Terminology - A MASA Primer Program Organizer – This is the official body that is responsible for the program the applicant is planning to attend.  A program organizer could be the name of the university or a youth movement running the program of your choice, etc.  Many program organizers have more than one MASA approved program.  Be sure to confirm that the program of your choice is MASA approved.  Not all programs of all approved program organizers meet the criteria for MASA approval. Grant – Funding that MASA will give every participant in a MASA approved program.  To qualify for a grant applicants must complete steps 1-3 of the grant/needs-based scholarship application form. Needs-based scholarship – MASA funding that applicants can receive  is determined by the participant’s financial need, country of origin and the length of the program and not all applicants are eligible for this scholarship. (See below for more details).  To apply, fill out the entire application form online.  Submit ALL required documents (proving your gross annual income) together with the application form (pdf file) you receive in the mail from MASA to your program organizer.  Applicants for needs-based scholarships who do not submit official proof of income, will not be eligible. Independent applicants – To qualify as an independent applicant for a needs-based scholarship, applicants must fill the online application and be able to produce ALL of the following documents: • A notarized letter from parents/guardians that states they are not supporting the applicant financially • A copy of applicant’s lease or rental agreement for 12 months prior to the start of the Israel program • Proof of gross income for 12 months prior to the start of the Israel program. If even one of these documents is missing, the applicant is not considered independent by MASA. MASA understands that a truly independent applicant will not be earning anything during his/her time on a MASA approved program.  Thus to calculate the needs-based scholarship for an independent applicant, MASA uses 50% of the annual gross income as a basis. General Information • Participants should be prepared to pay their full program fee upfront.  The MASA grant/needs-based scholarship awarded will then be refunded to them by their program organizer. This is because of the funds distribution policy that is explained in greater detail below. • To receive a MASA grant and be eligible for a MASA needs-based scholarship, applicants must complete the entire online application form. • MASA grant/needs-based scholarship application forms must reach the MASA office no later than 60 days prior to the start of the program.  This is to enable applicants to receive answers at least 2 weeks before the start of the program since MASA promised answers within 45 days of receipt of a full and completed form. MASA Grants • Every MASA participant is eligible to receive a MASA Grant. However, to receive the MASA grant the participant must send in a completed application form. • The grant amount varies from country to country and is determined by the length of the specific program.  To qualify for a grant applicants must complete steps 1-3 of the online grant/needs-based scholarship application form. MASA Scholarships • A portion of the remaining fee of the program (program fee minus MASA grant) has the potential to be covered by a MASA needs-based scholarship.  The total amount of financial assistance a participant is able to receive from MASA (grant and needs-based scholarship) cannot exceed 95% of the program fee. • The amount of needs-based scholarship money awarded is determined by the participant’s financial need, country of origin and the length of the program. • What is taken into consideration in the needs-based scholarship evaluation process is: the age of the participant, the participant's country of origin, the number of members in the participant’s family and the family's gross income (if the participant is a dependent). If the applicant is independent, then the applicant’s gross annual income is considered.  Independent applicants must meet the criteria as defined above and on the application form. • MASA applicants must send the pdf version of the application that will be sent to them by MASA to their program organizer.  The program organizer is responsible for forwarding the grant/needs-based scholarship applications (the grant and needs-based scholarship applications are on one application form) to MASA. The Application & Review Process • All applications must be sent directly to the program organizer.  The program organizer reviews them, and if the applicant is accepted to the program, the application is forwarded to MASA.   • Upon receipt of the application form by MASA it is stamped with the date of receipt.  This is done so that MASA can stand by its promise to have answers within 45 days of receipt of completed forms or as close to this time-frame as possible. • The amount of grant money an applicant can be awarded is a predetermined amount, depending on the country the participant is coming to Israel from.  To be awarded, however, the participant must apply by completing the application form. • MASA tries to notify the applicant of the amount they are to receive within 45 days of MASA receiving the participant's application from their program.  MASA tries to notify applicants via e-mail but when there is no email address on the form, then by regular mail.  For quickest results, the applicant's current email should be clearly written on the application. • Transfer of funds occurs during the participant's year in Israel.  The Distribution of Funds • Legal issues bind MASA from allocating grant/needs-based scholarship funds directly to the MASA participant.  MASA, therefore, transfers the money to the participant's program organizer.  The program organizer then passes the grant/needs-based scholarship on to the participant.   • The transfer of funds by the program organizer to the participants is determined by the program organizer.  Delays in receipt of funds by the participant from the program organizer are primarily due to delays in contract closure between MASA and the program.