Questions. Answered. Honestly.
Student Athletes of Israel (SAI) is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships, academic accommodations (hakalot), and university partnerships for Israel's Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The program is designed for elite athletes who want to pursue a university degree while continuing to train and compete at the highest level.
SAI supports athletes across all Olympic and Paralympic disciplines. Whether you compete in swimming, judo, track and field, rowing, fencing, or any other recognized sport, you are eligible to apply. The key requirement is that you are competing at the national level or above.
SAI scholarships cover tuition fees, training-related costs, and living expenses. The exact amount varies based on individual circumstances and available funding. Our goal is to remove the financial barrier so athletes can focus on both sport and academics.
Hakalot are academic accommodations negotiated between SAI and our partner universities. They include flexible exam scheduling, deadline extensions during competition periods, remote learning options, and adjusted attendance requirements. These accommodations ensure that your training and competition schedule is respected by the university.
SAI's first cohort launches in Fall 2026 at Bar-Ilan University. We are currently recruiting athletes and finalizing scholarship allocations. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
You can apply through our online application form. The process takes about 10 minutes. We review applications on a rolling basis and will contact you within 14 days of submission. Visit our Apply page to get started.
No. You can apply to SAI before being accepted to a university. In fact, SAI can help facilitate your university application process and ensure you receive the appropriate accommodations from the start.
SAI primarily serves Israeli athletes, but we welcome applications from athletes with strong ties to Israel who wish to study at Israeli universities. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Your donation directly funds athlete scholarships, academic support services, mentorship programs, and the operational infrastructure needed to run SAI. We are committed to transparency — donors receive regular reports on how their contribution is making an impact.
SAI offers several investment pathways: Scholarship Expansion ($40K–$200K) funds individual athlete scholarships; Infrastructure Enhancement ($75K–$150K) builds support systems; University Replication ($250K–$500K) expands to new campuses; and Endowment Fund ($1M–$5M+) creates a permanent legacy. Each level comes with unique recognition and involvement opportunities.
Yes, SAI operates as a registered nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. We maintain full financial transparency and undergo regular audits.
Yes. At the Scholarship Expansion level and above, donors can be matched with specific athletes. You'll receive personal updates on your athlete's academic and athletic progress, and may have opportunities to meet them at SAI events.
All donors receive annual impact reports. Higher-tier donors receive quarterly briefings, direct athlete progress updates, and invitations to exclusive SAI events. We believe in complete transparency about how your investment is driving change.
Reach out through our contact form or email us directly. Our team will schedule a conversation to discuss the investment pathway that aligns with your goals and interests. There is no pressure — we want to find the right fit for every supporter.
A university partnership involves signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a hakalot framework for elite athletes. The university commits to providing academic accommodations, designating an athlete liaison, and integrating SAI's mentorship program into campus life.
Bar-Ilan University is SAI's founding university partner, with a signed MOU and a Fall 2026 launch date. We are in active discussions with Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, and the Technion about future partnerships.
The MOU is a formal agreement between SAI and the university that outlines the specific academic accommodations available to SAI athletes, the roles and responsibilities of each party, and the governance structure for the program. It is co-developed with university leadership to ensure alignment with institutional policies.
New university partnerships typically take 6–12 months to establish, from initial conversations to a signed MOU. The process includes stakeholder alignment, framework design, and pilot planning. We aim to add one new university partner per year starting in 2027.