Americans for Ben-Gurion University

Best Known For: "The only Israeli university created by government mandate, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) was established in 1969 with a mission to be an engine for the development of Israel’s Negev region. BGU was inspired by the vision of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, who believed that the future of Israel lay in the Negev region, a desert area comprising more than 60 percent of the country. Today, BGU is a world-renowned institution of research and higher learning that has transcended the boundaries of academia to create a new model of education and research that impacts people’s lives in the Negev region, throughout Israel and around the world. With some 20,000 students and campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sde Boker and BGU is truly an oasis of innovation, leading research in cyber and homeland security; alternative energy; desert and water research; global health; medical technologies; Israel studies, culture and Jewish thought; and high-tech and robotics.

Americans for Ben-Gurion University elevates awareness, strengthens donor bonds, and raises funds for the University and the Negev across the United States. We showcase BGU’s academic excellence and groundbreaking research to individuals, foundations, organizations, and the media. Activities include a series of educational programs and events, and informative digital and print communications that feature BGU’s world renowned faculty.