In a groundbreaking move, the Azrieli Foundation has released an in-depth report mapping Sports for Social Impact (AKA Sports for Development) organizations across Israel for the first time. The report provides a detailed overview of 281 non-profit organizations that use sports as a social-educational tool.
Click here to view the full report
The comprehensive mapping reveals that 64% of the organizations surveyed in-depth primarily aim to promote educational and social goals, using sports as a means to achieve these objectives. An additional 25% focus on sports activities while integrating significant social and educational components. In terms of target populations, 58% of organizations reach more than one group, with 42% focusing on at-risk youth and 32% on individuals with disabilities.
The report shows that football (soccer) is the most popular sport among social sports organizations, with 37% of organizations involved in it, followed by basketball (22%) and swimming (12%). Interestingly, among programs aimed at girls and women, football remains the leading sport, though sports like volleyball and chatchball (Kadur-reshet) also hold a significant presence within this demographic.
Geographically, an intriguing distribution emerges: in the south and north of Israel, there are approximately 5.4 organizations per 100,000 residents, compared to about 2.8 in central Israel. However, organizations in central Israel tend to operate on a larger scale in terms of their activities.
As part of the mapping process, in-depth interviews were conducted with 61 selected organizations. These interviews revealed that 60% of the organizations focus on empowerment and building self-confidence, 52% aim to make sports accessible to unique populations, and 48% emphasize creating a sense of belonging and community.
From a financial perspective, the report reveals that 54% of organizations operate with an annual budget of up to 500,000 ILS, while 29% operate with budgets of 1-10 million ILS. Notably, 81% of the organizations rely on self-generated income.
Dana Azrieli, Co-Chair of the Azrieli Foundation Israel and Chair of the Azrieli Group highlighted the significance of the findings: “In times when Israel’s resilience is more crucial than ever, the ‘Sports for Social Change’ community has risen to the occasion, emerging as a source of strength and support following the events of October 7. The full potential of sports for social change is only beginning to be realized.”
Danny Hakim, founder of the SSI Program, added: “This mapping shows the extensive network of social sports organizations in Israel. We believe sports have the power to drive meaningful social change, help people cope with trauma, empower women, and support at-risk youth.”
This mapping is a significant step in understanding the social sports sector in Israel, providing essential knowledge for decision-makers, social entrepreneurs, and funding entities interested in advancing this field.
