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Financial Aid & Incentives

Ramah Darom is committed to ensuring that every family has the opportunity to give their child the enriching benefits of a Jewish summer camp experience.

As a non-profit, Ramah Darom’s scholarship funds are limited and every year, unfortunately, scholarship needs from our camp families exceed Ramah Darom’s available scholarship funds. We therefore ask families to seek out all local financial aid opportunities. In some communities, there are many available sources and often families are able to have their entire financial needs covered locally. In most communities, new campers automatically qualify for a “One Happy Camper” or “PJ Goes to Camp” first-year incentive. If some or all of a family’s needs are able to be covered by local sources, Ramah Darom can use its limited scholarship funds to provide more support to other families that don’t have available local funding sources.

Every Ramah Darom scholarship application is reviewed in detail by the Scholarship Committee of our Board of Directors. It is an anonymous review (family names are not provided to Committee members) and the Committee follows a set of guidelines to help ensure scholarship awards are equitable, taking into account a family’s income, assets, educational and other expenses and any individual or special circumstances.

Many families ask, “Will I qualify for financial aid?” or “How much will I be expected to pay out of pocket after all aid?” As a guideline, in previous years we have found that families with adjusted gross income less than $225,000 and with assets of less than $1 million (including all assets such as principal in real estate and retirement plans) usually qualify for some form of aid from at least one source (Federation, synagogue, other local or national source, or from Ramah Darom). Except in special circumstances, qualified families pay anywhere from 30%-100% of tuition costs after receiving support from aid sources (for example, for one single-session camper, a family will pay tuition anywhere from $1,935-$6,450). This is merely a frame of reference and does not promise you will qualify or receive any particular level of support because every year and every situation is different.

Your first step is to complete your Camp application and register your camper(s).

Once completed, please reach out to all local sources that offer scholarships and financial assistance to families as the majority of financial aid comes from local sources. Please see our Financial Aid 1, 2, 3 below for more information and for links to applications. We encourage you to speak to your Rabbi, contact your local federation and ask community leaders about funding opportunities in your area. 

We look forward to welcoming your camper to Ramah Darom!

If the Ramah Darom application fee causes your family hardship, please contact Deanne Brown (dbrown@ramahdarom.org) to discuss options.

First Time Camper Incentives

One Happy Camper This Way to an Unforgettable Summer. Onehappycamper.org. Get up to $1000 Off Camp.

One Happy Camper

Your first-time camper may be eligible for a One Happy Camper grant of up to $1,500!

After reviewing the information here, feel free to reach out to Deanne Brown (dbrown@ramahdarom.org) with questions.

Financial Aid 1, 2, 3

For those needing additional assistance beyond your local sources, Ramah Darom does provide scholarships – see #3 below. We also offer payment plans.

1. Keep It Local

Contact your local federations and synagogues for information regarding camp scholarships and deadlines. Be sure to also speak with your Rabbi, local Sister/Brotherhoods and Jewish Family Services. We have provided some links below.

ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS or TENNESSEE RESIDENTS

Link: https://jcrs.org/services/camp-scholarship-aid/

Application Opens: October

Priority Deadline: February 15

Contact: Annie Mizrahi at annie@jcrs.org

LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA and FLORIDA PANHANDLE RESIDENTS

Goldring Family Foundation – First-year camper up to $1500

Link: https://jefno.org/youth-camping/goldring-summer-camp/

Application Opens: October

Deadline: March 1

Contact: Miriam Teller at (504) 524-4559 or miriam@jefno.org

GEORGIA

Atlanta Jewish Federation

Link: Jewish Camp Initiative

Application Opens: November

Deadline: Typically, March 1

Contact: Leah Stinson at jewishcamp@jewishatlanta.org

 

Jewish Interest-Free Loan of Atlanta (JIFLA)
JIFLA is a nonprofit providing 0% interest loans to Jewish individuals & families in Georgia since 2010 and a proud partner of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

Contact: office@JIFLA.org, (470) 268-5665

FLORIDA

Boca, Delray and Highland Beach

Link: https://ralesjfs.org/services/foodandfinancialservices/summer_camp_scholarship/

Application Opens: November

Deadline: Typically, March 1

Contact: Laurie Daube at 561.852.3380 or lauried@ralesjfs.org

 

Broward County

Link: Jewish Summer Camps

Application Opens: November

Deadline: Typically, March 1

Contact: Rochelle Baltuch – camp@jewishbroward.org or at 954-660-2077

 

Gainesville, Ocala and surrounding areas

Link: Jewish Council of North Central Florida: Webpage, Form

Application Opens: November

Deadline: Typically, March 1

Contact: Linda E. Maurice, office@jcncf.org

 

Miami DADE Federation

Link: https://jewishmiami.org/socialize/events/overnight_camp_scholarship

Application Opens: October

Deadline: End of January

Contact: Inbar Cohen at 786.866.8431 or icohen@gmjf.org

 

Palm Beach (Boynton Beach north through Vero Beach)

Link: https://jewishpb.org/fed/index.php/scholarships/

Application Opens: October

Deadline: End of January

Contact: financialassistance@jewishpalmbeach.org

 

Palm Beach County

National Council for Jewish Women Valencia Shores Section

Application Opens: October

Deadline: First week of March

Requirements: Palm Beach County Resident campers must be 13 years of age or younger. This is a needs-based scholarship or for families with extenuating circumstances.

Contact: Sandy Platzman at 561-968-4415 or sandymae@gmail.com or download an application.

 

Pinellas and Pasco County 

Link: https://www.jewishgulfcoast.org/grants/summer-scholarships

Application Opens: October

Deadline: January 15

Contact: Diana Morin at dmorin@jewishpinellas.org or 727-530-3223

 

Sarasota

Link: https://jfedsrq.org/camp

Application Opens: November

Deadline: End of January

Contact: Jessi Sheslow at (941) 343-2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

 

Tampa

Link: https://www.jewishtampa.com/lilahtov

Application Opens: October

Deadline: End of November

Contact: Debbie Driben at (813) 769-4738

 

NORTH CAROLINA

Greensboro NC

Link: https://www.shalomgreensboro.org/jewish-family-services/camp-grants-and-scholarships

Application Opens: October

Deadline: End of February

Contact: Betsy Gamburg at (336) 852-4829 x225

 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston

Link: https://www.jewishcharleston.org/camp/financial-resources

Application Opens: October

Deadline: End of February

Contact: Rebecca Engel at rebeccal@jewishcharleston.org

 

TENNESSEE

Nashville and Middle Tennessee

Link: https://www.jewishnashville.org/resources/youth-opportunities/need-based-camp-scholarships

Application Opens: October

Deadline: End of February

Contact: Becky Gunn at the Jewish Federation office, 615-356-1624, or by email, becky@jewishnashville.org

 

Memphis

Link: https://jcpmemphis.org/what-we-do/scholarships

Application Opens: October

Deadline: End of February

Requirements: Must be affiliated with a Jewish organization and live in the Memphis area-Memphis, Germantown, Arlington, Collierville or Tennessee.

Contact: Carolyn Pruitt at cpruitt@jcpmemphis.org or 901-767-8517

TEXAS

Dallas

Link: djcf.org/rosenbloom

Application Opens: November

Deadline: End of February

Contact: rosenbloomscholarship@djcf.org

 

Houston

Link: Camp & Israel Scholarships

Application Opens: October

Deadline: End of February

Contact: Liz Garza at egarza@houstonjewish.org

2. Check Out These Additional Resources

Local Jewish Federation: jewishfederations.org/federation-finder

The link above will take you to a map.  Simply click on your state, and see a list of all Jewish Federation contacts in your area!

First Time Campers

One Happy Camper: jewishcamp.org/one-happy-camper

PJ Goes to Camp: pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pj-goes-to-camp

Military Families

In appreciation of their service to the United States, families with at least one parent in active American military service are eligible for tuition discount at all Ramah overnight camps.

Contact: Deanne Brown (dbrown@ramahdarom.org) or the National Ramah office at (212) 678-8881 or email info@campramah.org

3. Apply for a Ramah Darom scholarship (Only after completing steps 1 and 2 above)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Ramah Darom’s scholarship application deadline for Summer 2024 has now passed. Families are encouraged to apply to local sources as some may still have funds available.

 After the Ramah Darom Scholarship Committee has completed reviewing all applications received by the deadline, limited funds may still be available. Please reach out to Deanne Brown (dbrown@ramahdarom.org) for more information.

 

After applying to all available local sources for financial aid, families in need of additional assistance for Camp may apply for a Ramah Darom scholarship. You do not need to wait until you have received the local source awards since many local sources will not award before the Ramah Darom application deadline. You just need to have applied to all local sources available to you. Families must be able to demonstrate financial need by submitting a full application, including all required documents. Available funds are limited.

Ramah Darom partners with FACTS to process Camp scholarship applications. FACTS is a highly secure system used by more than three million students and families at over 11,500 schools and camps. They handle the collection of your application, supporting documents and validation of the information provided. FACTS charges a $40 fee per family.

Ramah Darom’s FACTS application is at this link. Click here to begin the process or email Deanne Brown with questions. 

The deadline to submit a completed Ramah Darom scholarship application for Summer 2024 was Friday, February 2, 2024.* Every scholarship application is reviewed in detail by the Scholarship Committee of Ramah Darom’s Board of Directors. All information is kept strictly confidential. We endeavor to notify families of the Committee’s decisions as early as possible, but we greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as this is a very time-consuming process and our Committee consists of volunteers. All families will be notified by early May at the very latest.

*What if I missed the deadline?

After the Committee has completed reviewing all applications received by the deadline, limited funds may still be available for families whose applications were received after the deadline. If you are applying after the deadline, we encourage you to complete the FACTS application and contact Deanne in our finance department to better understand what resources might still be available.

Ramah Darom scholarships are made possible in part by generous support from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Endowment.

If you have any questions regarding financial aid resources or need to work out a payment plan, we are happy to assist you. Please email Deanne Brown (dbrown@ramahdarom.org) or call 404.531.0801.