JELF - Jewish Educational Loan Fund

JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) provides interest-free loans for higher education to Jewish students in need. Higher education includes undergrad, graduate, vocational and/or technical school programs. A student must be enrolled full-time to apply. 

JELF began as the Hebrew Orphans’ Home in Atlanta in 1889, serving B’nai B’rith District 5 - Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the same five states that the organization still serves today.   

In the 1930s, the Hebrew Orphans’ Home evolved into a foster care agency, Jewish Children’s Service.  Then due to changing times, the organization began providing interest-free loans in the 1960’s, formally changing its name to JELF in 1989. 

In 2019, JELF will provide more than $1.2 million to 275+ students in need.  South Florida is the largest Jewish community served by JELF and Atlanta is the second largest, followed by Greensboro, Charlotte and Richmond.  JELF currently has $6.3 million loaned to 900+ students.  

Over the past 10 years alone, the organization has granted 2K+ loans totaling over $8 million throughout the region.

For 10+ years JELF is proud to boast a 99% loan repayment rate, as well as a dedicated cohort of alumni donors.