About Us
We exist to save lives.
As a registered Canadian charity, in full compliance with CRA regulations, we do not and cannot fund the IDF or any military activities.
In moments of crisis, it is not institutions we see, it is people: families facing uncertainty, and communities carrying the weight of fear and loss. Our work is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves access to essential care and support. By advancing health, well-being, and humanitarian relief, we help strengthen communities across Israel and beyond.
The Israel Magen Fund of Canada (IMFoC.org), a Canadian registered charity, is led by an experienced, skilled, and dedicated Board of Directors and staff. Following October 7, 2023, IMFoC has mobilized to support vital search and rescue efforts, mental and physical health, and social services for impacted communities in Israel.
Our mission is to identify and support qualified institutions in Israel that require search and rescue, mental health treatment, medical equipment, and social services for the community.
We advance this mission through three core pillars:
-
Medical Equipment
Funding life-saving equipment for hospitals.
-
Emergency Response & Search & Rescue
Partnering with ZAKA Search & Rescue to support rapid-response efforts through vehicles, equipment, and volunteer support.
-
Mental Health & Community Resilience
Supporting trauma care, crisis response, and long-term recovery programs.
With a strong commitment to internal operation efficiency, the vast majority of funds we raise are sent directly to our projects, ensuring that your contributions have a meaningful and immediate impact on the lives of those we serve.
To uphold our commitment to transparency, our third-party audited financial statements are available for download. These statements provide accountability for how donations are used and reflect our dedication to responsible stewardship of all contributions.
Your continued support is not only valuable but transformative. Through your generosity, we can make a significant and lasting difference. Together, we are building a brighter future for Israelis. We are deeply grateful for your partnership in this mission.
The IMFoC Difference
At the Israel Magen Fund of Canada, we believe that generosity should translate into tangible, measurable impact. That is why we operate with a disciplined focus on efficiency—ensuring that your support reaches those who need it most.
The “Lean” Model
We maintain a small, primarily virtual team, significantly reducing overhead and allowing a greater proportion of funds to be directed toward life-saving initiatives. Our communications are largely digital, minimizing printing and distribution costs. On the rare occasions when printed materials are required for specific campaigns, they are typically donated, leaving only minimal postage expenses. Our ongoing objective is to eliminate printing costs entirely.
Our marketing approach follows the same principle. All campaign strategy, creative development, and execution are managed in-house, allowing us to avoid external agency fees and maintain strict cost control.
Our Commitment to Efficiency
We treat every donation with the utmost responsibility and care.
Speed & Donor Experience
Official tax receipts are issued within a few days of an online donation, ensuring a timely, reliable, and professional experience for our donors.
Compliance & Governance
We uphold rigorous internal controls and maintain comprehensive documentation to ensure full compliance with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulations and all applicable charitable governance standards.
Due Diligence & Oversight
We actively monitor the use of funds by our partner organizations, including periodic in-person due diligence visits, to ensure that every dollar is deployed exactly as intended.
Because of this commitment to efficiency, your donations go further—enabling us to support more individuals, strengthen more communities, and deliver meaningful impact across Israel. Together, we make every dollar count.
Our Leadership
Harold Heilbut
CEO
With over 30 years of experience as President of Heilbut Commercial Realty Inc., Harold Heilbut transitioned to the not-for-profit sector as CEO of the Canadian Friends of an Israeli University. His decade-long experience in this field paved the way for a new initiative. Following the events of October 7, Harold became involved with the Israel Magen Fund of Canada in partnership with other board members.
Shiri Lidai
Executive Director
Born in Israel, Shiri is a dual-licensed lawyer with over 12 years of legal experience in Israel and Canada. She holds a law degree from Tel Aviv University and an LL.M. from York University. The events of October 7 deepened her commitment to supporting Israel’s resilience. As Executive Director of the Israel Magen Fund of Canada, she leads vital projects that address urgent needs and build lasting strength in Israeli communities.
Andre Havro
Director of Marketing and Operations
Havro is a marketing and growth strategist with more than two decades of experience leading integrated marketing initiatives across the CPG, retail, and non-profit sectors. Before joining the IMFoC, he held senior strategy roles at international agencies and global brands. He is also a professor, mentor, and author of three books focused on digital marketing and consumer engagement. Passionate about education and community impact, he has supported and volunteered with organizations in Canada and internationally, focused on healthcare, children, education, and community well-being.
Board Members
The Board of Directors of the Israel Magen Fund of Canada plays a critical role in guiding the organization’s growth, ensuring strong governance, and providing strategic oversight. Through their expertise and commitment, the Board helps ensure that IMFoC operates with transparency, accountability, and a clear focus on delivering high-impact, life-saving initiatives.
Harold Heilbut
President
Lenny Rothschild
Vice President
Joseph Shier
Secretary
Dr. Sybil Judah
Jeremy Shimkofsky
Dr. Wilfred Levin
Frequently Asked Questions
We invite you to visit our Ways to Give page for more information about how you can support our causes. For assistance with giving options, please contact us or call 416-801-9067.
Yes. IMFoC is a registered Canadian charity, and eligible donations receive an official tax receipt for income tax purposes. When you donate online through our secure website, you’ll automatically receive an e-receipt by email. To reduce administrative costs, paper receipts are issued for donations of $20 or more.
Each project goes through a careful selection and approval process. Our team meticulously evaluates every proposal, consulting Canadian and Israeli experts for a third technical opinion when needed.
We also ensure financial responsibility by obtaining multiple supplier quotes to confirm fair pricing. After equipment or programs are delivered, we continue to monitor their use through periodic reports from our partners. This way, donors can feel confident that their contributions are used effectively and make a real impact.
Transparency and accountability guide everything we do. We operate with minimal overhead so that most of every dollar goes directly to life-saving projects. Donors receive regular updates and impact reports, and our team carefully monitors the use of funds even after delivery to ensure they are used responsibly. This approach ensures compliance with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requirements and guarantees that all activities remain charitable work managed by IMFoC, while addressing Israel's most urgent needs.
IMFoC is a lean, donor-driven Canadian charity working in partnership with trusted organizations in Israel. We focus on projects that save lives and promote health, ensuring measurable impact while maintaining strict compliance with Canadian charitable standards. Most of our communication is digital, reducing printing and shipping costs. For the few special campaigns each year that require printed materials, these are donated to us, with only shipping costs to cover. Our goal is to eliminate printing costs entirely—and with your support, we are getting closer.
Thanks to this commitment to efficiency, your donations go further, helping us transform more lives and communities in Israel. Together, we make every dollar count.