Adelson and Miriam Adelson, the Maccabee Task Force Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to combating antisemitism on college campuses and countering the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. With total assets of $8.2 million and annual expenses of approximately $10.5 million, the foundation employs 19 staff members and operates on approximately 100 campuses across the United States and Canada.

Since its inception, the foundation has awarded 416 individual grants totaling $44.7 million, primarily funding campus education programs, trips to Israel, content production (film, social media, articles, and websites), and pro-Israel advocacy events. The foundation operates by funding expert speakers, printed literature, and other forms of media to counter misinformation and provide educational resources about Israel's cultural, social, political, economic, and security realities. The organization reports a 98% success rate in preventing BDS or other anti-Israel resolutions from passing on campuses that have participated in their Israel trip program.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates primarily through direct grant-making to organizations that align with its mission to combat antisemitism and the BDS movement on college campuses.

Campus Education and Programming

  • Grants to Hillel chapters and other campus organizations
  • During the first two years of operation, MTF made donations averaging more than $100,000 to more than 40 Hillel chapters in the US and Canada
  • Funding for pro-Israel events (facilitated 1,244 events in the 2018-2019 school year)

Israel Educational Trips

  • 10-day fact-finding missions to Israel for student leaders
  • Primarily targeting non-Jewish undergraduate student leaders
  • Over 5,000 student leaders and influencers have participated
  • 74 Israel trips facilitated in the 2018-2019 school year
  • Partnership programs with campus Hillels and organizations like Shorashim

Content Production and Media

  • Film production
  • Social media content
  • Articles and websites
  • Educational materials and printed literature

Priority Areas

  • Anti-BDS Advocacy: Countering the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement on college campuses
  • Campus Education: Educating students, administrators, and faculty about Israel
  • Student Rights: Promoting awareness of Jewish students' rights under existing non-discrimination laws
  • Israel Advocacy: Providing accurate information about Israel's realities
  • Coalition Building: Partnerships with other organizations furthering their mission
  • Student Leadership Development: Targeting influential student leaders and campus influencers

Geographic Focus

The foundation has awarded 199 grants totaling $18.8 million to organizations in California, New York, and 27 other states, plus international recipients. The foundation is 100% focused on education sector funding.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations or activities associated with J Street U (Liberal Zionist organization) - this is an explicit condition of receiving MTF donations
  • General operating support unrelated to anti-BDS advocacy or Israel education
  • Organizations not aligned with their pro-Israel mission

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Miriam Adelson

  • President and Secretary
  • Chief benefactor of the foundation
  • Co-founder (with late husband Sheldon Adelson)

David Brog

  • Executive Director (founding director)
  • Former founding director of Christians United for Israel
  • Considered a protégé of Sheldon and Miriam Adelson
  • In 2022, left to run for Congress in Nevada

Board Members

The foundation's board includes prominent figures:

  • Alan Dershowitz - Renowned attorney and legal scholar
  • Joseph Lieberman - Former U.S. Senator

Staff

As of December 2022, the foundation employed 19 individuals, operating from their Las Vegas headquarters with activities spanning numerous cities worldwide.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: The Maccabee Task Force Foundation does not appear to have a public, open application process. As a private foundation, it operates primarily through strategic partnerships and invitation-based grant-making.

The foundation's grant-making approach is highly selective:

  • In 2023, only 17% of recipients (10 of 60) were new grantees
  • The foundation strongly favors organizations with proven track records
  • New partnerships develop slowly over time
  • Strategic guidance suggests considering smaller initial requests and emphasizing organizational stability and past performance

Organizations interested in potential funding should:

  1. Contact the foundation directly through their contact page or phone number
  2. Build relationships through campus presence and alignment with mission
  3. Demonstrate proven track record in pro-Israel advocacy or campus education
  4. Consider partnership approaches with already-funded organizations like Hillel chapters

Getting on Their Radar

While there is no public application portal, organizations can increase visibility by:

Mission Alignment

  • Active engagement in combating BDS movements on college campuses
  • Demonstrated commitment to Israel education and advocacy
  • Track record of supporting Jewish students' rights on campus

Strategic Partnerships

  • Collaboration with already-funded organizations (Hillel chapters, campus Jewish organizations)
  • Participation in MTF-sponsored events and conferences
  • Engagement in the broader pro-Israel campus advocacy network

Campus Presence

  • Active operations on college campuses where MTF is already engaged (approximately 100 campuses)
  • Documented success in hosting pro-Israel events and educational programming
  • Proven ability to reach influential student leaders, particularly non-Jewish students

Direct Outreach

  • Contact the foundation through official channels with a clear proposal aligned with their mission
  • Emphasize organizational stability, past performance, and measurable outcomes
  • Consider requesting smaller initial grants to establish credibility

Grant Characteristics

  • Grant Range: $446 - $640,843
  • Median Grant: $91,259
  • Annual Grants: 60-67 grants per year in recent years
  • Multi-year Support: Foundation shows pattern of repeat funding to successful grantees
  • Geographic Spread: National and international reach

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. As a private foundation with strategic grant-making, decisions likely occur on a rolling basis or at scheduled board meetings throughout the year.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Core Mission

The most critical success factor is demonstrated alignment with the foundation's primary mission to combat antisemitism and the BDS movement on college campuses. Organizations must show clear, measurable impact in this specific area.

Proven Track Record

With only 17% of grantees being new recipients, the foundation heavily favors organizations with established track records. Success factors include:

  • Documentation of past program success in pro-Israel advocacy
  • Demonstrated organizational stability and financial management
  • Evidence of sustainable impact on campus environments
  • Measurable outcomes in combating BDS or educating about Israel

Campus Focus

The foundation's work centers on approximately 100 college campuses. Organizations with:

  • Active presence on these campuses
  • Ability to reach student leaders and influencers
  • Programs specifically designed for campus environments
  • Partnerships with existing campus organizations (especially Hillel chapters)

Strategic Approach

Based on the foundation's documented priorities:

  • Student Leadership: Programs targeting influential student leaders, particularly non-Jewish students who can be allies in combating BDS
  • Educational Programming: High-quality educational content about Israel's realities
  • Measurable Impact: Clear metrics showing prevention or defeat of BDS resolutions, increased pro-Israel sentiment, or enhanced student advocacy skills
  • Complementary Activities: Work that complements MTF's existing programs rather than duplicates them

Financial Considerations

Organizations seeking funding should:

  • Consider requesting smaller initial grants to build relationship
  • Demonstrate financial stability and accountability
  • Show clear budget alignment with mission priorities
  • Provide evidence of cost-effective programming with significant reach

Avoid These Pitfalls

  • J Street U Association: Any connection to J Street U will disqualify an organization
  • Generic Proposals: Applications must specifically address anti-BDS work or Israel education, not general campus programming
  • Lack of Metrics: Proposals should include clear, measurable outcomes
  • Insufficient Campus Connection: Programs without direct campus impact are unlikely to receive funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Private Foundation Model: This is not an open grant-making foundation - focus on relationship-building and strategic alignment rather than formal application submission
  • Highly Selective: Only 17% new grantees annually means breaking in requires exceptional alignment and proven track record
  • Mission Specificity: Focus exclusively on anti-BDS advocacy and Israel education on college campuses - tangential programs unlikely to be funded
  • Campus Hillel Connection: Strong relationship with Hillel chapters (40+ funded in first two years) - partnership with Hillel may enhance credibility
  • Student Leader Focus: Programs targeting influential, particularly non-Jewish, student leaders align best with MTF's documented strategy
  • Track Record Essential: Demonstrate organizational stability, past performance, and measurable outcomes before approaching the foundation
  • Political Alignment Required: Conservative pro-Israel stance is essential - liberal Zionist organizations (like J Street U affiliates) explicitly excluded
  • Start Small: Given selectivity, consider requesting smaller initial grants to establish relationship and build trust

References

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Start your 4-week free trialLearn More

Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know

← Back to US Funders Directory