Short-term loans and grants are available to Jewish Bay Area residents in crisis who are attempting to cope with food, rent, medical and other essential expenses.

Life can throw many unexpected challenges in our path. JFCS embraces the spirit of lovingkindness and we are here to help you in your time of need. We have funds dedicated to providing short-term loans and grants for Jewish residents of the Bay Area who are in crisis and need help to meet basic living expenses such as food, housing, medical and other essential expenses.

To find out if you are eligible for Emergency Assistance through JFCS, you should contact the JFCS office nearest you to get the relevant contact numbers for the Adult Services staff in your area. Even if you are not eligible for our help our Adult Services staff will refer you to other community resources.

• One principal in your business must be a minimum 18 year-old Jewish resident of Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo or Santa Clara County for one year prior to your application.
• One principal in your business should have relevant business experience and should be able to document this experience and their accomplishments. If you're not sure if you or your partners have enough experience give us a call and let's talk about it.
• Applicant(s) should have a written business plan. Sample plans are available through our office or via links found in our resource library. If you need help putting a plan together call us for a referral to potential sources of assistance. To visit the resource library, please click here.
• Applicant(s) should be able to provide qualified guarantors. Each guarantor may co-sign for a maximum of up to $10,000 each.
• Applicant(s) should be able to obtain applicable permits, licenses and required insurance.

• Grant and Scholarship Eligibility - You are a Jewish resident of Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo or Santa Clara County (as far south as San Jose) for one year prior to your application. If you're not sure if you are a resident you may call for counsel or ask your self the following questions:
  
  • Do I have a California Driver's License?
    
  • Do I vote in California?
    
  • Do I file my taxes in California?
    
  • Is my permanent address in the Bay Area? (Living on-campus during the school year and permanently residing out of area does not qualify you as a Bay Area resident.)
  
  If you can answer yes to any of these questions, take the next step and request an application.
  
  Please Note: JFCS has a number of specific funds set up by our generous donors. When you apply, you apply to our financial aid center rather than to a specific fund, but reading about the listed funds on the link below will help give you an idea of the type of requests our donors wish to honor.

  Click here to view the JFCS loan, grant, and scholarship funds.

  Click here to download and print application.

• Loan Eligibility - You are a Jewish resident of the Bay Area for one year prior to your application. Loans will be considered for residents of the nine Bay Area counties, including the counties named above in the grants eligibility section. Loans are usually offered at interest rates below prime and repayment is deferred until after graduation from your school or program.
  
  
• Demonstrated Financial Need - Funds are prioritized for people who need our help in order to pursue their educational and vocational goals.
  
  
• Acceptance and enrollment in a college, university, vocational school or other accredited institution. You may call us with questions if you are currently in the application process or deciding between schools. We will formally consider your application once you have made your choice, and are officially enrolled and have been offered or refused financial aid by your school of choice.
  
  
• Academic Achievement - We are invested in your success and want to see that you are too. We ask that applicants be in good standing at their schools. Always feel free to call and ask questions about your situation. Academic merit is a factor considered in both loan and grant applications.
  
  
• Other Potential Funding Requests - In addition to educational and vocational scholarships, loans, grants, and scholarships are available to assist you with the costs of pursuing studies in Israel, Holocaust and tolerance related studies and other individualized educational experiences that help to build a strong Jewish community.

For questions, more information or to request an application please call Eric Singer at (415) 449-1226 or e-mail your question or request to EricS@jfcs.org. All questions are welcomed. Even if you are not eligible for our program please feel free to call or email us, as we may be able to refer you to other sources of potential funding.

For the address and phone number of the JFCS nearest to you, please click here.