Israel Experience College- Merit Scholarship Program Grant
Funding Amount
Up to US $1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Residents or students in metropolitan Chicago and show evidence of community service
- At least a sophomore in high school up to age 23 years old
Other requirements
- Applicant must reside or attend school in metropolitan Chicago.
- Applicant must have applied to or be in the process of applying to an approved Israel program which does not begin until after the application deadline.
- Demonstrate evidence of leadership, range of community service and involvement (either Jewish or secular or both), and the potential impact of your Israel experience.
- Previous applicants who did not receive a merit scholarship may apply again.
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: Financial status is not considered in the merit scholarship process.
- Not eligible: Previous merit scholarship winners are not eligible to reapply.
Overview
The Israel Experience College Merit Scholarship Program, offered by the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, provides $1,000 scholarships to high school and college students up to age 23. This program seeks to recognize emerging leaders who demonstrate commitment to the Jewish community, Israel, and exhibit leadership skills. Applicants must be residents or students in metropolitan Chicago and show evidence of community service. Participation in post-Israel communal activities is encouraged.
The Jewish United Fund offers a limited number of merit scholarships ($1,000 each) annually to high school students, college students, and young adults up to age 23 who demonstrate significant leadership skills. The purpose of these scholarships is to strengthen Jewish identity, nourish greater commitment to Israel and the Chicago Jewish community, and to recognize future leaders.
Eligibility
Applicant must be at least a sophomore in high school up to age 23 years old.Applicant must reside or attend school in metropolitan Chicago.Applicant must have applied to or be in the process of applying to an approved Israel program which does not begin until after the application deadline.Demonstrate evidence of leadership, range of community service and involvement (either Jewish or secular or both), and the potential impact of your Israel experiencePrevious applicants who did not receive a merit scholarship may apply again.Programs must begin during the summer or fall.Financial status is not considered in the merit scholarship process. You may seek additional funding from your Israel program, your congregation, JUF’s financial need scholarship program, other JUF Israel experience savings programs, and other sources which may be available to you.The balance of fees due to the program is your and your family’s personal responsibility. If you fail to complete the program, you and your family will have to repay any JUF scholarship award to the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago.
Ineligibility
Previous merit scholarship winners are not eligible to reapply.
What Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 41
- Total given
- $107.52M
- Median grant
- $38K
- Range
- $5,953–$57.19M
- By dollars: New York 56%, Illinois 43%, Massachusetts <1%. Top recipient cities: Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Skokie, IL.
- 90% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 32% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Jewish Federations of North America · New York, NY
Regular campaign
$57.19M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago · Chicago, IL
To support a range of nonprofit organizations which address humanitarian, health and…
$44.38M
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee · New York, NY
General Operations
$2.57M
The Giving Back Fund · Boston, MA
Tribe of Nova Foundation
$1M
The Ark · Chicago, IL
General Operations
$291K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Jewish
Categories
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