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Summer Scholarships

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Want to be on the priority list for Summer 2027?

Fill out our interest form to get a sneak peek at what’s new, and secure your spot before anyone else when we officially launch!

Get on the List

Supporting Your Summer Experience

In keeping with our mission to share meaningful Jewish experiences with as many Jewish teens as possible, BBYO provides need-based scholarships for our Camp Leadership and travel experiences. Below you will find information on how to apply, as well as additional resources to help make our programs more financially accessible. Please reach out to our team with any questions.

Scholarship Support for Eligible Families

Need-based funding is available to teens who are interested in, or registered for:

  • Camp Leadership Programs, including CLTC, ILTC, and International Kallah.
  • Summer Experiences in Israel, including connected programs that pair Israel with destinations like Europe and Asia.

New this year, families will be able to apply for need-based scholarships before committing to a program with a deposit. This change gives families greater clarity and confidence as they explore Summer Experiences, allowing them to better understand their potential financial assistance before making a registration decision.

We're excited to take this important step toward making our programs more accessible and helping families plan with greater peace of mind.

How Families Apply
It's simple: families log in to MyBBYO, head to Scholarships, and complete their teen's application, selecting the specific program they're seeking funding for.

The Three-Stage Process
Funding decisions will be made in three stages and shared with families via email.

  • Stage 1: Applications open on October 1 and are reviewed on a rolling basis until all funds are exhausted
  • Stage 2: Award notices are emailed directly to families
  • Stage 3: Families accept the award by registering for the program and paying the non-refundable deposit for summer. Once the deposit is received, the scholarship credit is applied toward program registration. Please note that the scholarship award cannot be applied toward the deposit.

Families Encouraged to Apply Early
There are no application deadlines, but funding is awarded first-come, first-served until it runs out. The sooner families apply, the better positioned they are.

Important Note
Please note that applying for and/or receiving a scholarship award does not guarantee a teen’s spot on any summer program. The deposit must be paid within the timeframe provided. Enrollment terms, program capacities, and deadlines still apply; please review carefully to understand important dates leading up to Summer 2027.

Community Scholarships

Most communities offer teen Israel program scholarships through their local Jewish Federation or other Jewish education agencies. In most cases, community funds are available only for teens living in the areas that they serve. BBYO programs in Israel meet the criteria to qualify for most of these scholarships. We have included a list of specific communities that offer such scholarships below. If you do not find your hometown on the list, search the National Federation Directory.

NOTE: Due to the nature of changes in funding and resources, we do not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided nor guarantee eligibility as almost all sources are independently managed and have no connection to BBYO.

Other Opportunities

Below is a list of various sources for potential scholarship funding that BBYO participants have benefitted from in previous years. The goal of this resource is to provide prospective BBYO participants information about organizations within their geographic region that have offered scholarships in the past. We do our best to provide accurate material and information from each source.

Local Synagogues

Often, synagogues have set aside funds specifically designated for sending local teens to Israel. Call your synagogue's office to learn if they offer this type of scholarship. Departments that often have scholarships available include but are not limited to a General Scholarship Fund, Rabbi Discretionary Fund, Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Israel Committee or Youth Department.

One Happy Camper

BBYO is proud to partner with One Happy Camper to provide teens up to $1,000 off our Camp & Leadership programs and U.S. based BBYO Passport trips that are 12-days or longer. This gift—made possible by your local Jewish Federation in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp—is for campers attending their first Jewish overnight summer camp experience. Please view this list for qualifying communities, age requirements, and contact information on their eligibility page.

One Happy Camper also offers $1,000–$1,500 small community incentive grants to families that live in a community of with less than 10,000 Jewish residents. Questions? Call 888-888-4819 or email [email protected].

Local Jewish Organizations

Some other local Jewish organizations may have scholarships available. Here are some potential sources in your community that are worth exploring:

Plant your way (JNF)
Local Holocaust Museum
Jewish Community Center (JCC)
Jewish Council for Your Services (JCYS)
Jewish Family Services (JFS)
Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE)
Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS)
Hebrew Free Loan Society

Search the Web

A quick internet search will reveal numerous Jewish organizations that offer money to Jewish teens traveling to Israel. Send them an e-mail and see if you qualify! Do you know of a scholarship not listed or have updated information? Please let us know and we will post the information for others who are seeking funding for their BBYO experience.

Bay Area Israel Scholarship

In an effort to make Jewish summer experiences in Israel more accessible, high school-age teens from the Bay Area are eligible for additional financial assistance toward any BBYO Passport program in Israel.

This funding is made possible through funding distributed by the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (JCFEF), and eligible applicants must live in the catchment area of JCFEF.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Jewish teens currently in grades 9–12
  • Must reside in in San Francisco, The Peninsula, and Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin & Sonoma Counties. Participants in Palo Alto, Stanford, Los Altos, and Mountain View are also eligible
    • Unfortunately, not all of Santa Clara County is eligible for funding. Contact Julia Cinnamon at [email protected] for more information on eligibility
  • Scholarships available based on merit and/or need; Average award $500-$1,500

How to Apply

The Bay Area Israel Scholarship application will be available after BBYO launches Summer 2027! Please check back for more information.

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New York Teen Initiative (NYTI)

In an effort to make Jewish summer experiences more affordable, high school-age teens from the New York City area are eligible for generous financial assistance towards any BBYO Summer Experience.

The New York Teen Initiative is sponsored by UJA-Federation of New York and the Jim Joseph Foundation.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Jewish teens currently in grades 9-12
  • Permanent resident of New York City’s five boroughs, Nassau, Suffolk, or Westchester counties
  • Scholarship amount will be based on financial need; the average award last summer was $1,400–$2,250

How to Apply

The New York Teen Initiative Scholarship application will be available after BBYO launches Summer 2027! Please check back for more information.

Three friends sitting on a hammock