The Yael Foundation's Practical Tools, Programs, and Systemic Steps

The Yael Foundation is an international charitable organization that supports Jewish schools, identity-centered education, and Jewish cultural heritage across 45 countries. Through its educational initiatives, the Foundation helps schools strengthen academic quality, expand access to Jewish education, and build long-term cooperation between communities.

The quality of children's education in Jewish communities varies across different regions. While large cities often have well-established schools, smaller communities may have more limited educational resources. The Yael Foundation works with local schools by providing financial and methodological support, helping institutions maintain high academic standards while strengthening Jewish education. The Foundation also connects schools through a shared international network, making it easier to exchange experience, share educational practices, and provide ongoing professional development for school leaders.

Over five years of activity, the Yael Foundation has built an effective grant system supporting Jewish schools and communities across different regions. The Foundation provides funding to educational institutions and community initiatives, helping strengthen Jewish education and expand access to high-quality, identity-centered learning. It also brings these institutions together in a shared international network that encourages collaboration, professional training, the exchange of experience, and the sharing of successful educational practices across countries.

History of the Foundation and Key Development Stages

The charitable institution began its activities in 2020. It was founded by Uri and Yael Poliavich. They made their first donation to a kindergarten in the Ukrainian town of Anatevka. Later, activities expanded to other schools in Ukraine and Belarus. Due to high demand, an international fund was established. The organization operates under the motto "No Jewish child should be left behind."

The organization started its work as a grant-funding structure. During this first stage, the foundation laid the groundwork for long-term partnerships with communities. The basic model that operates today was formed: allocating funding to schools and organizations instead of direct operational management of the institutions.

In 2023, the foundation launched its own direct programs in addition to grants. The organization started Yael Camp – an international summer camp program. It brought together children from Jewish communities in European and other countries. At the same time, the annual Yael International Summit was launched, expanding the foundation's international influence. It gathers heads of school and community leaders from dozens of countries.

In April 2025, the organization's geographical presence expanded significantly. It reached countries in Latin America, Europe, and other regions. The foundation began creating permanent structures to coordinate partners. The International Exchange Program for Leaders of Jewish Schools was launched. It united principals and administrators across borders. Currently, the organization provides comprehensive support to 145 institutions in 45 countries and 101 cities worldwide. Active planning and implementation of several long-term projects for constructing new school buildings is underway.

Project Selection Rules and Funding Procedure

Educational institutions become partners through the evaluation of grant applications. Experts thoroughly review each request. They assess the long-term impact of the project on children. Application submission is open continuously throughout the year. Applicants receive an official response within six months.

The foundation accepts documents only from officially registered organizations. Grants are provided to general education schools, kindergartens, and informal education programs. The age of students must be between 3 and 18 years. Financial assistance is allocated for 12 months. The funding amount is calculated individually. Experts consider student enrollment and the cost of living in the region.

The foundation directs funds to the following areas:

• Organizing and conducting special campaigns to attract and recruit new students to schools.

• Remuneration and salary payments to teachers of general subjects, Hebrew, and Jewish disciplines.

• Creating modern curricula, purchasing computer and technological equipment for classrooms.

• Material assistance to families, which includes scholarships for students, payment for daily school transportation, and funding for after-school groups.
  

Current Programs: Yael Camp and Leaders Summit

The Yael Camp project is designed for children and teenagers and is fully funded by the charitable foundation. Participation is free of charge for all attendees. The camp is organized annually. The venue changes constantly, with organizers choosing a new country each time. The program consists of two shifts. Each shift lasts about 11 days.

The camp targets school-aged children from Jewish communities in European and other countries. Organizers pay special attention to participants from small towns and remote communities. In such places, local national programs are very limited. For many teenagers, this project becomes the first real opportunity to meet Jewish peers from other countries. Communication and learning in the camp take place in several languages simultaneously. This reflects the multinational composition of the participants.

The main goal of the camp is to create conditions for intercultural exchange. Teenagers build lasting friendships. The organization strengthens connections between scattered communities. This lays the foundation for their cooperation after camp comcludes.

Statistics demonstrate the rapid expansion of the project:

• In 2023, the program brought together 170 children.

• In 2025, the number of participants exceeded 500 people. They came from 19 different countries, and the work was conducted in four languages.
  

Thanks to the camp, many teenagers entered a structured national environment for the first time. A separate component is the leaders summit, an event that lasts several days. The program is dedicated to current issues in educational development. Participants seek solutions to common problems faced by schools in different countries.

Professional Training and Leadership Development

The International Program for Leadership and Innovation in Jewish Education is designed to train school principals and senior administrative staff. Specialists learn to implement new teaching methods and modern management practices.

Training runs along two independent tracks:

• Formal education: Designed for school principals and middle managers.

• Informal education: Intended for leaders of youth movements and community associations.

During the pilot phase, 18 school principals from six countries successfully completed this year-long training course.

The educational process consists of four major components:

• A specialized European conference on leadership development.

• An intensive seminar in Israel on innovation, entrepreneurship, and educational management.

• Individual consultations and mentorship support from leading experts.

• Providing seed funding for the best projects based on the recommendations of an expert committee.
  

Thanks to this program, the foundation allocates financial assistance for school modernization. Funds are distributed across three areas. The first area is updating teaching methods through leadership training. The second area is developing pedagogical potential through compensation and mentorship programs. This helps attract and retain qualified staff. The third area is the technical re-equipment of classrooms, funding curriculum development, and purchasing modern equipment.

Yael Awards for Educational Achievements

The Yael Awards is an official achievement recognition program by the charitable foundation. The competition is held annually among educational institutions from around the world. The presentation of awards is part of a three-day convention. The event program includes lectures and strategic sessions for experience sharing. The event concludes with a solemn ceremony honoring educators and schools for the best results. The awards are presented during an international summit. The first ceremony took place in 2023. In 2026, the fourth awards ceremony was held.

The award functions as an effective mechanism for transmitting successful experiences. Official recognition for academic results or classroom innovations allows for documenting working practices. Other institutions can then adopt them. The competition gives teachers from small or remote communitiesa unique opportunity to gain international visibility. In the foundation's overall model, the award helps identify and spread proven teaching methods. It complements the system of financial grants and leadership training programs.

The Core Values of the Yael Foundation

In its daily activities, the foundation relies on three value guidelines:

• Adaptive interaction: The foundation allocates assistance regardless of the program's scale or location. The organization does not use templates.

• Building interconnections: The institution maintains direct contact with grant recipients. It unites leaders into a professional community.

• Quality improvement: The structure of assistance stimulates the long-term evolution of supported schools.
  

The Yael Foundation aims to strengthen and expand the impact of educational initiatives already taking place within Jewish communities. By providing funding, strategic support, and opportunities for collaboration, the Foundation helps schools and educational institutions broaden access to high-quality general and Jewish education. The foundation seeks to strengthen national self-awareness in communities worldwide.