Key Facts
Key Information
About
The Adelson Family Foundation (AFF) is a private charitable philanthropic foundation and grantmaking organization established in 2007 by billionaire businessman and casino magnate Sheldon G. Adelson and his Israeli-born physician wife, Miriam Adelson. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the foundation's primary mission is to strengthen the State of Israel and support the Jewish people globally through grants to qualified non-profit organizations, distributing hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Its key focus areas include healthcare and medical research, Holocaust and anti-Semitism awareness, Israel advocacy and defense, Israel studies, Jewish and Zionist identity and education, media and culture, welfare services, and broader education initiatives, with a particular emphasis on Jewish and Israeli causes such as Birthright Israel (to which it has contributed over $140 million). Following Sheldon Adelson's death on 2021-01-11, Miriam Adelson has continued to lead the foundation, which remains active with reported grants exceeding $200 million per year to causes aligned with pro-Israel and conservative Jewish initiatives. The foundation operates as part of the broader Adelson Foundations network and has been a major funder of initiatives promoting accurate reporting on the Middle East, legal advocacy for conservative and pro-Israel positions, and educational programs fostering Jewish identity, while opposing groups perceived as critical of Israel like J Street and Human Rights Watch. Notable contributions include significant support to organizations like the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces ($5 million in 2014) and the Adelson Educational Campus. While the foundation itself is non-partisan in structure, its funding patterns reflect strong support for organizations with conservative leanings, particularly those defending Israel against criticism. The foundation's activities intersect with U.S. politics through indirect influence, including ties to Republican causes via Miriam Adelson's personal donations, such as $106 million to Donald Trump's 2024 election bid. AFF operates as a tax-exempt private foundation, emphasizing transparency in its grantmaking while maintaining close connections to Israeli leadership and U.S. conservative networks. Despite its charitable focus, AFF has faced scrutiny for its role in funding organizations accused of biased media reporting on the Middle East and for alleged hidden ties to Israeli political figures like Benjamin Netanyahu, sparking debates on foreign influence in U.S. philanthropy and politics. No major legal controversies directly involving AFF are documented, but its funding choices have generated public debate. The foundation's operations reflect the Adelsons' personal commitment to Zionism and Jewish causes, with Miriam Adelson serving as a prominent philanthropist and board member at institutions like the University of Southern California.