M25 Refund Policy
(for Games rescheduled to 2026)

Maccabi USA has set the following refund policy for the 2026 Maccabiah:

1. A Team member who participates in the Games and personally pays funds or raises funds through fundraising activities for participation in the Games in excess of the required financial commitment, may request a refund for such excess funds from Maccabi USA. Such request must occur in writing within 30 days following the end of the Games. Refund requests will be processed within 60 days of receipt. Alternatively, any excess funds may be elected to apply to another USA Team member or to donate to the general 2026 Maccabiah Fund.

2. Payments or fundraising directed towards a Team member’s personal financial commitment are not tax-deductible as the Team member is receiving a benefit. Tax deductible charitable contributions may be made to the organization (general scholarship fund, sport or team) so long as they are not designated to support a specific Team member’s financial commitment to participate. Please consult with your tax advisor.

3. If Maccabi USA drops a team from the competition, money raised or contributed personally by the Team member, or others on behalf of the Team member, will be refunded within 60 days of receipt of a written request. Such request must occur within 30 days of Maccabi USA’s notification to the Team member of the dropped team. Participants are encouraged to donate (as a tax-deductible charitable contribution to Maccabi USA) some or all of the amount due back to them.

4. If a Team member of the USA delegation withdraws from the Team for any reason and the respective sport is scheduled to take place in the Games, money contributed personally by the Team member, or others on behalf of the Team member, will be refunded according to the following schedule within 60 days of a receipt of a written request. Such request must occur within 30 days of a Team member’s withdrawal.

Maccabi USA will keep the following non-refundable amounts:

$1,200 after September 2, 2025
($500 for a new appointee who was not part of the original 2025 delegation)

$2,000 after November 1, 2025

$4,000 after February 1, 2026

No refund after April 1, 2026

5. In the event the Games are canceled by the Organizers due to unforeseen circumstances or in the event the Games are postponed to a date on which the athlete/media student is no longer available to participate as a delegation Team member, Maccabi USA in good faith will refund any costs (e.g. Games registration fees, meals) that Maccabi has spent on behalf of a Team Member for which services are cancelable and fees refundable, or as it may otherwise recoup from the Organizers or other vendors. Refund requests must be made in writing within 30 days of a cancellation announcement and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis within 60 days of request. Participants are encouraged to donate (as a tax-deductible charitable contribution to Maccabi USA) some or all of the amount due back to them.

6. All participants are strongly encouraged to purchase Travel Insurance. A “Cancel for any Reason” policy is suggested to protect participants in the event of injury or illness that may prevent one from participating or in the event the Organizers postpone or cancel the Games. We strongly recommend that participants review their insurance coverages to ensure that there is no war or other force majeure exclusion.

Travel Insurance policies typically require purchase within 14 days of deposit for the Games. It is the responsibility of the Team member to purchase travel insurance. Suggested places to purchase travel insurance include the following (listing is not an endorsement):

• Through your credit card company
• Through your insurance provider
• Travel Guard: Questions can be directed to Travel Guard at 1 (800) 826-5248 www.travelguard.com

7. Please consult your tax advisor regarding the tax-deductibility of all monetary contributions.

8. Raffle Terms and Conditions

a. Money raised through the sale of Raffle Tickets is non-refundable under any circumstances.

b. Money raised through the sale of Raffle Tickets is not tax-deductible (per IRS regulations).

c. Money raised through the sale of Raffle Tickets will be credited towards the Team member’s financial commitment at a rate of $80 for each $100 Raffle Ticket sold.  To request Raffle Tickets, please contact Sara Lemma, Registrar, slemma@maccabiusa.com.