Established in 1998, the SHAI Educational Scholarship Fund is the cornerstone of our educational agenda for the future. Although it is a need-based program, this Fund is not a charity; it is an investment in the future of our community. We are confident that it will yield long-term, real dividends in the hundreds of young people whose education has been furthered thanks to the Fund’s support.
Quality education is costly, especially for large families, and the cost of tuition is rising each year. The high cost of education puts it out of reach for some students, and makes it an unreasonable hardship for others. An educated mind is the key to a bright future and personal reward. An educated mind is one that is enriched with Jewish learning, a college degree, and possibly even a professional degree. The goal of SHAI's scholarship program is to provide a helping hand to students and to families in need of assistance with their children’s education. The Scholarship Fund has grown significantly with each passing year, and since its inception, SHAI has awarded over $2 Million in scholarship funds to over 1,000 students in the U.S. and in Israel. We owe our sincere gratitude to our community members for their generous support of this Fund.
To learn more about available scholarship funds, please contact: info@shaiusa.org
For a scholarship application, please click below.
Applications for SHAI scholarships must be filed before the end of September.
The Fund is administered under clear guidelines, designed to ensure its integrity and to yield the maximum benefit to the widest range of students.
- The scholarship program is administered through an endowment fund, maintained in a segregated risk-free account. Every penny donated to the Scholarship Fund goes directly toward the tuition expenses of the students and not for any other purpose. There are no overhead expenses, and no administrative expenses. All of SHAI's events, mailings, and other expenses are paid for out of a separate account.
- Scholarship checks are paid directly to the educational institution where the student is currently enrolled, and never to the individual student. Scholarship awards are also capped for each student.
- Each application is thoroughly screened by a dedicated subcommittee of SHAI's Board. Every applicant, and in some cases the parents of the applicant, must fill out and sign a sworn financial affidavit and disclosure form, and provide requested documentation. This is in compliance with government regulations, and in order to ensure that scholarship funds are given to students with genuine need. The screening process is conducted under conditions of strict confidentiality and discretion, out of respect for the applicants' privacy.
- The program is also unique in that applicants for a college or graduate school scholarship make an honor agreement to repay the money in the future. This not only reaffirms the values of supporting education and giving back, but allows the endowment fund to be constantly replenished. We have already received full repayment from some of our scholarship recipients.
The SHAI Board welcomes questions and will be happy to provide information on the scholarship program, including further details on the endowment fund, how it is maintained, how the monies are distributed, and the special donations for Israel. With your continued support and generosity, the SHAI Scholarship Fund will be a source of financial support for students in need, for generations to come.
Charitable giving is a mitzvah, at any giving level. A donation to this worthy cause is an investment in the future of the Persian Jewish community. Supporting a student’s education enables them to support their future families and our future community.
To donate, please click below.
The SHAI Scholarship Committee is extremely discreet and committed to maintaining applicants' confidentiality. For this reason, online/electronic applications are not accepted. Do NOT e-mail your application. Please mail to the PO Box address listed on the application.