Financial Aid

The following is a summary of the different options available to those seeking financial assistance for their NCSY Summer tuition.

National NCSY Financial Aid

Financial aid is available from National NCSY based on need, and is given out on a first come, first served basis. In ordered to be considered for financial assistance, you must fill out the online application completely as well as the financial aid application and submit your most recent tax return. The average award amount is within the range of $0 – $1,000 depending on how you qualify. Please contact summer@ncsy.org for further inquiries. All JSU Programs are ineligible for financial aid from National NCSY since these trips are already heavily subsidized for public school teens.

 

Financial Aid Process
Step 1: Click here to apply for the NCSY Summer program of your choice. Indicate on the application that you will be applying for financial aid, and submit all forms necessary for acceptance to the program. For Camp Kesher, please email camp director Meira Spivak at spivakm@ncsy.org.

Step 2: Fill out the complete financial aid application in the Forms Dashboard of your Camp InTouch account and submit your most recently filed 1040 to the financial aid committee (more information to follow once you have applied).

Step 3: Once your teen is officially accepted for Summer 2025, the financial aid committee will email you your award.

Financial aid applications will be considered on a first come first served basis, therefore it is of utmost importance to apply as soon as possible. The deadline for all financial aid applications is April 1, 2025.

NCSY Regional Scholarships

If your teen is an active member of his/her local chapter of NCSY, we suggest contacting your NCSY regional office (click here) for information about scholarship resources.

NCSY Sparks – Canada Region

NCSY Sparks is a scholarship program available to students from select Canadian cities who are applying to participate in an NCSY Summer program. Accepted students will participate in a number of projects before the trip which will contribute to and enhance the impact of the desired program. The projects will challenge the students to learn about key Jewish figures, perform acts of Chessed and become leaders among their peers both in Canada and on the trip. To participate in NCSY Sparks, please fill out the entire NCSY Summer scholarship application. By applying for the NCSY Summer Scholarship, you are automatically also applying for the Sparks program. The awarded scholarship from NCSY Summer will be matched by the Sparks program. For more information please send an e-mail directly to Yosef Kurtz at yosef@ncsy.ca.

Jewish Federation/Grants

Many Jewish Federations offer grants and scholarships for teens attending Israel programs during the summer. Contact your local Jewish federation, Synagogue, or other Jewish institutions to find out about scholarship opportunities.  For a partial listing of scholarships available in your area, please click here.

Camp Sports: Ben Zakkai Honor Society Scholarships

The Ben Zakkai Honor Society is an alumni society that awards many need-based scholarships every summer to teens attending Camp Sports and GIVE WEST Summer Programs. Preference is given to public school or Yeshiva students who are chapter, regional or national board members or members of their local NCSY chapter.

All applicants to Camp Sports and GIVE West who complete the online financial aid application are automatically considered for a Ben Zakkai Scholarship.  To receive consideration, applicants must make sure their financial aid application is complete. All scholarship decisions are solely determined by the Ben Zakkai Scholarship Committee.

UJA Federation – New York Only

Needs Based: Applicants from New York City, Nassau and Suffolk counties are eligible for a need-based scholarship from the UJA. You must fill out the NCSY Summer financial aid application to be eligible for the UJA need-based scholarship, which will serve as your application for both. This scholarship is available to those applying to GIVE, Israel ID, JOLT Israel, Kollel, Michlelet and Next Step. The deadline for this scholarship is January 1, 2025. If you apply after this date, we will do our best to work with the federation to see what funds are available.

Merit Based: Nomination forms for the merit scholarships will be sent out to UJA affiliated agencies (eg. synagogues or Jewish community centers) in the spring. This scholarship is available to those participating on GIVE, Israel ID, JOLT Israel, Kollel, Michlelet and Next Step.

Teens Initiative: Additional scholarships are available from the UJA for teens that have never participated in an immersive Jewish Summer Program. You must fill out the NCSY Summer financial aid application to be eligible for this scholarship, which will serve as your application for both. This program is available for JOLT, Euro Israel, Camp Sports and GIVE West.

PJ Goes to Camp

Summer camp can be a transformative experience, providing kids with the opportunity to make memories and friendships that last a lifetime. The mission of PJ Goes to Camp is to provide more children the opportunity to attend Jewish overnight camp for the first time by offering grants to qualifying families. PJ Goes to Camp is one of 47 funders of the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s One Happy Camper^® (OHC) program.

PJ Goes to Camp is now accepting applications for the summer of 2019! The eligibility requirements for these grants are very specific, so please read carefully to make sure your family is eligible before submitting an application.

https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pj-goes-to-camp