What is a scholarship fund?

A scholarship fund is a charitable fund established at the Foundation by generous individuals or organizations for the purpose of assisting students in their higher education. The Foundation administers several scholarship funds. While some funds are specific to a field of study, others are directed to students who possess certain skills or interests. Each fund is completely different; no two are the same.

How is scholarship eligibility determined?

Each scholarship fund has specific eligibility requirements defined by the creator of the fund.  All Jewish Community Foundation scholarships require that applicants:

• Be of the Jewish faith;
• Be accepted or currently enrolled at an accredited institution of higher learning;
• Be a current or former resident of the Greater Hartford Jewish community (or parents must be residents); and
• Be a citizen of the United States.

How do you define a resident of Greater Hartford?

A Greater Hartford resident is defined as someone who has lived in the community for more than four years and has a permanent current address in the Greater Hartford region, specifically, the cities and towns within the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford's catchment area. Students who are attending a college or university outside of Connecticut are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Jewish Community Foundation so long as their immediate family permanently resides in the Greater Hartford community.

How much does it cost to apply for a scholarship from the Jewish Community Foundation?

It is free; there is no charge to apply.

How much will I receive if I am selected as a recipient?

Awards vary depending upon the scholarship criteria, number of students selected to receive assistance, student’s financial need and other circumstances. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000, with the average award being $2,000.

Do I receive a check if I am awarded a scholarship? 

No. All scholarship checks are made payable to your school and are mailed directly to your school’s financial aid office. There are no exceptions to this rule.

If I receive a scholarship one year, will I automatically receive it the following year?

No. While some scholarships are renewable for up to four years, others are one-time awards or require that students re-apply for the next year. 

Will the scholarship amounts and number of awards be the same every year?

No. The number of scholarships provided and the amount of each award vary from year to year. 

Do I need to pay my scholarship back?

No. However, a scholarship must be repaid if you use your scholarship for other purposes.

If I already have all of the money I need, may I defer my scholarship another year?

No. It is the policy of the Jewish Community Foundation not to defer scholarships.

If I want to send a thank you note, where do I send it?

We require all recipients to send thank you notes to the individuals who made their scholarship possible. You may address your envelope to the name of your scholarship fund and send it to the Jewish Community Foundation. To thank the scholarship committee, please direct your letter to Lauri Miller, Scholarship Committee Chair, at the Foundation.