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.

• 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. 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 are not permitted to apply and will be withdrawn.

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