College Scholarships

Investing in our future means helping to provide access to quality education.

We recognize the importance of a college degree. An investment in students’ education helps allay mounting student debt and increasingly high tuition. Down the line, an undergraduate degree accounts for nearly $1 million in lifetime earnings. The Federation is in a unique position to bring interested funders to commit to meeting the growing needs of those seeking post-secondary education.

The Federation’s College Scholarship program is a conduit for students seeking financial aid to attend undergraduate or graduate programs at accredited nonprofit colleges or universities. Completing one application will grant students consideration for up to 15 different scholarships. Many scholarships are renewable, providing the consistent support necessary for a student to succeed in college.

Scholarships are granted based on both merit and financial need. Scholarships are intended to supplement student and family contributions, as well as other financial aid, grants, and awards. For the 2023-24 academic year, our program awarded $372,800 to 76 recipients.

Read more about how college scholarships ease the burden for Bay Area young women.

Applications for scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year are no longer open, but please check back in February for applications for the 2025-26 academic year.

Scholarship Eligibility

• The Federation's College Scholarship program includes 15 different scholarships, each with its own eligibility criteria and requirements (see below).
• Most (but not all) scholarships are for Jewish students from the Federation's service area, which includes the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma, to attend an undergraduate program based on a combination of need and merit. There are exceptions, so please see the detailed eligibility requirements below.
• Applicants may be eligible for more than one scholarship and may receive more than one award.
• Applicants will be automatically considered for the scholarships for which they are eligible. Applicants need only to submit one application to be considered for multiple scholarships.
• Previous recipients may apply for a renewal each year, as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria and the fund allows for renewals. Renewals are not guaranteed. If a student is applying for a renewal, they may not apply for a new scholarship.
• Scholarships are for full-time students only, enrolled in 12-plus units per quarter/semester.

Scholarship Criteria

The Samuel Joseph & Marvin Anmuth Memorial Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors or graduates who are planning to enroll or already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university to pursue a degree in business or engineering.
• Qualifications: Financial need, a minimum 3.0 cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale, and demonstrated leadership in the Jewish and/or larger community.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Multiple scholarships between $1,500 and $5,000 will be awarded annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

The Brandenburg Education Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors or undergraduate students accepted to or currently enrolled in a course of study at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States.
• Qualifications: Academic merit, financial need, demonstrated interest in and dedication to a specific field of study (i.e. internships, research, etc.).
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• One scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded annually. Renewals will not be considered.

The Nathan J. and Virginia H. Friedman College Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors and graduates who are enrolled in or will be enrolled in a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited college or university.
• Qualifications: Outstanding academic record, cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale, financial need, and past participation in the Jewish community.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Multiple scholarships of $1,000 - $5,000 each are expected to be awarded annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

The Elaine and Barry Gilbert College Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors or past Gilbert Scholarship recipients who are already enrolled or planned to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study in the University of California (UC) system, at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, or at Hillsdale College in Michigan.
• Special consideration will be given to graduates of San Francisco’s Lowell or Washington High Schools.
• Qualifications: Financial need, minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for new applicants and 3.0 out of 4.0 for renewals, except in extenuating circumstances that are addressed in the application, and demonstrated involvement in the Jewish community.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Multiple scholarships between $1,000 - $3,000 are expected to be awarded annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

Helen B. and Lewis E. Goldstein Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors or graduates who are planning to enroll or already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university.
• Preference will be given to someone enrolled in a professional school such as a law school, business, or library/information science. Preference will also be given to a student who is an immigrant.
• Qualifications: Academic merit, financial need.
• One scholarship of up to $10,000 is expected to be awarded annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

The Stephanie G. Hoffman Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduate students accepted to or attending an accredited college or university program. 
• Qualifications: Financial need, major in library science, English, literature, education, or a related field with the intention of working with underserved children. 
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• One or more scholarships of $1,000 - $5,000 are expected to be given annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply. 

The Kadimah College Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish students accepted to or attending an accredited college or university undergraduate program. 
• Qualifications: Financial need.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in Northern California, including the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
• Two scholarships of up to $10,000 are expected to be given annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply. 

The Knopf/Leichter Family Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors, undergraduates, or graduate students accepted to or attending an accredited college or university program.
• Qualifications: Financial need, involvement in Jewish life and in Israel.
• Residency: Preference for applicants whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Multiple scholarships of $2,000 or more are expected to be given annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply. 

The Libi Cape Women's College Scholarship 

• Eligibility: Jewish women who will be enrolled in the first year of an undergraduate program at a four-year college or university. 
• Qualifications: Financial need.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Multiple full scholarships are expected to be awarded annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

Alexander M. and June L. Maisin Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors and past Maisin scholarship recipients who are age 24 or younger as of the application deadline and are planning to enroll or are already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at an accredited college or university.
• Qualifications: Strong academic record, minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, leadership, and financial need. For renewal candidates, preference will be given to those maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Multiple scholarships of $1,000 to $3,500 are expected to be awarded annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

The Gail Karp Orgell Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish female high school seniors or graduates who are beginning their first year of an undergraduate program at a four-year college or university in California.
• Qualifications: Demonstrated academic excellence with a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, involvement in athletics, financial need, and evidence of consistently practicing the Jewish principles of tzedakah and tikkun olam, defined here as giving of one’s time to making the world a better place.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• One scholarship around $7,000 is expected to be awarded annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

The S.F. Humanities, Inc: Leo Hills Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors or graduates who are planning to enroll or already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college, university, or an art/music institution.
• Qualifications: Financial need, students must have a proven track record of excellence in the area of fine arts.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Two scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded annually. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

The Shirley and Robert Raymer College Scholarship

• Eligibility: Jewish high school seniors who are planning to enroll in an academically selective, four-year college or university.
• Qualifications: Academic excellence, financial need, and demonstrated involvement in the Jewish community.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Two or three $10,000 scholarships are expected to be awarded annually. Past recipients may not reapply.

The Judy Kay Wendland-Young Scholarship

• Eligibility: Women over the age of 35, who have not previously attended college at an accredited college or university offering bachelor’s degrees, and who will be enrolled in their first year of a four-year undergraduate program at an accredited college or university in the U.S.
• Qualifications: Financial need.
• Up to two scholarships of a sum up to $20,000 are expected to be awarded annually. Awards may only be used during the first year enrolled.

The Ronald P. Wilmot Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school seniors or graduates who are planning to enroll or already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university who are children of a gay or lesbian parent(s).
• Qualifications: Academic and artistic excellence, and financial need.
• Residency requirements: Applicant whose permanent residence is in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, which includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties.
• Approximately 10 scholarships of up to $2,000 each are expected to be awarded. Provided eligibility requirements are met, past recipients may reapply.

How to Apply

The application for first-time applicants will require the following information:

• Cumulative transcripts for college or high school.
• Short answer and essay responses
• Two letters of recommendation. You will designate your references in the application and they will be prompted by email to submit a recommendation letter on your behalf. References cannot be a member of your family.
• The first page of your or your family’s federal tax return in the most recent year available
• Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form
• Financial aid award letter from the college, listing all grants, loans, and outside awards you received, if you have received it by the application deadline. If this is not available before the application is submitted, you will need to upload these to your application or provide them to the scholarship administrator upon receipt.

Questions

For application-related questions, email Kaleidoscope, the Federation's scholarship vendor.

For general scholarship questions, please email Lauren Wilner. 

Selection and Notification Process

All scholarship application data is held as strictly confidential and reviewed without any identifying information (anonymously) by established selection criteria.

All applicants will be notified of their application's status by email in early August. Recipients will be asked to confirm their enrollment and accept their awards. Students who defer their enrollment or have enrolled in a school differing from what was listed on their application may have their scholarship rescinded. Award checks will be made out to the scholarship recipients’ schools and mailed out in August.

Learn More

View Frequently Asked Questions about College Scholarships.

For additional scholarship opportunities, check out these partner organizations:

Hebrew Free Loan's Student Loan Program
Jewish Family and Children's Service College Scholarships
Hillel International Jewish Scholarships Portal
The L.J Craig and Alice Craig Scholarship for Engineering Students at UC Berkeley