About Us

The Tel Aviv Foundation was founded as an idea – a way to raise resources to transform the first Hebrew city for the benefit of its residents. Shlomo “Cheech” Lahat, the eighth mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, envisioned a vibrant, thriving and pluralistic city filled with cultural, educational and economic opportunities for people across Israel. As “the pulse of the nation,” Cheech looked to establish the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo as the center of Israel’s commerce and industry, education and culture, the arts, recreation and more.

Cheech learned first-hand from the Mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek, about the benefits of establishing a fundraising organization for a city. Thus, together with his friend, Ted Arison, he established the Tel Aviv Foundation as an innovative model, working to secure resources, develop relationships and establish partnerships, alongside the Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo.

Ted Arison proved his dedication to the Foundation was boundless and following a meeting with Mayor Lahat, committed to establishing the Foundation’s first international office in New York. With Ted Arison at the helm of its overseas operations, the Foundation expanded with the influx of international partners.

The Tel Aviv Foundation established a network of gardens, parks and playgrounds to enhance neighborhoods and build communities. These green areas served as a meeting point for residents and families to come together to meet, relax and have fun.

Marking the first 10 years of its operations, the Foundation was successful in promoting the spirit and imagination that led to the establishment of institutions and programs uniting the city in mutual goals and shared sources of pride.

Bolstering Tel Aviv-Yafo’s cultural offerings, three of the city’s most prominent cultural institutions were established: The Lin & Ted Arison Israel Conservatory of Music, one of Israel’s most prestigious music schools; The Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre, the premier presenter of Israeli and international contemporary dance companies; The Tel Aviv Cinematheque, famous for its eclectic programming which features classical works by well-known directors, mainstream productions and avant-garde art films. Tel Aviv-Yafo became known as the cultural heart of Israel, exposing citizens to the widest range of culturally enriching activities.

Looking to strengthen the connection between the diaspora and the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo, the Foundation expanded its operations overseas establishing offices in the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany. The new partners and resources provided the impetus the Foundation needed for renewed fervor in transforming the city.

In twenty years of activity, the Foundation established over 270 projects with a special focus on the southern regions of the city and its underprivileged neighborhoods. The Foundation also established welfare programs for Holocaust survivors to provide support for some of its most vulnerable residents. The Café Europa initiative offered survivors a safe place to meet, exchange stories, and take part in social activities. In light of its astounding success, the program was expanded to additional locations throughout the city.

When Ron Huldai was elected as the tenth mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, the city was in a difficult financial situation and struggled to retain residents looking to leave the city. Mayor Huldai set out to establish Tel Aviv as the epicenter of Israeli culture and economy. Consequently, he looked to donors around the world for assistance in transformational projects that would elevate the city in the eyes of Israelis.

As young families chose to make Tel Aviv-Yafo their home, the need for early childhood facilities increased. In line with the Municipality’s goal to provide every child from infancy onward with a high-quality start toward a lifelong education, the Foundation dramatically increased its efforts leading to the establishment multiple kindergartens and enrichment programs throughout the city.

The Foundation partnered with HEMDA, Tel Aviv’s innovative center for science education, to establish an operating budget that allowed for the additional acceptance of gifted high school students. HEMDA continues to develop the next generation of scientists leading Israel and the scientific world into the future.

In response to the hardships facing the families of foreign residents living in Tel Aviv-Yafo, the first UNITAF daycare center was established in Southern Tel Aviv. The state-of-the-art facility served as a warm second-home for the children of refugees and foreign workers. In 2008, a second UNITAF Center was established, and in 2010, an after- school program for children was added, and in 2011, a third Center was opened.

As Tel Aviv celebrated its centenary, Israel received worldwide recognition as the “start-up nation” with the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo as the epicenter of the innovation ecosystem. Mayor Huldai understood the importance of seeding innovation and technology projects that advanced Tel Aviv-Yafo into a national and global leader.

The Arab-Jewish Youth Center was inaugurated in Yafo in order to welcome youth of Jewish, Arab, and Christian backgrounds, many considered at-risk. The Center encourages Yafo’s diverse youth to participate in joint programs that build healthy cross cultural relationships.

Tel Aviv is awarded the title ‘Best Smart City in the World’ at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. Tel Aviv wins for DigiTel, a civic engagement project focused on smart engagement with residents. Today, the Foundation facilitates cooperation with other cities around the world which seek to learn from Tel Aviv as they develop a DigiTel equivalent for their own residents.

The 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Tel Aviv Foundation, marking four decades of transformation, with the establishment of over 800 projects, $700 million raised worldwide and 500,000 lives touched annually.

The Foundation’s accomplishments are the result of a close collaboration between the city’s residents, the Municipality, and our partners from around the world. The Foundation continues to seek partnerships and innovative solutions in order to elevate the lives of the residents’ of Tel Aviv-Yafo through five focus areas: Education, Culture, Welfare, Environment and Innovation.

2017 TEL AVIV FOUNDATION FORM 990

Tel Aviv 2017 Financial Statements