This page (when fully developed) will have funding sources both for Jewish students and for students pursuing Jewish Studies in their academic programs. Please alert Carolina Jewish Studies (dubinsky@sc.edu) of any resources that you are aware of and which might be posted here.

Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF)
www.jelf.org
4549 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30338
770-396-3080
info@jelf.org

The Jewish Educational Loan Fund grants interest-free loans to Jewish students from Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia for post-secondary study at accredited institutions. JELF’s loans are “last dollar” -- they supply the final funds that a student needs to attend school. These loans can be used for study at a college or university, graduate school or professional/vocational school that leads to a degree or certificate.

To be eligible for a JELF loan, the following qualifications must be met:

• You must be Jewish.
• You and your family must have resided for at least one year in a community that is affiliated with the Jewish Educational Loan Fund. If you live outside a member community, JELF will consider your application if you are a permanent resident of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or Florida for at least one year and if a member community agrees to service your application.
• You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• You must demonstrate financial need.
• You must be enrolled in a post-secondary institution that is accredited and located in the U.S. and be enrolled full time in a program leading to a degree or professional certificate.
• The Jewish Educational Loan Fund's interest-free loans provide "last-dollar financing" for students (i.e., the dollars that bridge the gap between a student's total financial resources and the cost of attending school). For that reason, you must demonstrate that you have sought and accepted financing from all available sources, including government and other loans, scholarships, family contributions and personal earnings.
• You must provide at least one co-signer -- one or both parents, a legal guardian or spouse -- for JELF loans. The co-signer must be credit worthy and have the ability to repay the full amount of the loan if the borrower fails to do so. JELF reserves the right to request a second co-signer. JELF also reserves the right to contact co-signers and run credit checks on co-signers, with their permission.
• Students receiving JELF assistance must be in good academic standing and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 to be eligible for continued funding.

The application can be found online at www.jelf.org during the application period (early February through April 15th). Once you have started completing your application, contact the local JELF administrator in your home community to let him or her know that you are applying and to make an appointment for a personal interview. If you do not live within one of these communities, contact JELF’s central office at (770) 396-3080 or e-mail info@jelf.org.

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