Keidar Law Firm specializes in ongoing legal support for non-profit organizations, endowments and public benefit companies – from their foundation to their dissolution and in providing legal opinion to non-profit organizations, representing non-profit organizations in court and before regulatory authorities.
Our offices represent hundreds of non-profit organizations and bodies, lead regulatory and legislative proceedings, and advise government ministries and local authorities on these issues.
Our office specializes in arbitration and mediation, led by the Honorable Judge (Retd.) Carmi Musk, a former judge in the Jerusalem District Court. His 25 years of experience on the bench are reflected in the field of mediation and arbitrationand assist in the rapid and professional resolution of disputes in the areas of tort, personal status, commercial, corporate, and more.
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An association is a unique legal structure that allows a group of people to come together for a specific purpose – helping children at risk, strengthening Jewish identity among new immigrants, promoting animal rights, supporting dementia patients and their families, and of course, there are many other examples. The activities of the various associations are supervised by the Ministry of Justice, and more specifically by the Registrar of Associations in this ministry, based on the Associations Law enacted in the early 1980s. Accordingly, it is recommended that before establishing an association, it be consulted with a lawyer, whose area of expertise is this – to ensure quick registration and, above all, correct and efficient conduct that will lead to the realization of the goals. The Kedar Law Firm has accumulated extensive experience in this field, and this translates into legal advice that is of great value to any association.
* Receiving support from the state – An individual cannot receive financial support from the state to advance their goals. On the other hand, an association that has received a “good management certificate” can apply to government ministries and the appropriate local authority, and if it meets the relevant criteria, receive significant support.
* Fundraising – An individual can of course contact others and ask them to donate to the causes for which he is working, but it is naturally much easier to raise funds within the framework of an association.
* Expanding the scope of activity – A registered and active non-profit organization can recruit additional members who will help spread its messages and work (voluntarily or for pay) for the goals for which it was established.
Adv. Yaron Kedar has held significant positions in the field – Registrar of Nonprofit Organizations and Head of the Corporations Authority. Accordingly, the Weiss-Schwartz Kedar Law Firm is the leading firm in the country in all matters relating to supporting non-profit organizations, assisting in their establishment, representing non-profit organizations in legal proceedings, dealing with relevant regulatory bodies, and more. Legal services, both prior to and after the establishment of a non-profit organization, are provided on the basis of particularly in-depth professional expertise, with high availability and out of a true commitment to anyone who chooses to act for a worthy cause. Additional emphases are absolute integrity, patient responses to every question, and detailed explanations at eye level, so that anyone who wishes to establish a non-profit organization can know exactly what to expect and make the decisions that are most appropriate for them.
Every week, on average, about 20 new non-profit organizations are established in Israel. Each non-profit organization is defined by its nature as a body that does not have profit objectives – but rather objectives that are completely different from those that characterize commercial entities: promoting certain values, education, helping disadvantaged populations (humans or animals), cultural activities, and more. Establishing a non-profit organization is carried out subject to the Non-Profit Organizations Law of 1980, and the Tax Authority also has its own requirements for each non-profit organization – therefore the recommendation is to seek the help of experts. Establishing non-profit organizations is an area of expertise of the Weiss-Schwartz Keidar Law Firm, which also provides essential legal services to active non-profit organizations.
* Choosing a name – As part of the registration process for a new association, you will be asked to choose a name for it. In fact, it is advisable to propose to the Registrar of Associations not just one name, because it may not be suitable (for example, because it is too similar to the name of an existing association, and there is a concern about misleading the public), but 3 names.
* גיבוש תקנון שמתאים לרוח העמותה – ניתן לאמץ תקנון אחיד (שמופיע בתוספת של חוק העמותות), אבל במקרים רבים מומלץ לגבש תקנון ספציפי לעמותה – בין אם על בסיס התקנון האחיד (עם שינויים מתאימים) ובין אם כזה שהוא שונה לגמרי.
* 7 people – The Associations Law also allows 2 people to establish an association, but the Tax Authority grants tax exemption only to associations with 7 or more members, and provided that most of the members are not relatives. It is recommended to pay attention to choosing members who are equipped with the necessary abilities to realize the goals of the association.
Establishing a non-profit organization is a process that can be completed in a short time if all the rules are followed. This is also the essence of the service of the Bogat-Kidar Law Firm: ensuring that every action is carried out exactly according to the procedures, so that unnecessary delays are not created. The firm’s founder, Attorney Yaron Keidar, previously held the position of Registrar of Associations, so he has particularly in-depth professional expertise – which is reflected in the service to each and every client, both during the establishment of the association and during its ongoing activities.
The weakness of Israeli governments in many civil areas leads to the establishment of non-profit organizations that fill the gaps in areas such as education, welfare, animal rights, preservation of traditions, culture, and more. The essential role that non-profit organizations play in Israel turns them into large entities, and for example, the budget of the Latet organization, which was founded with the aim of reducing poverty and assisting populations in need, reached nearly 200 million NIS in 2021. Opening a new non-profit organization must be carried out according to the procedures of the Registrar of Non-Profit Organizations at the Ministry of Justice, as well as in accordance with the requirements of the Tax Authority. Proper conduct is also required down the road, and it is therefore recommended to seek the help of experts in the field. The Weiss-Schwartz Kedar Law Firm is the leading firm in the country when it comes to legal advice for non-profit organizations, including during their establishment stages.
* Gathering 7 members – The Associations Law allows for the registration of an association with only 2 members, but the Tax Authority requires at least 7 association members. A lower number of members does not allow for exemption from paying taxes. Please note: If most of the association’s members are relatives, the Tax Authority will not recognize the association and will not exempt its income from tax.
* Formulating bylaws – The Associations Law offers a uniform generic bylaw. It can be adopted, relied upon, and some of the sections can be changed, or even a completely new bylaw can be written. It is recommended to ensure that the bylaws accurately reflect and detail the goals of opening the association, as well as its expected manner of conduct.
* Submitting an application – Submitting an application to open an association involves paying a fee. The application can be submitted online with the help of a lawyer, by sending the application form by mail, or by physically coming to the offices of the Registrar of Associations in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.
Opening a non-profit organization is not only a technical step but also a basis for proper, efficient and correct conduct down the road. Accordingly, it is highly recommended to seek the help of experts in the field – Attorney Yaron Kedar served as Registrar of Non-Profit Organizations and even established the Corporations Authority. Attorney Amiram Bogat also served as Registrar of Non-Profit Organizations for about 6 years. The professional expertise of both of them has made the Weiss-Schwartz Kedar Law Firm a leader in the country in all matters relating to legal support for non-profit organizations, starting from the establishment stage. The firm’s services are provided with great responsibility, and out of a sense of partnership in the mission that anyone who establishes or establishes a new non-profit organization takes on.
The third sector – the one that comes after the public sector and after the business sector – is a very important component of life in Israel. All those organizations that operate not to generate profit for their members but for social, cultural and other purposes, significantly improve the quality of life of many people (and sometimes also animals), and the scope of their activity is very significant. The ideal legal structure for third sector activity is an association, and in order to conduct itself properly, it is recommended that, before opening a new association, you seek the help of experts in the field. The Weiss-Schwartz Keidar Law Firm is the leading firm in the country when it comes to non-profit organizations in all areas of activity, and in particular, it provides assistance to those considering opening a non-profit organization.
* Tax exemption – One of the main considerations for establishing a new organization is the possibility of receiving tax exemption on the organization’s income (from any source). In order to exercise this option, the Tax Authority sets several conditions at the stage of establishing the association: one condition is at least 7 members (even though the Association Law itself requires only 2 members as a threshold condition for establishing an association), and a second condition is that most of the members are not family relatives.
* Bylaws – Every association must sign bylaws at the establishment stage. There are 3 options: adopting the uniform bylaws as detailed in the Associations Law, creating completely new bylaws, or incorporating specific sections within the uniform bylaws.
* Fee – Establishing a new association involves paying a fee to the Registrar of Associations. Nonprofits whose scope of activity is expected to be relatively small will pay a reduced fee. An annual fee must also be paid to the registrar.
Opening a new non-profit organization with the help of a skilled attorney saves valuable time and ensures a positive response from the Registrar of Non-Profit Organizations and the Tax Authority, so you can get started on the right foot. The Weiss-Schwartz Keidar Law Firm was founded by an attorney who served as Registrar of Non-Profit Organizations, Attorney Yaron Keidar. Accordingly, this is a professional authority that can be relied on without fear and in the knowledge that the process will be completed in the shortest possible time and in the best possible manner. The service is provided at eye level, with high availability and with full professional and public responsibility.
An association is a very effective way to achieve non-business goals, and accordingly, every association is a body founded for non-profit purposes (in fact, an association is not an economic asset either, and associations cannot be sold or purchased). Opening a non-profit organization is done in most cases out of a desire to make the world a slightly better place – for example, to promote a specific culture, help animals in distress, collect food for disadvantaged populations, enable the establishment of educational institutions for children with special needs, and there are of course other options. The Weiss-Schwartz Keidar Law Firm is the leading professional authority in Israel when it comes to non-profit organizations of all types, and the extensive knowledge accumulated by the lawyers at the firm allows non-profit organizations to be opened quickly.
* Receiving support from state institutions – an association that receives proper management approval and works for a cause that is relevant to a broad public may receive support, even significant support, from government ministries and local authorities.
* Receiving donations – Although an individual can also ask friends and acquaintances to donate to a cause they are working towards, the unique legal structure of a non-profit organization allows for the receipt of donations from many people, both from Israel and abroad.
* Expansion – Even an association with modest beginnings can expand, raise more funds and employees, and thus promote the goals for which it was established more and more effectively.
Opening a non-profit organization is first and foremost a technical operation, and also a necessary basis for optimal activity in the future. Accordingly, it is recommended to seek the help of professionals knowledgeable in the field to open the association in the most appropriate way. Adv. Yaron Kedar has served as the Registrar of Nonprofit Organizations, and therefore can be trusted with a whole heart and a clear head. Legal advice for establishing a nonprofit organization is provided out of a true commitment to the firm’s clients and out of a genuine connection to the goals for which nonprofit organizations are established in Israel. Additional distinct characteristics of the services of Adv. Weiss-Schwartz Kedar Law Firm are high availability and the ability to provide a professional response at eye level to every need – so that the client knows exactly what options are available to him, what the advantages and disadvantages are, and thus can make the best decisions.
There are approximately 40,000 registered associations in Israel, and according to various estimates, approximately 40% of them are active. An association is a very convenient legal structure for promoting various goals – mainly in areas such as education, helping the needy, rescuing animals, promoting a particular culture and also specific values. In order to establish a new association, proper conduct is required with the Registrar of Associations at the Ministry of Justice. When the process is carried out according to all relevant rules, the registration of an association can be completed within about two to three weeks, while various errors may delay the establishment of the association and even lead to a negative response from the registrar. At the Weiss-Schwartz Keidar Law Firm, the main area of expertise is legal support for non-profit organizations and advice prior to their establishment – in order to prevent errors and unnecessary delays.
* Payment of a fee – The Registrar of Associations charges both a certain amount of money for registration and an annual fee as long as the association is registered. When the annual turnover is expected to be less than 300,000 NIS, a reduced registration fee will be paid.
* 7 members – Although according to the Associations Law, only two members are required to register an association, the Tax Authority sets a stricter condition – 7 members, all of whom are 18 years of age or older – in order to grant the requested tax exemption.
* Bylaws – Bylaws must be attached to the application form submitted to the Registrar of Associations. The bylaws are binding on all members of the association and form the basis for its activities. You can use the existing bylaws (which are detailed in Appendix 1 to the Associations Law), but it is recommended to create specific bylaws according to the characteristics of the association to be established.
* Affidavit – in which at least two members of the association testify to the circumstances in which the decision to establish it was made.
After registering an association with the Registrar of Associations, there are two more necessary bureaucratic processes: opening a VAT file and opening an income tax file. Naturally, the Tax Authority also has different requirements, and therefore it is mandatory to fulfill them in order to operate legally. It is also recommended that every association obtain a “proper management certificate” which allows it to receive support from the state and makes it easier to raise donations. The founder of the Weiss-Schwartz Kedar Law Firm, Attorney Yaron Kedar, previously held a senior position in the Ministry of Justice, so he is one of the leading experts in the field in the country. The firm he founded provides close legal support to anyone who wants to register a new non-profit organization, as well as to existing non-profit organizations.
