Funding Your Experience

MASA provides funding for eligible Israel Pathways participants. While not required, Israel Pathways applicants are encouraged to apply for the standard MASA grant as well as need-based MASA scholarships. To qualify for MASA funding, applicants must meet the following core criteria:

  1) Jewish
  2) Age 18-30
  3) First time receiving a MASA grant or first time participating in any long term, post-high school Israel experience
  4) Not Israeli citizens or have left Israel before their 14th birthday and have lived outside of Israel for over four years.

MASA Funding Rules

Funding is calculated based on the length of your program in Israel and the type(s) of MASA funding you seek. Learn More: About MASA 

MASA Standard Grants

So long as you meet the core eligibility criteria for the program, you will be eligible for a standard MASA grant as follows: 

  • Participants on a 5-month Israel program, ages 21-30, are eligible for a $3,000 grant from MASA
  • Participants on a 10-month Israel program, ages 21-30 are eligible for a $4,500 grant from MASA

NOTE: Applicants participating in a Gap Year program or Study Abroad program, ages 18-21, are restricted to a $1,000 grant from MASA.

MASA Need-Based Scholarships

If you demonstrate financial need, you may be eligible to receive additional need-based scholarship funding from MASA as follows:

  • Participants on a 5-month Israel program, ages 21-30, may be eligible for up to a $1,500 need-based scholarship from MASA
  • Participants on a 10-month Israel program, ages 21-30, may be eligible for up to a $3,000 need-based scholarship from MASA

MASA Application Process

While it is relatively easy to qualify for MASA funding, the application process is a little complicated. Please follow these steps carefully. 

STEP #1: Complete the Israel Pathways Online Application

To kick-off the process, sign-up for an Israel Pathways program of your choice by completing the Online Application. You may also want to take a few minutes and learn about our general program registration process beforehand. Your application for MASA funding will not be reviewed until your application with Israel Pathways is complete. 

STEP #2: Fill Out the MASA Funding Application

Complete the online MASA Funding Application. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria should fill out the standard grant application. You may also want to fill out the section requesting an additional MASA need-based scholarship. These forms can only be submitted online.

NOTE: If you are also applying for a needs-based scholarship, please be sure to have your parents' current financial information at hand, or your financial information, if you are applying as an independent.

STEP #3: Submit the the MASA Funding Application to Israel Pathways

Once you have completed the MASA application(s) online, you will receive back a record of your application by email as a PDF file. MASA requires you to print the completed PDF application and sign-it. You should sign the last late page, which is 4th page if you only applied for grant, or the 5th page if you applied for the combined grant/scholarship. Once signed, you can either mail the form to the Israel Pathway office or scan it and upload it to your Israel Pathways online application account. Israel Pathways will be responsible for submitting your application directly to MASA for final review and approval.

 
STEP #4: Wait for MASA to Confirm Your Funding

Once received, it will take up to 45 days for MASA to process your grant and/or scholarship application. After it has been processed, you will receive an email confirming your total grant/scholarship amount. The grant/scholarship you receive will be deducted from your final balance to Israel Pathways.  You can check your balance online by signing into your Israel Pathways application account. In the event that your MASA funding is not approved far enough in advance, you may be responsible for covering the balance of program costs temporarily. In this scenario, we will refund any "overpayment" as soon as the MASA funds reach your account. The moral of the story is that you should start your Online Application now to stay ahead of the process!

Other Funding Sources

Looking for additional ways to help fund your Israel Pathways experience? Try contacting your local or hometown Jewish community organization -- often called a "Jewish Federation". If you are not sure where to turn, check out the North American Jewish Federation Directory for the organization(s) that apply to you. Often times these Federations have need-based funds available for young adults seeking to participate in an Israel experience program. If you belong to a synagogue, or if your parents belong to a synagogue, that may be a good source of community funding as well. Finally, try searching the web. There are many foundations who assist Jewish young adults in getting to Israel. Good luck!

EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

Sign-up now and save! Applicants who complete their Online Application at least 100 days before the program start date will automatically qualify for a $200 discount. Keep in mind that you can cancel and receive a refund on your program deposit up till 100 days before the program start date as well. In other words, plan ahead -- you have virtually nothing to lose.