Programs & Resources

For more than 40 years, the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston has made it possible for families, with financial needs, to provide an intensive Jewish educational experience for their children via financial assistance for camp and Israel scholarships. Scholarships are available to Jewish residents of the Greater Houston area who are attending a Jewish overnight camp in North America, and short-term and gap year programs in Israel. 

All scholarships are need-based, and scholarships are awarded on a first-come first-served basis. Scholarship applications are reviewed monthly from January through May. The deadline to submit your application is May 1.  

Funding for scholarships is made possible by donations to the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s annual campaign, private donors, the Elaine Kellerman Camp and Israel Scholarship Fund, and the Roger Sofer Legacy Scholarship for Israel Programs Fund. 

Overnight Camp Scholarships

• Greater Houston Jewish residents
• Ages 7-18
• Must attend overnight camp for a minimum of one week
• Must attend a Jewish content camp in North America (sample of approved camps can be found HERE)
• Scholarships are available for one session per camper.
• IRS forms and W-2 forms are required with application
• We strongly encourage applicants to apply for additional sources of scholarships. See below for other resources:
  • Scholarships through your camp
  • Congregation or rabbi’s fund
  • Jewish Children’s Regional Services (JCRS)

• JCRS scholarships are available for all Jewish campers in the Greater Houston area attending a Jewish overnight camp in North America. JCRS offers two options: a short form with a pre-determined award amount ($250), or a longer application with a need-based award to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Both the short form and the long form are financial need based. They will both require financial documents.   

  Visit www.jcrs.org to apply.