JNF enjoys a boost in fundraising

JNF UK has reversed its slide in income and, for the first time in four years, increased donations.

Gifts to the charity went up from £1.5 million in 2011 to £1.7 million last year, according to its annual report.

JNF also enjoyed a bumper year for legacies, which brought in nearly £5.4 million, compared to £832,000 the previous year.

The charity — which focuses on the development of the Negev region — tripled legacy and gift income from £2.3 million in 2011 to £7.1 million last year.

Investment income also rose from £74,000 in 2011 to £592,000 last year, while the JNF-run KKL voucher scheme, which distributes money to other charities, took in £9.9 million last year, a rise from £7.5 million.

JNF chairman Samuel Hayek wrote in the report that the charity was “experiencing a period of comprehensive growth that defies the current economic climate”.

The results were a “testament to the rangeof improvementsandsafeguards which have been implemented during the last four years to ensure maximum transparency and efficiency”.

JNF also more than doubled its grants to Israel from £2.3 million in 2011 to £4.7 million last year.

The charity’s current commitments include £1 million-plus earmarked for a music college in Sderot and £824,000 for a technology valley in Mitzpe Ramon.

JNF is also providing £329,000 for a pre-army campus in the new town of Halutzit.