named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Grad Program
Assists Syrian and Palestinian-Syrian students applying to English-taught graduate programs abroad by providing support with standardized exams (GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL), essay writing, and application logistics, along with access to expert counseling.
One Year Program
Provides one-on-one mentoring and financial support to Syrian and Palestinian-Syrian students in grades 11–12 or recent graduates navigating undergraduate applications to competitive universities worldwide. Covers application and testing fees and prepares students for admission and scholarships.
Prep Program
Supports 10th and 11th grade students from Syria and Palestinian-Syrian backgrounds in building English proficiency, academic knowledge, and leadership skills to improve college readiness ahead of undergraduate applications.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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College Access and Success Support 3 activities
- Essay review and editing supportOffers essay feedback and editing services to students during the university application cycle through a network of volunteer editors, supporting both undergraduate and graduate applicants.
- One-on-one mentoring for university applicationsProvides individualized mentoring to Syrian and Palestinian-Syrian students in 10th and 11th grade to support their applications to competitive undergraduate and graduate programs worldwide, including guidance on university selection, essay writing, and application logistics. Mentoring is delivered by a volunteer team of over 100 mentors.
- Support for graduate school applicationsProvides targeted support to Syrian students applying to graduate programs, including exam preparation (GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL), assistance with application essays, and logistical guidance through the admissions process.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 2 activities
- Financial support for application costsProvides financial assistance to Syrian students by covering application fees and test fees for exams including the SAT, Duolingo English Test, IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT, enabling participation in competitive university admissions processes.
- Scholarship facilitationSupports Syrian students in securing full-cost scholarship opportunities for graduate and undergraduate study, having facilitated access to $40 million in scholarships to date.
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College Preparatory Secondary Education 1 activity
- Academic preparation programmingOffers structured academic programming to strengthen English language skills, general knowledge, standardized test readiness, and leadership abilities among Syrian and Palestinian-Syrian high school students to improve college readiness.
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Alumni Leadership and Career Support Programs 1 activity
- Peer and alumni support communityProvides enrolled students with access to a peer and alumni network to support ongoing engagement and success in higher education.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Support for Rise finalistsProvides selected Rise finalists from Syria and Iraq with access to its One Year Program, offering development opportunities and support.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$174K
Contributions & grants$174K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$102K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$168K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$168K
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +129.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 7
- Amneh Arnous — Board member
- Elysa Bryen — Board member
- Eva Hangartner — Board member Secretary
- George Batah — Executive Director
- Kim Benzel — Board member
- Lina Sergie Attar — Board member
- Yasmin El Tawil — Board member
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Duolingo Partner — Testing organization with which SYE collaborates to secure fee reductions for students applying to universities.
- Facebook Partner — Collaborates with Facebook to disseminate updates and application information to prospective students.
- Facebook Partner — Platform used to share updates about SYE’s applications and programs
- Facebook Partner — SYE encourages applicants to follow its Facebook page for updates on program applications.
- Harvard University Partner — Hosts SYE alumni and is a destination university for SYE-supported students.
- Illinois Institute of Technology Partner — Institution that admitted and hosted the co-founders through a Jusoor-supported scholarship, forming part of SYE's foundational experience.
- Jusoor Partner — Partner organization that supported the co-founders through a scholarship program and is referenced as part of SYE's origin story.
- MET Museum Government — Sponsored the annual mentor retreat.
- MET Museum Partner — Sponsored the annual mentor retreat.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Partner — Hosts SYE alumni and is a destination university for SYE-supported students.
- Rhodes Trust Partner — Co-leads the Rise initiative with Schmidt Futures in partnership with SYE Initiative.
- Schmidt Futures Partner — Collaborates with SYE Initiative on the Rise program.
- The College Board Partner — Organization with which SYE works to reduce application-related fees for students from conflict zones.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Alumni-Led Mentorship Sustainability Modelmethodology: alumni_mentor_pipelineBy cultivating former participants as mentors, the organization creates a self-reinforcing support ecosystem, because peer-driven guidance strengthens community continuity, increases relatability, and ensures culturally informed support across generations.
- Barrier-Removal Model for Higher Education Accessmethodology: barrier-removal_modelBy combining financial support, mentorship, and scholarship navigation, the organization enables students from conflict zones to access competitive universities, because removing structural barriers—such as cost and lack of guidance—unlocks potential regardless of background.
- Inclusive and Holistic Student Evaluationmethodology: inclusive_evaluationBy using a holistic admissions review that values non-academic experiences such as caregiving and self-directed learning, the organization identifies potential overlooked by traditional metrics, because adversity-informed assessment reveals resilience, character, and leadership not captured by grades alone.
- Individualized Mentorship Modelmethodology: mentorship-based college accessBy providing one-on-one mentoring throughout the college application process, the organization increases student access and success, because personalized guidance builds capacity, navigates systemic barriers, and sustains engagement through complex systems.
- Localized, Context-Aware Curriculum Developmentmethodology: localized_curriculum_developmentBy developing educational resources tailored to the experiences of students from conflict zones, the organization addresses critical information gaps, because context-specific content increases relevance, comprehension, and preparedness for global university applications.