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Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy
Executive summary
The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) is a U.S.-based nonprofit that describes itself as a global interdisciplinary research center dedicated to the academic study of antisemitism and to producing research, seminars, and policy recommendations to combat it [1] [2]. Independent nonprofit profiles and university guides repeat ISGAP’s mission and programs; critics and watchdogs characterize it as both an advocacy organization and a pro‑Israel actor that produces investigative reports on campus activism and foreign funding [3] [4].
1. What ISGAP says it is: scholarship turned to policy
ISGAP’s own materials frame the organization as a research and education center that “disseminates analytical and scholarly materials to help combat hatred and promote understanding,” runs seminars and courses, and aims to support interdisciplinary research on antisemitism in global, national and regional contexts [1] [2]. Its public website highlights occasional papers, online courses, and an intensive seminar program; ISGAP promotes itself as focused on policy analysis and outreach to scholars, the public, and policymakers [1] [5] [2].
2. Programs and outputs: conferences, papers, and campus investigations
Reporting and ISGAP’s summaries document recurring activities: two‑week scholar conferences (including an Oxford meeting), an Occasional Paper Series, digital courses, and investigative reports into campus activism and university funding [6] [1] [5]. Recent ISGAP work cited in the results includes studies alleging undisclosed foreign funding to U.S. universities and reports on organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and faculty endorsements at particular campuses [6].
3. How outside observers describe ISGAP: research and advocacy
Third‑party profiles vary in tone. GuideStar, Idealist, and academic library guides present ISGAP as a scholarly organization dedicated to studying antisemitism and related prejudices [7] [8] [9] [10]. InfluenceWatch and NGO‑Report describe ISGAP as combining research with advocacy and as aligned with pro‑Israel policy goals, noting leadership ties and fundraising from donors sympathetic to those aims [3] [4]. Charity Navigator lists ISGAP’s nonprofit rating and basic organizational details [11].
4. Political and policy engagement: Capitol Hill and partisan audiences
ISGAP has engaged directly with U.S. policymakers: materials show the group submitting statements and supporting legislative initiatives related to campus antisemitism and foreign influence, and holding policy briefings—activities that move it beyond pure academia toward advocacy and influence on education policy [12] [6]. NGO‑Report explicitly says ISGAP “engages with U.S. lawmakers” to support pro‑Israel policies, portraying that engagement as part of its broader mission [4].
5. Areas of controversy and differing perspectives
Sources document contested claims in ISGAP reporting—e.g., allegations of large undisclosed foreign funding and a claimed 300% rise in campus antisemitic incidents—claims that have political implications and draw scrutiny [6] [12]. InfluenceWatch and NGO‑Report highlight ISGAP’s advocacy posture and possible alignment with pro‑Israel agendas, while university guides and ISGAP itself emphasize scholarly aims [3] [4] [9]. Available sources do not mention independent peer review of every investigative claim, so readers should note the difference between academic scholarship and advocacy reports in the corpus provided [1] [3].
6. People, funding, and transparency questions
Profiles identify Charles Asher Small as ISGAP’s executive director and Natan Sharansky as chair, and note funding from individual donors, foundations, and possibly government or communal sources sympathetic to pro‑Israel aims [3] [4]. Charity Navigator provides a public rating reflecting governance and financial data but does not itself resolve political characterizations; NGO‑Report asserts Israel government grants and right‑wing communal donors as significant, while other sources focus on mission rather than donor profiles [11] [4] [7].
7. How to read ISGAP’s work: context and verification
ISGAP’s outputs are influential because they combine research framing with direct policy advocacy; readers should therefore treat its reports as part scholarship, part advocacy and cross‑check major empirical claims—especially those with political consequences—against independent data and peer‑reviewed studies. Several sources repeat ISGAP’s mission and publications, while watchdogs and NGO‑style profiles emphasize its advocacy role and policy aims, presenting competing interpretations of the organization’s agenda [1] [3] [4].
Limitations: this summary relies only on the supplied search results; claims or criticism not present in those sources are “not found in current reporting” here. For specific ISGAP reports, donor schedules, or independent academic reviews, consult the primary ISGAP publications and third‑party evaluations cited above [1] [3] [4].