Overview :

As President and CEO of the Zachary Foundation, Safier directed funding to the Helen Diller Family Foundation, which was revealed to have contributed $100,000 to Canary Mission. This was uncovered in a 2018 Haaretz investigation, confirming that money from a major Jewish federation had quietly supported the site’s efforts to stigmatize student activists.

Targeting Muslim and Pro-Palestinian Students

Canary Mission has long been criticized for its chilling effect on free speech and activism—particularly among Muslim students and those who advocate for Palestinian rights. The site catalogs names, photos, and social media posts of individuals, branding them with accusations of anti-Semitism and extremism, often without context. These profiles are designed to follow students into their professional careers, effectively discouraging them from participating in campus discourse for fear of being publicly smeared.

By financially backing this effort, Safier’s foundation has played a role—directly or indirectly—in empowering a platform that weaponizes identity and activism against students, many of whom come from already marginalized communities.

Backing Away, But Not Taking Responsibility

After the funding was exposed, Safier and the Helen Diller Foundation attempted to distance themselves from Canary Mission, calling the donation a mistake and claiming ignorance of the site’s true nature. However, critics argue that such statements fall short. Accountability requires more than regret—it demands acknowledgment of the real-world harm done to students whose reputations and futures were put at risk.

Social Media:

Instagram: @jaclynsafier (Private account)​