Applicants for an Israel Program Scholarship are:
- Those who identify as Jewish.
- Those who plan to participate in an educational Israel program for a minimum of 10 days.
- In seventh grade or older, with a permanent address in the five-county Greater Philadelphia area or must belong to a synagogue or attend a Jewish congregational school or Jewish day school in the five-county area. These counties include Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia.
- Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from a family or independent filer’s most recent Federal IRS Tax Return must not exceed $200,000 (minus synagogue and/or Jewish education costs, if applicable).
- IPSAF is not intended for day-school sponsored trips.
- IPSAF is not used for expenses associated with independent travel or Aliyah.
- IPSAF is not intended for Orthodox yeshiva or seminary post-high school programs. For more information, please go to the Morton Stein Fund for Orthodox Yeshivot Scholarships.
- Those who are full-time college students or younger at the time of the program and not self-supporting (i.e. they can be claimed as a dependent on a parent/guardian tax return), are eligible for a maximum scholarship of $2,000 for programs 46 days or more, $1,000 for programs of 22-45 days, and $500 for 10-21 day programs.
- Those over 23, or who have graduated from college, are eligible for a maximum scholarship of $500 for a program of 10-45 days, or $1,000 for a program 46 days or more.
- A maximum award will not exceed 50% of the cost of program (exclusive of travel and other costs).
- Eligible expenses include the tuition or cost of an organized program. Housing and transportation, including airfare, are not considered program costs for this purpose. Eligible programs include formal Israel experiences through an approved provider or an approved program of study.
Applications are considered as we receive them and while funds remain. Prospective applicants, therefore, are encouraged to apply early in the year. (Our fiscal year is September through August.)
We ask for the most recent Federal IRS Tax Return. The Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from a family or independent filer’s most recent Federal IRS Tax Return must not exceed $200,000 (minus synagogue and/or Jewish education costs, if applicable) in order to be considered eligible. If approved for a scholarship, we will request a copy of your invoice from the Israel program provider.
Financial awards are sent directly to the program provider. We advise award recipients to expect that payment may take up to 90 days to be received. This is because of multiple transactions associated with international payments and the multiple financial controls we have in place. While this takes time, it also ensures that funds are utilized and allocated as intended. We do notify the provider that payment is being sent.
IPSAF is made possible by the generosity of donors to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and funding is limited. We make every effort to be fair and equitable with the limited dollars available for this purpose. Consequently, we take financial need into account in order to assist those with greater need. We are careful to see that the Fund is used as it was designed, that is to allow as many people as we can who might otherwise not have the chance to participate in organized programs designed to strengthen Jewish identity and knowledge.
An individual may receive up to two Israel program scholarships for two different Israel experiences in non-consecutive years. The Jewish Federation reserves the right to determine whether a specific program qualifies a participant for assistance.
If you have questions or need assistance with this application, please contact scholarships@jewishphilly.org.