named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Academic Placement Assistance
Arranges temporary academic positions at member institutions for scholars facing threats in their home countries, enabling them to continue their work in safety
Advisory Services
Provides guidance and support to both at-risk scholars and host institutions navigating protection and placement processes
Advocacy and Campaigns
Leads public campaigns and advocacy efforts on behalf of imprisoned, silenced, or otherwise threatened scholars worldwide
Monitoring and Reporting
Tracks and documents attacks on higher education communities globally to inform policy and protection efforts
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Free Expression Defense & Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocacy for imprisoned or silenced scholars and studentsConducts targeted advocacy campaigns on behalf of scholars and students who are wrongfully imprisoned or silenced due to their academic work or expression, including public appeals, UN engagement, and coordination through the Scholars in Prison Project.
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Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 1 activity
- Delivering educational programs on academic freedomOffers global educational initiatives including the massive open online course "Dangerous Questions: Why Academic Freedom Matters," which has enrolled over 5,000 participants from nearly 150 countries since 2018, as well as organizing workshops and conferences that engage students, scholars, and professionals.
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Psychoanalytic and Therapeutic Training Support 1 activity
- Funding academic freedom research and programming through grantmakingFunds qualifying higher education institutions to support hosting Practitioners at Risk and administers the Mellon/SAR Academic Freedom Workshop and Fellowship program, which provides research stipends and professional support for scholarly outputs on academic freedom.
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Human Rights Advocacy and Public Education 1 activity
- Monitoring and reporting on global attacks on higher educationIdentifies, documents, and analyzes attacks on higher education communities—including violence, imprisonment, prosecution, and travel restrictions—through the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project, publishing annual Free to Think reports that cover hundreds of incidents across more than 100 countries.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Arranging temporary academic placements for threatened scholarsProvides protection to at-risk scholars by arranging temporary research and teaching positions at member higher education institutions globally, typically lasting 6 months to 2 years. Supported over 400 scholars and arranged 215 academic placements across 20 countries during the 2024–2025 academic year.
- Capacity building for academic freedom networks and stakeholdersSupports and coordinates national sections, regional coalitions (including in the Americas, Africa, and Southeast Asia), and partner networks; provides training, convenes biennial congresses and workshops, and facilitates cross-regional collaboration to strengthen institutional responses to threats against academic freedom.
- Providing advisory and career support to threatened scholarsOffers advisory, referral, and career development services to threatened scholars during and after their academic placements, helping them navigate host institutions and continue their professional trajectories.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$2.55M
Contributions & grants$2.50M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$42K2%
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$3.67M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$670K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$7.92M
Cash$596K
Investments$1.25M
Liabilities$212K
Net assets$7.71M
Liquid reserves6.0 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -53.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 24
- ADAM FALK — DIRECTOR
- ALFRED BABO — DIRECTOR
- CATHARINE STIMPSON — DIRECTOR
- CHARLES HARKLESS — DIRECTOR
- DANIEL NAUJOKS — DIRECTOR
- DIANA WAGNER — DIRECTOR
- GILBERT MERKX — DIRECTOR
- IRVING EPSTEIN — DIRECTOR
- ISABEL ROCHE — DIRECTOR
- JAN KRUKOWSKI — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN COLE — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN FANTON — DIRECTOR
- JONATHAN LEVITSKY — DIRECTOR
- JORGE SANCHEZ CORDERO — DIRECTOR
- JOY CONNOLLY — DIRECTOR
- KATHERINE PRECHT — DIRECTOR
- LANCE LIEBMAN — SECRETARY
- LISA ANDERSON — CHAIR
- MATTHEW NIMETZ — TREASURER
- MICHAEL KUNICHIKA — DIRECTOR
- NAILA AL ATRASH — DIRECTOR
- ROSALIE WOLF — DIRECTOR
- THOMAS KEENAN — DIRECTOR
- TIMOTHY GLADDEN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 34
Who they work with
- Africa Coalition for Academic Freedom Partner — Regional coalition co-advanced by SAR to promote and protect academic freedom in Africa.
- Amnesty International Partner — Collaborated with SAR to launch a free 90-minute online course on academic freedom through the Amnesty International Human Rights Academy.
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funder — Funder and partner supporting the Mellon/SAR Academic Freedom Workshop and Fellowship program for early career researchers.
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Funder — Funds the Mellon/SAR Academic Freedom Workshop and Fellowship program.
- CARA Partner — Collaborated with CARA to establish the SAR Section in the United Kingdom in 2006.
- Central European University Partner — Member institution in the Scholars at Risk network
- Coalition for Academic Freedom in the Americas Partner — Regional coalition co-advanced by SAR to promote and protect academic freedom in the Americas.
- Curtin University Partner — Member institution in the Scholars at Risk network
- European Coordinating Committee for Academic Freedom Advocacy Partner — Committee supported by SAR Europe to integrate academic freedom into European higher education, research, and human rights systems.
- European University Association (EUA) Partner — Affiliate member of the Scholars at Risk network
- Institute of International Education Partner — Partnered since 2002 to support scholars through IIE’s Scholar Rescue Fund, with SAR member universities hosting scholars funded in part by the Fund.
- Maynooth University Government — Host institution for SAR Europe, the European office of the global Scholars at Risk network.
- Maynooth University Government — Hosts the SAR office in Ireland.
- Maynooth University Government — Hosts the Scholars at Risk Europe office
- Member Universities and Colleges Network — Network members that host scholars through temporary academic positions arranged by Scholars at Risk.
- Monash University Partner — Member institution in the Scholars at Risk network
- NYU Government — Hosts SAR's administrative operations, as indicated by the hostingatSAR@nyu.edu contact email.
- National Endowment for Democracy Funder — Provided support for SAR's Practitioners at Risk program, enabling co-funding for host institutions.
- National University of Ireland, Maynooth Government — Hosts SAR offices and provides institutional support.
- New York University Government — Hosted the launch event for SAR’s 25th anniversary year.
- New York University Government — Hosts the SAR office in the United States.
- New York University Government — Hosts the network headquarters of Scholars at Risk on its New York City campus since 2003.
- New York University Partner — Hosted the launch event for Scholars at Risk’s 25th anniversary year in October 2025.
- Office of the Provost of New York University Funder — Provides institutional support and hosts SAR offices.
- Open Society University Network Partner — Member institution in the Scholars at Risk network
- SAR Europe Network — European office of the global Scholars at Risk network, hosted at Maynooth University, coordinating advocacy activities across Europe.
- Southeast Asia Coalition for Academic Freedom Partner — Regional coalition co-advanced by SAR to promote and protect academic freedom in Southeast Asia.
- Stichting voor Vluchteling-Studenten (Foundation for Refugee Students; UAF) Partner — Partner organization in the UAF-SAR Netherlands network
- UAF Partner — Collaborated with UAF to establish the SAR Section in the Netherlands in 2009.
- UN Human Rights Council Government — SAR organized a side event at the UN Human Rights Council in July 2023 to promote the Principles for Implementing the Right of Academic Freedom.
+ 4 more
strategies · 4
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.
- Academic Sanctuary Networkmethodology: academic_sanctuary_networkBy arranging temporary academic placements for threatened scholars within a global network of higher education institutions, the organization ensures continuity of scholarly work and protects intellectual contributions during periods of danger, because institutional refuge enables safety and sustained academic engagement.
- Decentralized Regional Coalition Modelmethodology: decentralized_coalition_modelBy supporting regionally autonomous coalitions that develop locally driven strategies while participating in cross-regional knowledge exchange, the organization enhances adaptability and sustainability of academic freedom efforts, because regional ownership increases relevance and responsiveness to local threats.
- Integrated Protection and Advocacymethodology: integrated_protection_and_advocacyBy combining direct protection of at-risk individuals with public advocacy, systematic monitoring, and strategic development, the organization strengthens global academic freedom, because coordinated action across multiple fronts amplifies impact and influences policy beyond individual cases.
- Student-Engaged Advocacy and Capacity Buildingmethodology: student_engaged_advocacyBy involving students in structured human rights research and advocacy related to academic freedom, the organization builds long-term capacity and broadens the base of support, because experiential learning fosters deeper commitment and multiplies advocacy impact.