Yael Foundation
 | |
| Formation | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Uri Poliavich, Yael Poliavich |
| Type | Philanthropic organization |
| Focus | Jewish education |
Region served | Worldwide |
| Services | Grants, educational support, institutional development |
Key people | Uri Poliavich |
| Website | yaelfoundation |
Yael Foundation is an international philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing Jewish education worldwide. Founded in 2020 by Uri Poliavich and Yael Poliavich, the foundation has rapidly grown into one of the most active private funders of Jewish schools and educational initiatives globally. Through significant funding and hands-on strategic support, the organization works to strengthen Jewish identity and ensure the long-term sustainability of Jewish educational institutions across dozens of countries.
History
The Yael Foundation was established in 2020 as a private philanthropic initiative with a clear focus on excellence in Jewish education. Within a few years of its founding, the foundation expanded into a globally active organization, building a presence across multiple regions and emerging as a major player in the Jewish educational philanthropy landscape.
Activities
The foundation invests in a wide range of Jewish educational institutions, including day schools, kindergartens, and informal education programs, through grants and operational support. Its work extends well beyond financial backing: the foundation invests in teacher training, institutional development, and enrollment growth strategies aimed at making high quality Jewish education more accessible. In partnership with leading Jewish educational institutions, Yael Foundation focuses on improving academic standards, strengthening school operations, and building long-term sustainability.
Programs
Yael Foundation runs a broad portfolio of programs supporting both formal and informal education. A central pillar of its strategy is investment in flagship educational institutions, which are designed to serve as models for Jewish education and are expected to accommodate a large number of students.
The foundation also hosts the Yael Foundation Summit, a flagship annual international conference that brings together educators, school leaders, and community figures from around the world to share best practices and address shared challenges in Jewish education.
Yael Schools
The Yael Schools, developed by the Yael Foundation, are designed to be IB world schools in emerging Jewish communities, alive with vibrant Jewish learning and tradition, world-class arts and purpose-driven entrepreneurship, where children gain agency and belonging, exercising their creativity and emerging with a powerful and proud Jewish identity, ready to shape the future with confidence and joy.
Yael Camp
Yael Camp is an annual summer program for Jewish children and teenagers from diverse backgrounds. The program facilitates interaction between participants from various cultures with different languages. The initiative is centered on the exploration and celebration of Jewish identity and community. It provides a platform for young individuals to establish connections with peers through shared cultural experiences outside of a traditional academic setting.
Partnerships
Yael Foundation collaborates with leading Jewish organizations and institutions on joint educational initiatives. In the wake of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the foundation took an active role in supporting security upgrades and infrastructure resilience for Jewish schools.
Leadership
The foundation operates with an international team responsible for grantmaking, partnerships, and program management.
Yael Awards
The Yael Foundation presents the Yael Awards, a flagship annual international program recognizing excellence in Jewish education. The awards spotlight outstanding schools, educators, and programs, with finalists evaluated on criteria such as academic quality, innovation, and community impact.
In 2026, the Yael Awards convened finalists from more than a dozen countries across Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Honorees were selected by a distinguished international jury that included former Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky.
