The JCC Movement is a great place to build a career for people who really like people

JCC Association’s Professional Development Scholarship Program is designed to help current, full-time JCC professionals deepen and enhance their professional knowledge to advance their career at a Jewish Community Center or Jewish Community Camp (JCC). The application period for Fall 2023/Spring 2024 will open in early March.

Scholarships are available for:

1. Postgraduate degrees
2. Certification in a specific area
3. Continuing education (e.g., one class on a specific subject)

Eligibility

To qualify for a JCC Association Professional Development Scholarship, you must meet both of these criteria:

• • Have completed at least one year of full-time employment in your current role at your JCC
  • Pursue a degree on a full- or part-time basis

Available Funding

Professional Scholarship recipients may receive up to $5,000 per pay period (up to a total of $20,000)

• • Scholarships will be awarded according to an academic calendar (e.g., Fall Semester/Spring Semester).
  • Scholarships for certificates and continuing education will be awarded based on the cost of the program and depending upon available funds.
  • All scholarship funds will be paid upon completion of a traditional academic semester (e.g., at the end of December or May). Payment will only be processed after scholarship recipients provide JCC Association with proof of completion of the semester and confirmation of continued employment.

Deadlines

The application period for Fall 2023/Spring 2024 will open in early March

Application Process

1. Submit a Complete Application: (See chart below and gather application materials)
2. Interview(s): All degree-seeking applicants will be required to interview with a member of JCC Association’s staff. In addition, JCC Association’s Professional Development Team may also request an interview with applicants.
3. Notification: Applicants will be notified by about their status as a JCC Association Professional Development Scholar.

A complete application includes these materials, and failure to provide all required documents will disqualify applicants from consideration.

Re-Certification

Recipients who are awarded a multi-year scholarship must re-certify their scholarship eligibility annually by providing proof of employment, proof of registration, and their previous semester grades (a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required) to continue to receive scholarship funding. Additional information about re-certification will be provided pending receipt of a scholarship award.

Work Requirement

Depending upon the total amount of scholarship funding awarded, recipients may be required to continue to work for a JCC for a specific amount of time following completion of the education funded by JCC Association (see chart below). This requirement can be fulfilled at any affiliated JCC.

Scholarship funds of individuals who fail to complete the required employment will be considered an interest-free loan, and recipients will be required to repay JCC Association the full amount of the award.

Partnership Programs

Gratz College
Gratz College will offer a 30% tuition discount per course, in addition to the scholarship received from JCC Association.

• MS: Camp Administration and Leadership
• MS: Nonprofit Management
• MA: Human Rights
• MEd: Early Childhood Education
• EdD: Education in Leadership
• MA: Jewish Studies
• MA: Jewish Professional Studies
• MA: Interfaith Leadership
• MA or PhD: Holocaust and Genocide Studies
• MS: Camp Administration and Leadership
• MEd: Jewish Instructional Education

Hebrew College
Hebrew College is happy to provide a matching scholarship to students who enroll in one of the below 36- or 45-credit degree programs; students must take at least 12 credits in an academic year to quality. Students may also apply for additional Hebrew College merit fellowships, which could raise the total scholarship amount given. 
- Please note: Hebrew College scholarship funds will be applied directly to tuition.

• MA of Jewish Education with or without a specialization in Early Childhood Jewish Education, Jewish Experiential Education, Jewish Special Education, or Interfaith Families Jewish Engagement (36 credits)
• MA in Jewish Studies, with or without specialization in Social and Environmental Change Leadership or Jewish Mysticism and Spirituality (36 credits)

Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion will match a scholarship of $5,000/semester up to a minimum of 50% of the total cost of tuition for each partnership program.

• MS in Organizational Leadership
• MA in Jewish Nonprofit Management
• Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership

Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)
JTS will match fellowship offer upon admission, except in the case of those who are accepted to the certificate program in Jewish Ethics and Social Justice. These scholars will receive a reduced tuition of $700 per course for a total of $2,800 for completing the certificate program. Additional funding may be available as well.

• MA in Jewish Education, The Davidson School
• MA in Jewish Studies, The Keskt Graduate School
• Doctor of Hebrew Literature, The Kekst Graduate School
• Certificate in Jewish Ethics and Social Justice

Spertus Institute
Spertus Institute will match scholarship funds for an MA program not to exceed 50% of tuition and provide up to $500 in matching funds for a certification program.

• MA in Jewish Professional Studies
• Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies
• Certificate in Jewish Leadership