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?” While our Committee assesses applications individually based on each family’s unique circumstances, as a guideline families receiving financial aid for our programs are typically expected to cover between 30% and 95% of the total tuition costs after all grants and aid. For instance, for a single 4-week camp session, this could range from $2,195 to $6,500, depending on the aid awarded and individual circumstances. Of note: In 2024, families with a reported adjusted income above $225,000 and/or high household assets usually did not qualify for aid unless exceptional circumstances were presented.
This information is meant to provide a general idea and does not guarantee a specific level of support, as financial aid decisions can vary each year based on individual situations and available resources. We are here to support you and answer any questions you may have throughout this process.
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
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.
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
Application Opens: October
Priority Deadline: February 15
Contact: Annie Mizrahi at annie@jcrs.org
LOUISIANA (Outside of the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport Metropolitan Area)
RoseMary and Saul Brooks Fund for Jewish Youth Engagement
Application Opens: October
Deadline: March 1
Requirements: Helps children outside the Louisiana metropolitan areas who are physically distanced from a Jewish community to attend Jewish sleepaway camp. One parent must be Jewish AND the child(ren) must identify as Jewish. Residing full-time in Louisiana, outside of the New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport metropolitan area for the past year (residents of Orleans, Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Bossier, and Cado parishes are excluded from this grant).
Contact: Sierra Sager at (504) 524-4559 or sierra@jefno.org
LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA and FLORIDA PANHANDLE RESIDENTS
Goldring Family Foundation – First-year camper up to $1500
Application Opens: October
Deadline: March 1
Contact:Sierra Sager at (504) 524-4559 or sierra@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
Application Opens: November
Deadline: Typically, March 1
Contact: Galit Alboukrek at 954-660-2077 or camp@jewishbroward.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
Jewish Council of North Central Florida
Application Opens: November
Deadline: Typically, March 1
Contact: Linda E. Maurice, office@jcncf.org
Miami DADE Federation
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)
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
Application Opens: October
Deadline: January 15
Contact: info@jewishgulfcoast.org or 727-530-3223
Sarasota
Application Opens: November
Deadline: End of January
Contact: Jessi Sheslow at (941) 343-2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org
Tampa
Application Opens: October
Deadline: End of November
Contact: Alissa Fischel at (813) 769-4726
NORTH CAROLINA
Greensboro NC
Application Opens: October
Deadline: End of February
Contact: Director of Jewish Family Services at (336) 852-4829 x225
SOUTH CAROLINA
Charleston
Application Opens: October
Deadline: End of February
Contact: Natanya at (843)614-6486 or pjlibrary@jewishcharleston.org
TENNESSEE
Nashville and Middle Tennessee
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
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
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
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
IMPORTANT NOTE:
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 $45 fee per family.
Ramah Darom’s FACTS application is open. Please email Deanne Brown with questions.
The deadline to submit a completed Ramah Darom scholarship application for Summer 2025 is Friday, February 7, 2025.* 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.
What if my scholarship award does not meet my family’s needs?
Families who apply for a Ramah Darom scholarship will be notified by email once the Scholarship Committee has reviewed their application and finalized an award.
If, after receiving your award, you determine that sending your children to camp would create a financial hardship for your family, you’ll have two weeks to withdraw your camper(s). In such cases, you’ll receive a refund of any payments made, less the $100 non-refundable administration fee, which applies to all cancellations.
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.