Affordability & Financial Aid
Ramah Darom is committed to ensuring that every parent has the opportunity to give their child the enriching benefits of a Jewish summer camp experience.
Your first step is to complete your Camp application. Once completed, there are several sources that offer scholarships and financial assistance to families.
The majority of financial assistance comes from local sources. Please see our Financial Aid 1, 2, 3 below for more information and for links to applications. We also encourage you to speak to your Rabbi, contact your local federation and ask community leaders about funding opportunities in your area.
For those needing additional assistance, Ramah Darom does provide limited scholarships – see #3 below. We also offer payment plans. If the Ramah Darom application fees cause your family hardship, please contact Jeff Weener (jweener@ramahdarom.org) to discuss options.
Your first-time camper may be eligible for a One Happy Camper grant of up to $1000!
Financial Aid 1, 2, 3
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!
Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, or Oklahoma
Jewish Children’s Regional Service: jcrs.org
Requirements: Must be a resident of Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, or Oklahoma. Camper should be entering third to twelfth grade as of August 31.
Contact: 504-828-6334
Atlanta, Georgia
ATTENTION ATLANTA FAMILIES: We are working together with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta (JFGA) so that only a single application, submitted to JFGA, will be required. JFGA will share the application with us, and Atlanta-area families will no longer need to complete Ramah Darom’s FACTs application. Moreover, financial aid awards for those completing the JFGA application will be made on a rolling basis according to a series of scheduled notification intervals.
Charleston, South Carolina
Jewish Charleston: jewishcharleston.org/camp/financial-resources
Requirements: Must reside in Charleston, SC
Contact: Sara Chesley at saras@jewishcharleston.org or call 843-614-6491 for free and confidential assistance.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas Jewish Community Foundation: djcf.org
Requirements: Scholarships are based solely on financial need and all applicant information will remain strictly confidential. Repeat applicants will be considered, with priority given to first-time campers. The due date for the application is March 5, 2019, with notification by April 9, 2019.
Deadline: March 5
Contact: rosenbloomscholarship@djcf.org
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida Panhandle
Goldring Jewish Summer Camp Experience: jefno.org
The Goldring Family Foundation wants to make this lifetime experience available to every Jewish child. Each of your children is eligible for a one-time-only incentive grant of up to $1,500* to attend a nonprofit Jewish summer camp.
Requirements:
- First-time campers at a nonprofit Jewish sleep-away camp
- Currently in grades 1 through 9
- Residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or the Florida Panhandle
Grants are not based on financial need. Both parents need not be Jewish. Temple or synagogue affiliation is not required.
Deadline: March 31
Apply: JSCEapplication2019
Contact: Ellen Abrams at 504-524-4559 or ellen@jefno.org
Memphis Area
Memphis Jewish Federation:
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
South Florida: Boca Raton and Delray Beach
Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services: ralesjfs.org
Requirements: Residents of Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL
Contact: Shari Waknin at shariw@ralesjfs.org or 561-852-3171
South Florida: Broward County
Orloff Central Agency for Jewish Education: orloffcaje.org
Requirements: Must reside in Broward County, FL.
Contact: Rochelle Baltuch at camp@orloffcaje.org or 954-660-2077
South Florida: Palm Beach County
National Council for Jewish Women – Valencia Shores Section
Requirements: Palm Beach County Resident, Camper must be 13 years of age or younger. This is a needs-based scholarship or for families with extenuating circumstances.
Deadline: Application packet must be postmarked by March 5
Contact: Sandy Platzman at 561-968-4415 or sandymae@gmail.com or download an application.
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
Ramah is the camping arm of Conservative Judaism, with a network of 10 overnight camps and 4-day camps in North America. In appreciation of their service to the United States, Jewish families with at least one parent in active American military service are eligible for a 40% tuition discount at Ramah overnight camps.
Requirements: At least one parent in active American service
Contact: The National Ramah office at (212) 678-8881 or email info@campramah.org.
Ramah Darom Scholarships
After applying to all available local sources for financial aid, families in need of additional assistance for Camp may apply for Ramah Darom scholarships. Available funds are limited, and families must be able to demonstrate financial need by submitting the full application and required documents.
Camp Ramah Darom partners with FACTS to process Ramah Darom 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 $30 fee per family. If this fee causes your family hardship, please contact Jeff Weener (jweener@ramahdarom.org) to discuss options.
Every completed Ramah Darom scholarship application is reviewed by the Scholarship Committee of Ramah Darom’s Board of Directors. All information is kept strictly confidential.
The online application form for Ramah Darom scholarships is now open. Please click here to apply: https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/4KRRH. Note that even if you do not yet have all the required materials, you can begin the application process and upload additional materials at a later date.
The deadline to submit completed Ramah Darom scholarship applications is February 7, 2020. The Scholarship Committee will then review all applications in detail. 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 miss the deadline?
The first priority is given to applications received by the February 7th deadline.
After the Committee has completed reviewing all applications received by February 7, limited funds may still be available for families whose applications were received after the deadline.
We encourage you to complete the FACTS application and contact 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 Jeff Weener (jweener@ramahdarom.org) or call 404.531.0801.