Israel Experience College Student/Young Adult Scholarship Program
The Jewish United Fund offers scholarships based on financial need for college students and young adults (up to 28 years old) participating in approved Israel experience programs. The purpose of Israel Experience College Student/Young Adult Scholarship Program is to strengthen Jewish identity and nourish greater understanding and commitment to Israel and to the Chicago Jewish community.
Eligibility requirements and guidelines
- Applicant must have already graduated from high school at the time of application.
- Applicant must be between the ages of 17 and 28.
- Applicant must demonstrate financial need.
- Applicant must reside in metropolitan Chicago (but may attend school elsewhere). Applicants living outside Illinois but attending school in the Chicago area are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants presently in school outside of the United States are not eligible to apply.
- Applicant must have applied to an approved Israel program which does not begin until after the application deadline.
- Participation in Jewish communal activities after returning from Israel is strongly encouraged.
- Families may apply for only one JUF Israel experience financial need scholarship in any one academic year, except in the instance of twins or other multiples. Applicants must wait a full year before applying for a second JUF Israel experience financial need scholarship, and are only eligible to do so if the second program is substantially different from the previous program.
- Please keep in mind that our funds are limited, and requests always greatly exceed demand. We work hard to make sure that the neediest families are given priority. While we do take into account the family’s total financial picture, not just income, families with an annual adjusted gross income of $130,000
or higher (including all sources—salary, parsonage, kollel, etc.) are not permitted to apply and will be withdrawn.
Application and selection information
- All applicants under age 26 must submit their parents' most recent federal income tax returns as well as their own.
- Parents are urged to contribute according to their financial ability even if applicant is legally independent, and applicants are expected to make an appropriate and meaningful contribution toward the cost of the program.
- Scholarship priority is given to applicants who have never been to Israel, although those who have been to Israel before may still apply. JUF Israel experience scholarships cannot be used to extend a current program or for programs that are substantially similar to a program in which the applicant has already participated.
- Prior involvement in Jewish communal activities is not a requirement for receiving a financial need scholarship.
- No full scholarships are awarded.
Please note: If you are currently in high school and have not yet graduated (even if you are applying to go on an Israel program after you graduate from high school), you must fill out the high school scholarship application, not the college student/young adult application.
Application deadlines
Scholarship applications for winter and spring programs (January-May 2025) are due November 8. Applicants can apply online at FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment -- please choose JUF Israel Experience Program (Winter/Spring) as the school and 2024-2025 Winter & Spring as the term -- and will be notified by mid-December, following the meeting of the Scholarship Committee. Applications are not considered on a rolling basis, so early submission of a scholarship application will not change the notification date.
Please read the Scholarship Guidelines for winter and spring programs before applying.
Scholarship applications for summer programs are due March 15. Please refer back to this page for more information and the application link in late January.
Scholarship applications for fall semester and academic year programs are due June 1. Please refer back to this page for more information and the application link in late January.
