Israel Experience High School Scholarship Program Grant

The Israel Experience High School Scholarship Program, offered by the Jewish United Fund and the Naftali Steinfeld Memorial Scholarship Fund, provides financial assistance to high school students in grades 9-12 who wish to participate in approved Israel experience programs. This initiative aims to strengthen Jewish identity and foster a deeper understanding of Israel and the Chicago Jewish community, supporting students in their journey towards personal and communal growth.

The Jewish United Fund and the Naftali Steinfeld Memorial Scholarship Fund offer scholarships based on financial need for high school students participating in approved Israel experience programs. The purpose of the Israel Experience High School Scholarship Program is to strengthen Jewish identity and nourish greater understanding and commitment to Israel and to the Chicago Jewish community.

Eligibility

Applicant must be enrolled in grades 9-12.This includes graduating seniors who are going on a post-high school program.Applicant must demonstrate financial need.Applicant must reside in metropolitan Chicago.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.Prior involvement in Jewish communal activities is not a requirement for receiving a financial need scholarship.Applicants with JUF Israel Experience Savings (including SKIP, Gift of Israel, B’nai Mitzvah Certificates and Walk With Israel Vouchers) are required to use their funds toward the cost of the Israel experience program if awarded a financial need scholarship.Applicants are required to seek other scholarship assistance in addition to the JUF scholarship. Possible sources of other financial assistance include the organization sponsoring the Israel program, your synagogue or religious day school (if applicable), and any other sources available to you.We expect parents to make an appropriate contribution toward the cost of the program, and we expect that applicants will also contribute toward the cost of their trip.Applicants must apply to an approved Israel experience program (which does not begin until after the application deadline) before they are eligible to apply for a JUF scholarship. They can, however, apply for a scholarship before being accepted to the Israel experience program. However, they MUST be accepted to the Israel program before they can receive any scholarship funds. If you are applying to several programs, please submit your first choice of program and include verification of program costs for that program. If you ultimately choose a different program, you can provide us with the new name and verification of program costs late

Ineligibility

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.While we do take into account the family’s total financial picture, not just income, families with an annual adjusted gross income of $150,000 or higher (including all sources—salary, parsonage, kollel, etc.) are not permitted to apply and will be withdrawn.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.No full scholarships are awarded.However, public solicitation of funding will make your family ineligible for JUF funding.