MaelBag: The Donor Revolt FIDF Doesn’t Want You to See
Sources warn of an imminent collapse in fundraising unless leadership changes fast.
According to multiple sources, regional donors are increasingly enraged at what they describe as severe mismanagement by FIDF Chairman Morey Levovitz and CEO Steven Weil. Many donors feel misled and sidelined, citing a pattern of spin, financial opacity, and misplaced priorities at the highest levels of leadership. Internal conversations now reflect a growing alarm: there is serious concern within the organization that fundraising will collapse entirely if Levovitz and Weil remain in power. Several long-time supporters have already paused their giving, and others are quietly exploring alternative avenues to support Israeli soldiers—ones they believe offer transparency, accountability, and direct impact, which FIDF leadership is seen as failing to deliver.
The Vice President, Western Region, sought to reassure at least two donors by stating, “FIDF was rated a top Jewish Charity by the Jerusalem Post,” presenting it alongside accolades from Charity Navigator and Charity Watch as evidence of transparency and responsible spending according to emails obtained by The Mael Review. However, no such rating or award from the Jerusalem Post exists. If this was knowingly presented as a legitimate third-party endorsement, it raises serious questions of donor misrepresentation—and potentially constitutes fraud.
There is immense confusion within and around FIDF regarding the reported settlement stemming from a 2023 employment complaint involving CEO Steven Weil. None of the sources we spoke with—including members of FIDF’s National Board—had any prior knowledge of the settlement, raising serious questions about transparency and internal communication. The lack of disclosure has only deepened donor mistrust and intensified concerns about governance, accountability, and the integrity of leadership at the organization’s highest levels.
It remains unclear whether funds from FIDF’s emergency campaign were used to quietly settle the employment complaint out of court. The organization has not disclosed the source of the payout, and given the lack of transparency surrounding the matter—even among National Board members—concerns are mounting that donor contributions intended to support soldiers during a time of war may have been diverted to resolve internal legal issues. Without clear financial disclosures or an independent audit, the possibility that emergency funds were misused cannot be ruled out.
