After a quarter-century partnership making Jewish learning accessible for children, teens and young adults through financial aid, BJE and the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties (JCF) have decided to streamline our approach to scholarship distribution. Most scholarship funds are now distributed through block grants to the local schools, preschools, overnight camps, day camps, and family specialty camps who distribute those scholarships directly to needy students and families. This approach enables our community to distribute scholarships more efficiently, and mitigates the need for BJE's work with each family. As a result, BJE will no longer be directly involved in the community scholarship program.
BJE has been honored to administer the scholarship distribution during these last 28 years. During that time, we have distributed many millions of dollars to needy families and have enabled thousands of students to engage in Jewish learning in Jewish day schools, summer camps, and Israel programs.
The Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties (JCF) offers a wide range of scholarship funds to make Jewish learning experiences affordable for children, teens and young adults.
These scholarships, formerly administered by the Bureau of Jewish Education, are now administered directly by JCF.
Expanding Opportunity in Our Community
JCF awards primarily needs-based scholarships for Jewish schools and camps, first-time Israel trips, and college, with one or more of the following goals:
- To provide community assistance to Jewish families in financial need;
- To make Jewish education and experiences more accessible to families in our community;
- To give Jewish donors an effective vehicle to help young people afford life-changing educational experiences; AND/OR
- To provide donors with greater accountability in their giving and broader reach throughout the Bay Area to insure scholarship dollars reach families with the most urgent needs.
How to apply
JCF gives block grants to individual schools and camps (most located within the Federation Service Area), to award directly to families. Contact your school or camp to apply for scholarships for:
- Jewish preschools
- Jewish day schools
- Summer and Winter Jewish day camps
- Jewish overnight camps (Newman and Tawonga)
The following scholarships are awarded directly by JCF by applying online through the link below:
- All other overnight camps
- First-time teen trips to Israel
- Family specialty camps
- College
Eligibility criteria and application instructions vary from program to program, so please Click HERE for more information.
