Financial aid, accessibility, & incentives
There’s room for you at Ramah.
One third of campers receive financial assistance from Ramah, and any family can apply.
- 1 in 3Campers receive aid from Ramah
- NoIncome thresholds
- AnyFamily can apply
A Ramah summer could be closer than you think.
Maybe you’re worried that Ramah isn’t for families like yours. But this is where you see our values in action.
We care deeply about inclusivity, community, and providing a path for your family to embrace the life-changing Jewish values and traditions that have guided the way throughout Camp Ramah’s history.
Ramah has a place for every right-fit camper. There’s support available to make an unforgettable summer at Ramah a reality. So, let’s get started.
The Ramah way
Financial assistance is part of the Ramah way.
Helping each other is a way of life at Ramah. It shows up in the bunks, in the dining hall, during activities, and even in how you find your way here.
You’re not the only one asking.
Financial aid is only for a handful of families.
One third of campers receive financial assistance from Ramah.
Income is not a deterrent.
Our income probably isn’t right to apply.
Any family can apply. Your application is read by people who want your child at camp.
Camp is the great equalizer.
Will my child fit in?
Every camper is valued equally, regardless of family background. Campers from public, private, and Jewish day schools can find their chevra (friend group) here.
96%
of campers feel a sense of belonging at camp.
I don’t know what kind of magic happens at Camp Ramah, but each year my kid leaves for camp nervous and comes back glowing, joyful, connected, and complaining about having to come home. She has made lifelong friends. And I am so grateful to give my child this gift.
Gemilut Hasadim
Camp Ramah is better with you here.
At Ramah, Gemilut Hasadim, taking responsibility for each other, isn’t just something we teach. It’s something we all embody. It’s how we run camp. Making sure that families can say “yes” to a summer here is the first step.
One summer
can shape a lifetime.
The friendships, confidence, and Jewish identity that campers build at Ramah come home with them and impact their lives forever.
Our kehillah is stronger
with you in it.
Every family brings something to camp. The more diversity we have in families at Ramah, the richer the experience for every camper.
Tuition isn’t the
end of the conversation.
The camp experience is about so much more. We’re on a deeper mission: making sure every camper can thrive on their Journey for a Lifetime.
99%
of families say Ramah creates an atmosphere where campers feel proud to be Jewish.
Find your path
Every family’s situation is different.
Our varied support meets you where you are. Choose what sounds most like your family.
At Ramah, campers with different Jewish backgrounds come together and find belonging.
Ramah is a Jewish camp, where children and teens live out Jewish values together every day. You don’t need to know every prayer before you arrive. Campers learn by doing, side by side with friends and counselors who make it feel natural.Ramah is a Jewish camp, where children and teens live out Jewish values together every day. You don’t need to know every prayer before you arrive. Campers learn by doing, side by side with friends and counselors.
Suggested support to explore
You build Jewish community all year. Ramah is where your child can continue the tradition.
Your child arrives ready to lead in prayer, song, and tradition, and helps bunkmates who are new to Jewish life feel at home.
Suggested support to explore
Your child’s Jewish community is bigger than your zip code.
Families come to Ramah from across the West, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Israel and Alaska. Your child finds their people here and forms lifelong bonds.
Suggested support to explore
Life changes. Your place at Ramah doesn’t.
One third of campers receive financial support from Ramah. You can apply regardless of income and your application is read by people who care about keeping your child at camp.
Suggested support to explore
As an overall secular family with ties to Israel, camp has fostered a much needed connection to Jewish identity for my child. When he needed to do an aliyah for his younger brother’s bar mitzvah this year, we were pleasantly surprised that he knew the entire prayer by heart and felt more than comfortable performing it.
Apply once, covered for three summers.
Families receiving a Camp Ramah Scholarship keep their award for three consecutive summers without reapplying.
Every option, one place
All your support options, in one place.
Some support comes from Ramah directly, some from community partners, and other Jewish institutions. Families should apply to any for which they may be eligible, and many families use more than one type of support.Some support comes from Ramah directly, some from community partners, and other Jewish institutions. Many families use more than one type of support.
Camp Ramah Scholarship
Need-based financial aid for any Ramah family, regardless of household income. New applicants apply through FACTS each fall.
Returning families already receiving aid can keep their award for three consecutive summers without reapplying. We’re deeply grateful to the many members of our kehillah (community) who help keep a Ramah summer within reach. See the scholarship funds that make this possible. Awards increase with tuition, and families can request a review if their circumstances change.
Dave Goldberg Scholarship
Established through the generosity of Sheryl Sandberg, Rob Goldberg, and Tom Bernthal, this scholarship supports families with the greatest financial need. Families applying through the Ramah Scholarship program will automatically be considered for the Dave Goldberg Scholarship if eligible.
Lainer Fagan Scholarship
Established through the generosity of Brian Fagan and Lisa Lainer-Fagan. This scholarship provides a 50% tuition reduction for eligible children of Jewish day school educators and administrators whose roles include direct, ongoing work with students. Families who are eligible for this scholarship should complete a separate application available on CampMinder after enrollment.
Rishon
A first-time camper incentive for day school students or others not otherwise eligible for One Happy Camper.
Discounts
Ramah offers discounts for first-time families, siblings, early enrollment, and Jewish professionals.
One Happy Camper
A grant for first-time campers who attend public or non-Jewish private school, usually offered through your local federation or Jewish community foundation.A grant for first-time campers who attend public or non-Jewish private school, usually through your local federation or Jewish community foundation.
Samueli One Happy Camper
An expanded One Happy Camper program for campers from Orange County, underwritten by the Samueli Foundation.
Synagogue & Rabbis’ Discretionary Funds
Ask your synagogue’s main office, Sisterhood, or Men’s Club, or reach out to your rabbi’s office directly.Ask your synagogue’s main office, Sisterhood, or Men’s Club, or your rabbi’s office directly.
Local Jewish Organizations
Your local Jewish federation, Jewish community foundation, JCC, or Bureau of Jewish Education may offer camp funding. Reach out to yours to ask.Your local Jewish federation, Jewish community foundation, JCC, or Bureau of Jewish Education may offer camp funding.
Accessibility
Camp for every kid.
Ramah’s inclusion programs make campers with disabilities part of everyday camp life, with the support they need to thrive.
How it works
Applying for Ramah financial assistance, step by step.
Apply for financial aid in the fall and hear back by March. Each scholarship may have its own deadlines and guidelines, so be sure to abide by those of your selected support option.Apply for financial aid in the fall and hear back by March. Each scholarship may have its own deadlines, so abide by those of your selected option.
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1
Enroll your camper
First, enroll your camper. Enrollment is the first part of the financial aid process and must be completed prior to scholarship applications.
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2
Find your support
Look through the options above to select a program (or several) that meet your family’s needs.
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3
Apply through FACTS
Our financial aid applications are collected by FACTS, a trusted partner. FACTS charges a $45 fee. If that fee would be a hardship for your family, reach out to Ben Strom, Senior Administrator & Registrar, at ben@ramah.org.
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4
Send it all in one go
Only complete applications come to us, so gather all documents and send them through when completing your FACTS application.Only complete applications come to us, so gather all documents and send them through FACTS.
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5
Our team reads and responds
Our anonymous volunteer Scholarship Committee reviews every application with sensitivity and care. Apply by December 15 to hear back in early March. After that date, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and subject to availability.Our anonymous volunteer Scholarship Committee reviews every application with sensitivity and care. Apply by December 15 to hear back in early March.
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6
Keep your award for three summers
Families who receive a Camp Ramah Scholarship keep it for three consecutive summers without reapplying, then reapply in the fourth year.
Take the first step.
We’ll walk the rest alongside you.
Enroll now to hold your spot, then apply for financial aid when applications open each fall.
Not sure where to begin? Reach out to our team.
We are committed to finding a spot for every right-fit camper and spreading Ramah’s mission far and wide.
FAQ
Still wondering about financial assistance? Ask away.
Every Ramah family can apply for a Camp Ramah Scholarship, regardless of household income.
Yes. We encourage families to enroll as soon as possible to hold their spot, then apply for aid when applications open in the fall.
Applications open each fall. If you apply by December 15, you’ll hear back by March. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after that.
Go to ramah.org/facts. FACTS charges a $45 fee to complete the application. Submit your application, with documents, which are then forwarded to our team.
Ramah is a Jewish camp, where campers live out Jewish values together every day. Campers come from public schools, secular homes, small towns, and day schools. You don’t need to know every prayer, attend a Jewish school, or have a religious home. Rather, your child will learn by doing, alongside friends and counselors.
Our team is here to help at every step. Contact Leah Phillips, Head of Admissions & Community Engagement (leah@ramah.org), with questions about camp tours, camper readiness, and what camp is like, or Ben Strom, Senior Administrator & Registrar (ben@ramah.org), with questions about financial aid, transportation, and logistics.