Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality

We are largely a volunteer based organization, including the director, and only have three paid part-time staff. We have a core group of about 30 volunteers from both the Jewish and Arab communities who are involved on a weekly basis and a further 200 volunteers who support our activities in the villages every two months. Our activities are governed by an active and engaged seven-member volunteer board of directors made up of Jewish and Bedouin residents. During 2009, our annual operating budget was approximately US$45,000. The New Israel Fund is our major donor, however, we have also received support from the Haella Foundation and the British Shalom Salaam Trust. The NCF works closely with local and national organisations that have aligning interests. In 2002, for instance, we founded the Recognition Forum, a coalition of Israeli human rights organisations, to advocate for recognition for the unrecognised villages. The NCF has developed strong relationships with at least 20 communities in the Negev.