Israel Scholarships

ELIGIBILITY RULES FOR ISRAEL SCHOLARSHIPS

Program funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Residency Requirement: (must meet one of the following categories)

• A dependent Jewish student with at least one Jewish parent and with parents or legal guardians residing in Western Pennsylvania as permanent residents of Pittsburgh and areas served by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
• Students attending out of state colleges or boarding schools are eligible if their parents' or guardians' permanent residence is in the areas mentioned above, and they are claimed as a dependent on their parent's or guardian's tax return.
• A young adult, not claimed as a dependent on parental tax returns, residing in Western Pennsylvania as a permanent resident of Pittsburgh and areas served by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

Age Requirement:

• 8th grade through age 27

Eligible Programs:

• The program must be in Israel
• Programs must be 21 days or longer
• Programs must be run by an organization offering supervision, travel and/or study.
  • Israel scholarships are NOT available for family trips.
• Pittsburgh residents participating in Onward Israel are NOT eligible to receive a scholarship because the program is already subsidized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pitsburgh.
• If you are unsure whether your program is eligible, please send an email to gsibony@jfedpgh.org.

Repeat Applicants:

• Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are exhausted.
• An applicant cannot apply for the same program more than once.
• Applicants are eligible for a maximum of three scholarships (each for a different program).

Scholarship Award Amounts:

• $2,200 for programs 21 days or longer.
• Award amounts for programs less than 21 days will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
• If a 21-day program costs less than the full scholarship allotment of $2,200, the award will be determined by the committee.
• Scholarship payments will be issued to the student applicant via check.

Requirements for the Need-Based Scholarship

• Need-based scholarships are awarded in amounts ranging from $500-$3,000, depending on demonstrated financial need.
• Complete the need-based portion of the online application.
• Submission of most recent tax return.
• Household income must not exceed six times the 2025 federal poverty level. See table below.

Please use this table to determine your eligibility for a need-based scholarship. Please note that household size refers to taxpayer(s) and those legally able to be your dependent(s). For example, if there are six people living in your home and you are considered a married couple but only two of the six individuals are your dependents, then your household size is considered to be only four.