In this report you will witness our response to this summer’s Lebanese crisis, my country of origin and where we have worked since the 1930s; our continued help to Palestinians deeply affected by sanctions imposed upon them; our truly impressive successes in Jordan where our Qudorat project has boosted nongovernmental organizations and their income generation; real breakthroughs in gender-sensitive educational reform in Morocco; health care for thousands of Sudanese who have fled violence and drought; regional leadership of our Cairo-based Center for Development Services widely influencing policy and practice; multi-faceted assistance to Malian villagers as they build a new democracy while fighting environmental degradation, illiteracy, drought and other forces; agricultural development in war-torn Iraq.

No other organization I know has accomplished so much under such difficult circumstances. That’s what happens when you have gained nine decades of wisdom on the job. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but I am looking forward to the satisfactions of more missions accomplished. And the NEF board, our chair, and the people we exist to serve count on you to help move NEF forward into our next century.

We have received a very important gift from the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation, named for our founder 91 years ago and a loyal friend since. The Dodge Foundation will match dollar-for-dollar money raised above last year’s total, up to $100,000. Increasing your contribution to NEF from now until June 30, 2007, will help us meet this generous match.

So while this report highlights NEF’s many achievements over the past year, I look to the future, to our approaching 100th anniversary, with confidence in our proven abilities and trust in the loyalty of our supporters. I firmly believe the new NEF will be a springboard to yet more and greater achievements that will make us all proud.

Linda K. Jacobs, Ph.D.
NEF Board Chair/President