The Israel Foundations Trustees (I.F.T) was founded in 1953 as an independent

public body, and was registered as a "Company Limited by Guarantee " according

to Israeli Law.   As a charitable institution, its main aims are to receive and distribute grants, donations, endowments etc. from organizations or individuals or from its own resources for the advancement of scientific research in Israel.

The I.F.T is recognized both by the Israeli Government and by United States authorities, as a non profit, charitable organization, and is thus exempt from income tax.

In the first two decades of its existence, the principal emphasis of the I.F.T has been on the natural sciences and technology, and the bulk of the funds came from the Ford Foundation in several biennial grants. In 1972 the Ford Foundation and the I.F.T agreed that the policy should be changed to place almost the entire emphasis on the Social Sciences. In !986 a permanent fund was established with the help of The Ford Foundation.  

The principal activity of the I.F.T at present is the support of research in the Social Sciences in Israel.  Until 2002 the competitions were open to all scientists in the various Universities and Social Research Institutes in Israel in Social Sciences.

In June 2003 the I.F.T Board of Directors decided to concentrate the I.F.T  efforts

on encouraging research by Young Scientists. Accordingly, a major change was

made in the Competition starting from  2004-2006 competition.  This competition

was the first designated solely for young Scientists (up to 7 years from receiving

the PhD, and up to 5 years as "Lecturer" ("Martze") in one of the Universities and academic Colleges ("Michlalot") in Israel.  

The present programs include, in addition to the  Research Grants for Young Scientists, research grants for Doctoral Students (a program that started in 1978).
Because of budget limitation ,each competition (for young scientists and for doctoral students) is being held once in two years.

The Board of Directors consists of members in various fields of academic life in the Social Sciences, appointed ad personam.