Why doesn’t the Israeli government fund you?
Given the competing priorities both at home and abroad, the Government of Israel does not currently have the necessary funding to support the programs or staff of the Atalef Foundation. Historically, the Atalef has secured funding on an ad-hoc basis from a core group of supporters within Israel and internationally. The ability to forward plan, hire staff and execute on the organizations expanding goals is increasingly difficult without a more formal and dependable budgeting process. This is why the Atalef has fully institutionalized its capabilities with full time staff and why the organization has put in place a rigorous budgeting, planning and fundraising apparatus. The training of a Navy SEAL costs the Defense Department more than one million shekels per year. The funding includes physical and technical training, as well as inculcating each inductee with the highest standards of integrity, persistence, and excellence. The Atalef’s mission is to ensure that these special individuals do not recede into the shadows of their community but rather continue to move forward in their personal and career development in a way that can benefit the broader Israeli society.
How does the Atalef contain administrative costs?
A small portion of the Atalef budget goes towards administrative costs – on both a relative and absolute basis. The ratio of administrative expense to total cash and in-kind donations is [__%]. As our programming efforts expand and demands on our service likewise increase – we will ensure that any growth in our staff and expenses remains proportional and measured in ways that are accountable and transparent to our Board, our members and our donors. Please reach out to [______] for more information about our financial position and management.
We have a staff of 7 people, most of whom are part time and over 50 volunteers. This provides huge leverage and ensures that [__%] of every dollar you donate goes directly to the Shayetet 13 members and their families as well as the Israeli communities they support. The staff is comprised of men and women who served in the IDF, for the most part in the Navy or as Israeli Navy seals.
How much money is donated by Israelis?
Approximately 30% of our budget is raised from inside of Israel. This number should be much higher but the cultural norm of giving to civic and philanthropic organizations is only a more recent phenomenon in Israeli society. Thankfully, this charitable awakening is gaining momentum and we expect that the Atalef will be a major beneficiary as a result. The Atalef is committed to expanding its base of support and the involvement of new members through the induction of it’s SEA(Lion) Program. The process and benefits of becoming a SEA(Lion) Supporter are unique in the charitable world. Learn more about HOW TO BECOME A SEA(LION).
What will be my ongoing relationship with Atalef?
Membership in the Atalef offers myriad benefits and opportunities for personal involvement. Whether your goals are to support the programs and people of the Atalef and Shayetet 13 or whether you are intent on becoming a more fully inducted member of the SEA(Lion) community, the Atalef is the ideal platform for you to express your pro-Israel support. Benefits of the SEA(Lion) programs include (participation varies based on level of SEA(Lion) membership):
- Meetings with SEAL commanders and learning about the Navy Seals history and heritage
- Visiting the SEAL’s top secret base
- Receive real-time updates and get the inside story on Navy SEAL operations (both published and non-published)
- Attend Shayetet 13 Navy Seal graduation ceremonies
- Have the opportunity to participate or support Atalef Programs in the community; receive frequent updates
- Participate in exclusive Navy Seal and Atalef social events, including 5-Ks, 10-Ks, mountain hikes, guided visits to Israel and difficult to access value-add content/speakers
- Mentor a former Navy Seal
Do successful Shayetet warriors donate as well?
Shayetet 13 Warriors continue to serve Israeli society and the Unit in myriad ways. They donate their time, volunteer for community programs and, most importantly, they serve between fifty and eighty days of reserve duty every year. Their active reserve duty continues for at least a decade after initial discharge. The Shayetet 13 almuni are also among the biggest financial benefactors of the Atalef Foundation itself. Unfortunately, while the total amount of contributions by Shayetet alumni is material, the total percentage of actual alumni who contribute is much lower. One of our goals is to reach [__%] participation of all Shayetet alumni globally. Currently, many Shayetet members are spread across the globe and across Israel not having benefited from the new Atalef programs and paradigm instituted over the last few years. Going forward, we expect the level of involvement of Shayetet graduates to dramatically increase.
What is it that the Atalef actually does? How do you measure success?
We turn potential into the power of activism. The Shayetet 13 selects 70 individuals to join the Unit each year, out of 20,000 people who try out from a cross-section of IDF inductees. Each SEAL represents the best that the IDF and Israel has to offer in terms of their physical and moral character. The training that an Israel Shayetet 13 Navy Seal undergoes is nearly unparalleled in the world of military service. Beyond the physical requirements, Israel Navy Seals are screened for their personal, ethical and moral character. The Atalef works with former SEALS to teach them how to become leaders in Israeli society and to transfer the knowledge they have gained as Shayetet 13 warriors and leverage it in Israeli society by:
- Develop a leadership core in Israel (political, military, social and economic) that is comprised of the most daring, honest and persistent men and women that the country has to offer.
- Encouraging Israeli youth to volunteer for front-line and elite military units
- Establish a stronger code of ethics in civic and military participation, whether through extended military service
- Mentor Shayetet 13 graduates
Learn more about the Atalef Programs
What is your Five Year Plan?
Over the next five years, we have four main goals:
- Expand our alumni network to 3,000 members from the current total of [_____].
- Expand our programming capabilities. For example, we plan to (i) open a second phase of the Compass program (ii) expand the “Atalef Teams” (special emergency forces) and add another 200 volunteers and (iii)
- Establish [10] fully operational chapters in North America, Canada and Europe
- Increase our annual budget to 6,000,000 million NIS.