Scholarships are available to support undergraduate or graduate studies at accredited nonprofit colleges and universities. The program offers 15 distinct scholarships, each with specific eligibility criteria and requirements.

Scholarships are awarded based on merit and financial need. Scholarships are intended to supplement student and family contributions, financial aid, grants, and other awards.

Applications

Applications for scholarships for the 2025–26 academic year open February 1, 2025 and will close on March 16, 2025.

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.

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.

College Scholarship FAQs

  • The number of awards varies each year depending on the number of qualified applicants and the funds available.
  • While award amounts range from $1,000 to a student’s full need, most awards are between $2,500 and $5,000.

The scholarships can be applied to any expenses the applicant will owe to their college or university in the academic year of their scholarship.

Students may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Renewal applicants must fill out a renewal application that demonstrates both continued merit and financial need and be approved by the Federation’s College Scholarship committee.

If you change schools mid-year, you should contact a Federation staff administrator immediately. Your original school will refund the remaining scholarship to the Federation, and the scholarship committee may consider transferring the funds to your new school if you still meet eligibility criteria. If you transfer between academic years, you must apply for a renewal with your new school information to be reconsidered for renewal funding.

If you are applying to a school in the University of California (UC) system, please indicate one of those schools as your intended college. This will guarantee you are considered for the most scholarships. Otherwise, you should list your first choice on the application. If you are chosen to receive an award, you will be asked to complete a scholarship claim form to confirm your final school choice so that your check can be issued accordingly.

All applicants will be notified by email by early August whether they have received a scholarship.

  • You must enroll as a full-time undergraduate or graduate in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded (12+ units per quarter/semester).
  • You must continue in school the entire academic year without interruption unless approved by the scholarship sponsor.
  • Checks will be mailed to the school’s financial aid office using the mailing address entered by the awardee on their scholarship claim form.
  • Checks will be made payable to the institution only.
  • Checks will be issued by late August.
  • It is the awardee’s responsibility to notify the scholarship administrator should the check not arrive in time to be counted towards fall expenses.

Tax laws vary by country. In the United States, scholarship funds used exclusively for the payment of tuition or textbooks are normally not taxable. The scholarship recipient is responsible for taxes, if any, that may be assessed against your scholarship award. We recommend consulting your tax advisor for more guidance.

Scholarships & Criteria

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Questions?

For application-related questions, please contact Kaleidoscope support.

For all other questions, please email us.